Greg Dill
This is a list of the Presidents that have led the US during my lifetime along with my honest, objective, and unbiased critique and ranking of them. I am only ranking and critiquing the Presidents who I can actually remember during my lifetime. For instance, I was born in 1968 toward the end of the LBJ presidency of which I have absolutely no recollection of. Nor do I remember anything during the Nixon and Ford years. This list is from Carter (1976) and onward.
Biggest achievement: Helped bring an end to the Cold War.
Other achievements: 1) Ended the Iran hostage crisis. However unethical it may have been, he brought them home; 2) Helped get us out of the gas-oil crisis of the 70s; 3) Strengthened the US economy. 4) Reduced taxes. 5) Ended deregulation. 5) Reduced domestic spending.
NEGATIVES: Increased our nation's debt. Increased military spending off the board. Widened the gap between the rich and poor.
POSITIVES: Exuded a form of confidence and assurance that was comforting to many Americans including me. Great speaker and orator. Did much to strengthen foreign relations.
While as of this writing his presidency isn't over, I can easily rank President Obama as #2 on the list.
Biggest achievement: Helped form and pass the Affordable Care Act.
Other achievements: 1) Under his watch captured and killed America's #1 terrorist, Osama bin Laden; 2) Helped repair many foreign relations; 3) Brought an end to the Iraq War and brought many US troops home; 4) Prevented a Bush depression and improved the economy.
NEGATIVES: Caused rift in some foreign relations. Can come across as stoic and cold.
POSITIVES: A man of character. A man who is liked internationally. Good leader.
Biggest achievement: Created the longest economic expansion in American history.
Other achievements: 1) Successfully passed a balanced budget bill in 1997 that appeased both Dems and Repubs; 2) Implemented the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy in the Armed Forces; 3) Put an end to the Serbian genocide of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.4) Created 22 million new jobs during his presidency.
NEGATIVES: Could have should have done more to stop Osama bin Laden and al-Quaeda. Should have remained more loyal to his wife. Was bogged down with a lot of personal scandals that hindered his presidency.
POSITIVES: Great speaker and orator. Intelligent. Great at utilizing diverse resources. He led the government well. Was actually quite moderate and not as liberal as many people falsely assumed.
Biggest achievement: Stopped Iraq's further invasion into Kuwait and successfully pushed them out.
Other achievements: 1) Began reducing military defense spending; 2) Initiated NAFTA; 3) Helped oversee many former Communist countries transition into democracies.
NEGATIVES: Raised taxes after a campaign promise not to. Increased the deficit. Not the best speaker.
POSITIVES: Warm and friendly.
Biggest achievement: Led the peace initiative between Israel and Egypt.
Other achievements: 1) Boycotted summer Olympics in Moscow in 1980 as a result of Russia's invasion of Afghanistan; 2) Deregulated several transport industries.
NEGATIVES: Failed to release American hostages in Iran. Created a huge gas crisis.
POSITIVES: Warm and friendly. Peacemaker.
Biggest achievement: Responded to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 by sending in troops to Afghanistan.
Other achievements: 1) Helped carry America through the horrors of 9/11; 2) Banned partial-birth abortion; 3)
NEGATIVES: Misled the American people about WMDs in Iraq, launched an unnecessary war against Iraq, war-hawkish, seemingly unintelligent, destroyed America's reputation at a global level.
POSITIVES: Warm and friendly. Likeable.
