Paul V McNutt
Banned
Paul V McNutt
Rating: Great
Party: Democrat
Time in Office: April 12, 1945 - September 24, 1952.
President McNutt should be given credit for ending American isolationism. The Marshall Plan Americans to rebuild Western Europe and also strengthened that part of the world to resist Communism. This was one of McNutt's efforts to position the United States as the guardian of the world's freedom. As early as 1946, McNutt's Secretary of State successfully pressured the Soviets into withdrawing from Iran. In 1947, he convinced Congress to send aid to Greece and Turkey, as part of his McNutt Doctrine that pledged support any nation whose freedom was in danger. McNutt signed the OAS and NATO treaties that committed the US to permanent alliances/. In 1950 he committed American blood and treasure to defend South Korea. Knowing the dangers of World War, McNutt pioneered the concept of limited war. His determination to keep the conflict confined to the Korean peninsula led to his highly unpopular firing of General Douglas MacArthur. McNutt paid a political price for upholding not only his geopolitical views but upholding civilian control of the military.
In domestic affairs, McNutt is not as influential. He enjoyed little success getting his Fair Deal programs through Congress. He did make a contribution in the field of civil rights. The McNutt Justice Department helped argue the case in the Supreme Court that banned the enforceability of discriminatory covenants. Most of all his executive order that integrated the armed forces stands as as one of most enduring legacy.
Ironically, when this advocate of civil rights died prematurely of cancer, segregationist Vice President Jimmy Byrnes inherited the White House. Fortunately the lame duck with a term of slightly less than four months had little time to do much damage.
Spiro T Agnew
Rating: Failure
Party: Republican
Time in Office: April 11, 1972 - October 10, 1973.
Two scandals dominate the legacy of President Spiro T Agnew. After the hearings of the House Judiciary Committee established the credibility of reports that as Baltimore County Executive and Governor of Maryland, Agnew had accepted kick backs and neglected to pay taxes on the bribes, Agnew was forced to resign or face certain impeachment and removal. After he left office, the White House tapes that Agnew had unsuccessfully tried to conceal, showed that he had ordered the CIA to help cover up the Watergate Break burglary. Association with Agnew doomed the political fortunes of his successor Nelson Rockefeller, whose pardon of Agnew proved unpopular.
Agnew's two felonies overshadow the foreign policies triumphs of his administration: The SALT I treaty, that Agnew signed in Moscow in june 1972 and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. Agnew gets very little credit for either accomplishment. Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon are seen as the primary architects of the Treaty and Kissinger negotiated the cease fire in Vietnam that allowed the American forces to withdraw. Even Kissinger no longer wins praise for the false end of the Vietnam war. The cease fire did not last long and the renewed war led to the defeat of American ally South Vietnam.
There was also another notable ineffective initiative of the Agnew administration, the so called Berger Commission. This blue ribbon panel. chaired by Chief Justice Warren Berger, that investigated the assassination of President Richard Nixon found determined critics of its findings that assassin Arthur Bremer acted alone. Just as in the case of the murder of John Kennedy lack of evidence did not stop conspiracy theorists. Certain cynics have trouble with the concept that angry pathetic losers like Bremer and Lee Harvey Oswald can change history without help.
Thomas E Dewey
Rating: Average
Party: Republican
Time in Office: January, 20 1949 - January 20, 1953.
President Dewey, spent much of his time in office battling the conservative wing of this own party. Isolationists Republicans, including Robert Taft opposed the NATO treaty. Senator Joseph McCarthy's crusade against communist infiltration often embraced Dewey. It was the Korean War, that caused the most conflict. Dewey's idea of limited war proved controversial especially after Dewey fired Douglas MacArthur. In 1952, both Conservative Republicans protests votes and abstentions as the general public's impatience with the stalemate in Korea doomed his chances for reelection.
Gerald Ford
Rating: Average
Party: Republican
Time in Office: August, 8 1974 - January 20, 1981.
Ford is remembered for his controversial pardon of Richard Nixon, the recessions of 1974 - 1976 and 1980 as well as the Iran hostage crisis of 1980. Ford also occupied the White House for six year and a half years without a mandate from the voters. Originally appointed to the Vice Presidency, he won the 1976 without a popular vote victory. The speed and generosity of his aid package during New York City's 1975 fiscal crisis is credited with his narrow victory in New York State that gave him the electoral voter margin he needed. Ford also faced increasing hostile Congresses after Democrats gained seats in 1974, 1976, and 1978. Despite these difficulties he is honored for providing the nation with trustworthy leadership following the scandal ridden presidency of Richard Nixon. President Mondale honored his predecessor in his inaugural address for all the healing he brought to the nation.
