Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Putting it to a vote: Who do you think was the worst president of the 20th century?

Who was the worst American president of the 20th century? TNC joins the discussion. The candidates, according to you, are: Woodrow Wilson Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Franklin Delano Roosevelt John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon Ronald Reagan I’m only including FDR because someone nominated him. I’d actually say he was the best ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons

Who was the worst American president of the 20th century? TNC joins the discussion.

The candidates, according to you, are:

Woodrow Wilson
Warren Harding

Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover

Franklin Delano Roosevelt
John F. Kennedy
Lyndon Johnson
Richard Nixon
Ronald Reagan

I’m only including FDR because someone nominated him. I’d actually say he was the best president of the century, and one of our top five overall. George W. Bush, alas, is not eligible, though as we have discussed he might have retired the crown for the 21st century.

You can post a comment, or e-mail me at the address above the little postage stamp foto of me on the right hand side of this page.

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

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