Which U.S. presidents are your favorite and why?
Here are my top 10 favorite U.S. presidents. This is from the perspective of a Libertarian, so it's different and controversial compared to most lists. It contains many unpopular presidents.
- John Tyler: Vetoed the national bank twice, ended the Second Seminole War, negotiated free trade with China, expelled from his party (Whig) for following the Constitution, and ran a hard monetary policy.
- Grover Cleveland: Despised imperialism, refused the annex Hawaii, valiantly fought for the gold standard, opposed protectionist tariffs, and vetoed almost everything.
- Martin Van Buren: Avoided war with Canada, avoided war with Mexico, supported hard money, lowered tariffs, and kept laissez-faire policies during the "Panic of 1837".
- Calvin Coolidge: Reduced the federal debt, reduced taxes, supported the "Kellog-Briand Pact", gave Native Americans citizenship, and opposed the "League of Nations".
- Chester A. Arthur: Signed the "Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act", non-interventionist foreign-policy, opposed "pork barrel" projects, revoked excise tax, and balanced the budget.
- Warren G. Harding: Dramatically cut government spending, cut small business regulations, pardoned Woodrow Wilson's prisoners, called for worldwide naval disarmament, and oversaw the "Roaring Twenties".
- Ulysses S. Grant: Signed the "15th Amendment", Avoided war with Spain, lowered taxes, vetoed inflation bill, and signed the "Specie Resumption Payment Act".
- Thomas Jefferson: Reduced the federal debt, reduced taxes, banned slavery in Northwestern territories, cut military spending, and repealed the "Alien and Sedition Acts".
- Rutherford B. Hayes: Opposed a central bank, withdrew troops from the South, vetoed the "Bland-Allison Act", ended radical reconstruction, and proposed low taxes.
- Zachary Taylor: Peaceful treatment of Native Americans, passed the "Clayton-Bulwer Treaty", opposed Henry Clay's "American System", non-interventionist foreign-policy, and opposed the "Compromise of 1850".
Honorable Mentions:
- James Monroe: Signed the "Monroe Doctrine", did not interfere in the "Panic of 1819", improved relations with Britain, non-interventionist foreign-policy, and vetoed corporate welfare.
- Andrew Johnson (Yes, him):Gave the Confederates amnesty, rightfully fired Edward Stanton, opposed radical reconstruction, opposed the "14th Amendment" for honorable reasons, and fought for the Constitution at the risk of impeachment.
- George Washington: Neutral foreign-policy, established the principle of constitutional veto authority, and set the precedent of presidential two term limit.
- Andrew Jackson: Advocated hard money, paid off the national debt, vetoed extensively, ended the "Tariff of Abominations", and fiercely dismantled the national bank.
- John Quincy Adams: Non-interventionist foreign-policy, lowered the national debt, humane treatment of Native Americans, opposed slavery, and endorsed "Women's Suffrage".
- Millard Fillmore: Abolished slave trade in Washington D.C., remained neutral during European affairs, and did almost nothing.
Log in to comment