The Ford administration is also remembered for foreign policy accomplishments such as the Helsinki accords of 1975, the SALT II Treaty of 1978. and the Egypt Israel PeaceTReaty of 1979. While Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is normally given credit for the agreements reached during his tenure in office. Ford paid the political costs following the ratification of the Panama Canal Treaty in 1979. Conservative Republicans never forgave Ford.
Gerald Ford
Rating: Average
Party: Republican
Time in Office: August, 8 1974 - January 20, 1977 and January 20, 1981- January 20, 1985.
While Gerald Ford's first term is warmly remembered for the contrast with the scandals and secrecy of the Nixon administration, his pardon of Nixon proved unpopular. Many voters blamed Ford for the poor economy and inflation during his unsuccessful try for a term of his own in 1976. Ford got his revenge four years later when he soundly defeated Jimmy Carter. Unlike his first term, Ford enjoyed a Republican Senate and a House dominated by a Conservative Coalition. He used his friendly Congress to pass the budget and tax program championed by Vice President Kemp as well as a defense buildup. Despite the rapidly increasing deficits, the economy rebounded and Vice. The election of 1984, enabled Vice President Kemp to begin his eight years in the White House. In foreign policy. Henry Kissinger was able to return the atmosphere of detente by renegotiating the SALT II treaty in 1982.
Aaron Burr
Rating: Below Average
Party Democratic Republican
Time in Office March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805
He came to office plagued by rumors that he had bribed his way to victory, when the House of Representatives elected him over Thomas Jefferson. This earned the hostility many of his fellow Jeffersonian Republicans. Burr was able to unite his party's Congressional majority to slash the federal budget. He joined his party in outrage when the Supreme Court asserted its power of judicial review in 1803, but found little support for his proposed constitutional amendment that would have made Federal Judges serve at pleasure of the President. His lost for power seemed further evident when after the Louisiana Purchase, he declared the newly acquired area to under military rule allowing him wide control with little congressional oversight. The controversy built after Burr began making plans to use the Louisiana Territory as a staging are for attacks on Spanish Texas and Florida. After his pushed him aside in 1804 and united around the candidacy of Jefferson, news leaked of his correspondence with leaders of those favoring the secession of New York and New England. Congressional investigators found no smoking gun and the move to impeach on the grounds of treason remained stalled in committee. After leaving office President Burr spent several years in self imposed exile in Europe.
Rating: Great
Party: Democrat
Time in Office: April 12, 1945 - September 24, 1952.
President McNutt should be given credit for ending American isolationism. The Marshall Plan Americans to rebuild Western Europe and also strengthened that part of the world to resist Communism. This was one of McNutt's efforts to position the United States as the guardian of the world's freedom. As early as 1946, McNutt's Secretary of State successfully pressured the Soviets into withdrawing from Iran. In 1947, he convinced Congress to send aid to Greece and Turkey, as part of his McNutt Doctrine that pledged support any nation whose freedom was in danger. McNutt signed the OAS and NATO treaties that committed the US to permanent alliances/. In 1950 he committed American blood and treasure to defend South Korea. Knowing the dangers of World War, McNutt pioneered the concept of limited war. His determination to keep the conflict confined to the Korean peninsula led to his highly unpopular firing of General Douglas MacArthur. McNutt paid a political price for upholding not only his geopolitical views but upholding civilian control of the military.
In domestic affairs, McNutt is not as influential. He enjoyed little success getting his Fair Deal programs through Congress. He did make a contribution in the field of civil rights. The McNutt Justice Department helped argue the case in the Supreme Court that banned the enforceability of discriminatory covenants. Most of all his executive order that integrated the armed forces stands as as one of most enduring legacy.
Ironically, when this advocate of civil rights died prematurely of cancer, segregationist Vice President Jimmy Byrnes inherited the White House. Fortunately the lame duck with a term of slightly less than four months had little time to do much damage.
Spiro T Agnew
Rating: Failure
Party: Republican
Time in Office: April 11, 1972 - October 10, 1973.
Two scandals dominate the legacy of President Spiro T Agnew. After the hearings of the House Judiciary Committee established the credibility of reports that as Baltimore County Executive and Governor of Maryland, Agnew had accepted kick backs and neglected to pay taxes on the bribes, Agnew was forced to resign or face certain impeachment and removal. After he left office, the White House tapes that Agnew had unsuccessfully tried to conceal, showed that he had ordered the CIA to help cover up the Watergate Break burglary. Association with Agnew doomed the political fortunes of his successor Nelson Rockefeller, whose pardon of Agnew proved unpopular.
