© 2016 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “The
measure of a man is what he does with power.” Plato
As someone who studies Presidents,
it seems that in a hundred years people may consider Eisenhower the best
president of the Twentieth Century. What he did with power was good and he didn’t
tell the press.
What makes me think of this is social
media proclaiming the best and the worst Presidents without research. We must
agree on how to judge a President. Many Presidents were very popular during
their lives and subsequently dropped as details of their presidency came out. Warren
G. Harding was one.
Here are my five worst presidents: absolute
worst was Teddy Roosevelt. Next was James Polk. Then Andrew Johnson. Next was Lyndon
Johnson and fifth worst was Herbert Hoover. I can write a thousand words about their
actions that landed them on my bad list. Maybe later.
My pick for best presidents involves
them doing things that others of their generation would not have done. Washington
set the bar high. After him I admire Abraham Lincoln who no one expected to be
nominated. He was awful his first year as he tried to grow into the job. Then
providence smiled upon him for the ages.
Lincoln almost single-handedly ended
slavery in our country. He didn’t run to do it but came to understand how he
needed to use his presidential powers. Likewise, Thomas Jefferson was bright
but there were a dozen bright politicians when he decided to run for President.
Once in office Jefferson allowed his
curiosity of plants and animals to evolve into sending the Corps of Discovery
under the command of Lewis and Clark across North America. In a three-year period,
what was known about the North American West was increased way beyond anyone’s
expectations.
Speaking of a good president: Calvin
Coolidge agreed to be Vice-President but did not have greater expectations. He
was a quiet effective person who when thrust into the presidency took us out of
a bad economic time and give us the “Roaring Twenties.” He like Eisenhower did
not toot his horn so many people do not realize how good both were at being
president.
Ronald Reagan likewise took our
nation out of a bad economic time and gave us nearly two decades of prosperity.
He almost single-handedly took the Soviet Union down when no one thought it
could be done. And he inspired many Americans with his presidency.
Which brings us to Donald Trump. No
one can tell how he will be viewed in a hundred years and as the saying goes, “A
hundred years from now it is all new people.” But there are things we can see
both good and bad that give us a framework to watch him as he conducts his four
years of being president.
Trump already is someone that does
not do like the swarms of politicians do in our nation’s capital. That may be
both good and bad. Not many thought he had a chance to win but he did. In that
he is like Lincoln who ended up with the nomination while the political leaders
scratched their heads and wondered how he did it.
Lincoln also was a polarizing figure
where he was loved or hated. In fact, nine states seceded from the Union before
he was inaugurated based on their hatred of him. Trump is also like Jefferson
in that he is interested in lots of stuff, but not politics.
We can see that Donald Trump is his
own man and no one waving money will get his attention. Like Lincoln newly
elected Donald Trump is hated by the press.
He can grow into the job of the
presidency or not. Only time will tell. He may join the others on my list as a
great president but he must do things, not just talk. We have had enough talk,
it is time for action to get our people back to work and the economy going. Let’s
see how he uses his power.
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