Bleh, harder than I thought…

1. Washington — built the executive branch and insured a peaceful transition of power.

2. Lincoln — preserved the Union and did not seek retribution in peace.

3. Monroe — lucked out due to English support, but the Monroe doctrine led to a relatively peaceful hemisphere to grow in.

4. Polk — his war was a blatant land grab, but that along with the Oregon issue settled the boundries for continental expansion.

5. TR — Aurther tried, but Teddy succeeded in Trust busting which was crucial for the growth of competitive capitalism

6. FDR — Expanded Federal government, with both the good and bad that brought along. Deferred to Churhill too much.

7. Truman — Marshal program

8. Eisenhower — never gets the credit he should for stabalizing the dangerous situation at the start of the cold war (what a run of Presidents by the way)

9. Jefferson — Eh, upon reflection he belongs in the top ten. The Lousianna Purchase set up expansion and the Monroe doctrine

10. JQ Adams — road and canal building is mundane, but it stuched the early nation together.

I struggled over Ronald Regan. I think he gets far too much credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union and he ran up too many debts. Plus, for some oddball reason, I’m a sucker for the Adams family.

38. McKinley — Footstool of the Robber Barons and embarassment of Spanish American War.

39. Harding — Corruption.

40. Grant — Love him as a general. Oblivious as a President

41. Franklin Pierce — reignited the slavery issue and saw the start of the proto civil war in Kansas.

42. Nixon — a victim of circumstances, but he badly damaged the reputation of the government.

Jerry Ford gave me problems, but his pardon of Nixon more than offset his pathetic WIN button economic policies. Besides, who could have succeeded in his situation?