Reagan. Reagan had the Cold War for starters, but Bush II was a kid who destroyed everything he was given. Even 9/11 could have turned to our advantage, sad to say.
Although I will say, Bush II showed a really good initial response to 9/11, and I always liked him having Thanksgiving with the soldiers.
I think that people are interpreting this thread in different ways. Some interpret it as "Who had worse situations (outside of their own control) to deal with", and some interpret it as "Who had more problems overall"
and Bush had to deal with a bunch of guys in tents who, media hysteria notwithstanding, don't pose anything close to that level of threat...
Snip.
I see your ahem and raise you an http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_holocaust. Reagan spent his entire presidency under the shadow of this, and it nearly happened on more than one occasion thanks to Abel Archer, an ill advised joke, an arms race that could've easily escalated, and the general instability of the Soviet Union at the time. Any one of those could've led to an exchange that would've made 9/11 look like a miracle salvation compared to what would happen to the rest of the planet.
Yeah, but Reagan and the US were prepared for such a potential contingency, and were on the offensive against the Sovs, from Day One.
Bush and the US were completely surprised by an ACTUAL surprise attack, and with the need to invade Afghanistan and the diffuse nature of Terrorism was going to have a hard time of it no matter what.
I voted Bush.
Anyon who had 9/11 happen during his term definitely had more to put up with.