Greatest president of the 20th Century.

[Sean Reynolds]

Can't post every president, so I'll only post 2 term leaders and also a select few.
But anyway, vote on who you think the best president of the 20th Century was. Give a reason to your vote.

If you have a write in president, please do so.

[SmileyBoy]

1. FDR. No question.

His history as president speaks for itself.

[Sean Reynolds]

2. Me too.

Roosevelt defined the 20th Century. Changed America, and the world. He did it firmly, with resolve, and never deterred from his beliefs that America could be great again. He was optimistic, and it carried throughout the country. NOT only that but he guided the nation through a World War and was one of the major players in the fall of Hitler.

Sadly, Mr. Roosevelt stopped a Nazi army that had began taking over Europe. Yet Mr. Bush can't find a kidney failing, horse riding dumbass in bin Laden, and still hasn't found Saddam....real telling.

[Piper3069]

3. Why I vote for the other Roosevelt

TR put a stop to unchecked capitalism by busting the monopolies, created conservation areas and is the only president to win the nobel peace prize while in office. While many presidents are lauded for serving during war time, few are admired for stopping a war or preventing one from coming to pass.

[Sean Reynolds]

4. Though I agree

The other Roosevelt was also very anti-capitalism too. He was hated by big business because of his belief in the workers, not the corporations.

Roosevelt isn't only praised because he was a war time president, it's because of his actions throughout his 3 terms (and few months of a 4th).

But I do like TR too. :)

[Maddy McCall]

5. You are absolutely right...

so many people aren't aware of FDR's elitism. Had it not been for ELeanor's social conscience, lots of his reforms would never have been enacted.

Plus, the whole point of his economic programs like the CCC, WPA, etc. was to put money in the pockets of people so that they could spend, spend, spend--he began the culture of consumerism, and he did it on purpose. It was with him that the philosophy began that if workers can alleviate their suffering by spending on cool stuff, then they won't realize their suffering and won't organize and protest.

Also, when Congress put forth an anti-lynching law in the thirties, he refused to take a stand on it--he caved to pressure from southern constituents--and it was eventually withdrawn.

Just like JFK--so many people villainize LBJ for Vietnam, while they refuse to hold JFK responsible for his part in it. And it was LBJ, not JFK, who backed BOTH civil rights acts.

TR was an attention monger, no doubt--"He was the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral"--but he did initiate conservation, and he (thanks to pressure from WIlliam Jennings Bryan) also despised big corporations. Completely underrated president.

No offense to anyone, but if you read the most recent historical literature on FDR and JFK, you will find less heroic versions of their terms.

[CBHagman]

6. Choosing FDR is easy, though I have kind words...

...for several others on the list, notably Johnson, Teddy Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton. In terms of long-term influence and historic achievements, though, both Roosevelts, Johnson and Truman are decidedly in the lead.