# Who was the best President for YOU? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 1, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609 "2004-09-01T18:28:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/1 "2004-09-01T18:28:47Z")
I’m putting this in IMHO for now, since it is a poll. Mods, feel free to move it if you feel the need. I’m 28 years old, and I’ve never felt that any of our presidents stood for my needs/beliefs. I have voted as often as i could, but I have always been sort of a ‘fringe’ person. But, really, I haven’t lived through many presidents. I’m only 28. I was hoping that “mature” (they’re NOT old)Dopers could relate to me their experiences of a President who really stood for them. It seems that when people step out the door and become local politicians, they are honest and moral most of the time. They really start for some reason that means something to them. By the time these same people get to president, they are so used to catering to the votes that I wonder if they have any true thoughts. What Presidents got to the White House and really fought for what they believed? What Presidents really did what you wanted them to? Now this has to be personal experiences, please. So nobody say “George Washington” unless you really lived 200 + years and have a birth certificate to back it up. 😃 It seems to me that Presidents like JFK and Teddy Roosevelt were like knights, true to their word, and what they believed in. I don’t care about extramarital affairs. I don’t care about anything except their behavior directly relating to the office. Tell me what President did it for you and why. Please. I would love to hear experiences of living in those times! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/2 "2004-09-01T18:42:27Z")
Clinton. Everyone was riding the tech bubble making bazillions, and him getting some head was the only big story for years. ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/3 "2004-09-01T18:53:37Z")
Gosh, I’d have to say Lyndon Johnson, though I wasn’t quite born early enough for the CRA of 1964 … By the time I was born, signs barring my family members from stores because of their race were gone (though we still didn’t go in). Well, once I knew about the signs I stopped shopping there. ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/4 "2004-09-01T19:02:33Z")
I’n going with Clinton also. The economy was great for me, relatively few problems, and I really don’t care about the extramarital affairs. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/5 "2004-09-01T20:09:27Z")
I’m a Kodos man, all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/6 "2004-09-02T03:11:49Z")
Clinton reputedly had a sign on his desk that said: “It’s the economy, stupid!” During his tenure the economy was ticking along pretty nice, I was working steady and making good money, and so were all my friends. That beats a whole hell of a lot of millionaires’ posturing in my book. So for me, it was Clinton. And besides, [i[he\* only screwed one person at a time. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/7 "2004-09-02T03:32:39Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > During his tenure the economy was ticking along pretty nice, I was working steady and making good money, and so were all my friends. That beats a whole hell of a lot of millionaires’ posturing in my book. Even Clinton himself will tell you that the economy was headed into the dumper near the end of his term. Personally, the fact that he has said this makes me feel better about him. Unfortunately, he can’t be president again. I personally liked Ford, but he suffered from having to give Nixon a pardon. A trial would have been very divisive for the country. I was not that old but in my opinion, Truman was the best president during my lifetime. Sorry **Mynn** but LBJ was the worst after Nixon. I understand your reasoning and LBJ should be credited for his civil rights programs. Those signs were gone long before LBJ, however. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/8 "2004-09-02T04:00:22Z")
> [@SPOOFE](#): > > I’m a Kodos man, all the way. The Executioner? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/9 "2004-09-02T04:08:05Z")
I was born during Eisenhower’s administration, and became politically aware circa late-LBJ. My life was best during Clinton’s terms, but the President who most stood for what I like to see was Carter. Too honest and trusting by half to be an effective President, but a very good man. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/10 "2004-09-02T05:33:47Z")
Born during Eisenhower, I’d choose Ronald Reagan as my best President. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/11 "2004-09-02T07:28:30Z")
Reagan. He turned America around. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/12 "2004-09-02T08:25:56Z")
For me, it was Reagan, and after that, it really doesn’t matter who was president…since my current plans are president-proof. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/13 "2004-09-02T14:22:59Z")
Born in ‘62- Ronald Wilson Reagan- it’s Mornin’ in America! _G_ ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/14 "2004-09-02T14:25:46Z")
Born in '59. Another vote for Reagan. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/15 "2004-09-02T20:18:38Z")
Clinton. My income rose steadily during his terms, I agreed with his social positions, and he demonstrated measurably that Democrats can be and are fiscally responsible. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/16 "2004-09-02T20:36:09Z")
Born in 1970. I’m keen for the new guy, but I’m a huge Reagan fan. I even stood for four hours in the summer heat, in a suit, to pay my respects at his viewing. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/17 "2004-09-03T06:28:24Z")
I was born in 1967 (Johnson Administration). The first president I remember is Nixon. The first (and, so far, only) president I liked was Clinton, though he did lots to disappoint me…and no, I don’t mean Monica. I’m increasingly impressed with candidate Kerry and keeping my fingers crossed, though I reserve the right to criticize him mercilessly from January 21, 2005. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/18 "2004-09-03T06:39:33Z")
I’ll have to say Clinton. During his term I started my own business and watched it grow, I bought my very first home, I bought my first new car. Might I pipe in that under Bush I’ve lost my first business, house and car? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/19 "2004-09-03T07:42:37Z")
Clinton, easily. Economy chugging along, foreign policy working decently, almost had a Middle East peace plan … and watching the Republicans twist themselves into pretzels trying to justify a million-dollar witchhunt was almost amusing, in a pathetic sort of way. Aside from Clinton, Bush Sr., just for not effing things up too much. Reagan was a :wally , and it stands to figure that the folks dumb enough to support him would also support George W. Bush, the :wally retread. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2004, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609/20 "2004-09-03T11:20:29Z")
Well I’m a rat bastard. I’d like to say I like Clinton because the economy was going so well durring his term. But the real reason I like Clinton is… dare I say… He had the audacity to let some chic blow him in the oval office! (or where ever it was in the Whitehouse.) Then he tells her he can’t return the favor because THAT would be cheating!!! Bwahahahah!! That guy just kills me!!! Born 1970… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-best-president-for-you/262609.md?page=2)