Agnew's two felonies overshadow the foreign policies triumphs of his administration: The SALT I treaty, that Agnew signed in Moscow in june 1972 and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. Agnew gets very little credit for either accomplishment. Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon are seen as the primary architects of the Treaty and Kissinger negotiated the cease fire in Vietnam that allowed the American forces to withdraw. Even Kissinger no longer wins praise for the false end of the Vietnam war. The cease fire did not last long and the renewed war led to the defeat of American ally South Vietnam.
There was also another notable ineffective initiative of the Agnew administration, the so called Berger Commission. This blue ribbon panel. chaired by Chief Justice Warren Berger, that investigated the assassination of President Richard Nixon found determined critics of its findings that assassin Arthur Bremer acted alone. Just as in the case of the murder of John Kennedy lack of evidence did not stop conspiracy theorists. Certain cynics have trouble with the concept that angry pathetic losers like Bremer and Lee Harvey Oswald can change history without help.
Thomas E Dewey
Rating: Average
Party: Republican
Time in Office: January, 20 1949 - January 20, 1953.
President Dewey, spent much of his time in office battling the conservative wing of this own party. Isolationists Republicans, including Robert Taft opposed the NATO treaty. Senator Joseph McCarthy's crusade against communist infiltration often embraced Dewey. It was the Korean War, that caused the most conflict. Dewey's idea of limited war proved controversial especially after Dewey fired Douglas MacArthur. In 1952, both Conservative Republicans protests votes and abstentions as the general public's impatience with the stalemate in Korea doomed his chances for reelection.
Gerald Ford
Rating: Average
Party: Republican
Time in Office: August, 8 1974 - January 20, 1981.
Ford is remembered for his controversial pardon of Richard Nixon, the recessions of 1974 - 1976 and 1980 as well as the Iran hostage crisis of 1980. Ford also occupied the White House for six year and a half years without a mandate from the voters. Originally appointed to the Vice Presidency, he won the 1976 without a popular vote victory. The speed and generosity of his aid package during New York City's 1975 fiscal crisis is credited with his narrow victory in New York State that gave him the electoral voter margin he needed. Ford also faced increasing hostile Congresses after Democrats gained seats in 1974, 1976, and 1978. Despite these difficulties he is honored for providing the nation with trustworthy leadership following the scandal ridden presidency of Richard Nixon. President Mondale honored his predecessor in his inaugural address for all the healing he brought to the nation.
The Ford administration is also remembered for foreign policy accomplishments such as the Helsinki accords of 1975, the SALT II Treaty of 1978. and the Egypt Israel PeaceTReaty of 1979. While Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is normally given credit for the agreements reached during his tenure in office. Ford paid the political costs following the ratification of the Panama Canal Treaty in 1979. Conservative Republicans never forgave Ford.
Gerald Ford
Rating: Average
Party: Republican
Time in Office: August, 8 1974 - January 20, 1977 and January 20, 1981- January 20, 1985.
While Gerald Ford's first term is warmly remembered for the contrast with the scandals and secrecy of the Nixon administration, his pardon of Nixon proved unpopular. Many voters blamed Ford for the poor economy and inflation during his unsuccessful try for a term of his own in 1976. Ford got his revenge four years later when he soundly defeated Jimmy Carter. Unlike his first term, Ford enjoyed a Republican Senate and a House dominated by a Conservative Coalition. He used his friendly Congress to pass the budget and tax program championed by Vice President Kemp as well as a defense buildup. Despite the rapidly increasing deficits, the economy rebounded and Vice. The election of 1984, enabled Vice President Kemp to begin his eight years in the White House. In foreign policy. Henry Kissinger was able to return the atmosphere of detente by renegotiating the SALT II treaty in 1982.
Aaron Burr
Rating: Below Average
Party Democratic Republican
Time in Office March 4, 1801 - March 4, 1805
He came to office plagued by rumors that he had bribed his way to victory, when the House of Representatives elected him over Thomas Jefferson. This earned the hostility many of his fellow Jeffersonian Republicans. Burr was able to unite his party's Congressional majority to slash the federal budget. He joined his party in outrage when the Supreme Court asserted its power of judicial review in 1803, but found little support for his proposed constitutional amendment that would have made Federal Judges serve at pleasure of the President. His lost for power seemed further evident when after the Louisiana Purchase, he declared the newly acquired area to under military rule allowing him wide control with little congressional oversight. The controversy built after Burr began making plans to use the Louisiana Territory as a staging are for attacks on Spanish Texas and Florida. After his pushed him aside in 1804 and united around the candidacy of Jefferson, news leaked of his correspondence with leaders of those favoring the secession of New York and New England. Congressional investigators found no smoking gun and the move to impeach on the grounds of treason remained stalled in committee. After leaving office President Burr spent several years in self imposed exile in Europe.