# Would you prefer Trump to one of history's worst presidents? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 7, 2023, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176 "2023-08-07T07:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/1 "2023-08-07T07:44:24Z")
It’s January 20, 2025. Donald Trump has won the presidential election and is about to be inaugurated. A genie appears and offers you the choice of substituting Trump with one of the seven [worst presidents in American history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_presidents_of_the_United_States), who will then serve out the _entire_ four-year term. Whom do you select, and why? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/2 "2023-08-07T07:48:54Z")
No ‘_Any/all of the above_.’? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/3 "2023-08-07T07:51:01Z")
No, you have to pick one and one only. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/4 "2023-08-07T11:00:00Z")
Your poll strikes me more of a Hobson’s choice deal (if I’m using the term correctly). Any one of them is far better than the loud-mouthed traitor. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/5 "2023-08-07T11:12:23Z")
I’ll go with Pierce. By most accounts he was a genuinely nice guy. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/6 "2023-08-07T11:31:56Z")
Not Harding. We need someone who eschews corruption, not someone who snuggles up in it. Not Tyler. We don’t need a member of the Confederacy. Preferably not Johnson. We don’t need someone who’s going to shy away from prosecuting those who harm our people. Any of the others would, I think, be better than Trump. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/7 "2023-08-07T12:13:29Z")
So far William Henry Harrison is leading with almost half the votes. In case people are picking him in hopes that he’ll die a month into the presidency, remember that the genie’s terms are that the president serves the full term. So I’m curious what else might be drawing voters to Harrison… does anyone think he would actually make a good 21st-century president? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/8 "2023-08-07T12:18:17Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > does anyone think he would actually make a good 21st-century president? Woah, woah, woah–that’s not what the genie offered! The genie saw a bully about to force-feed me a dog turd, and offered to swap it out for a soy hotdog, a gas station egg salad sandwich, or a McDonalds hamburger that had been sitting under the heat lamp for an hour. I’m not going for fine dining, I’m just trying to avoid food poisoning. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/9 "2023-08-07T12:18:27Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > So I’m curious what else might be drawing voters to Harrison Probably the blank slate on the other 98% of his presidency versus the known vices of the rest ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/10 "2023-08-07T12:20:59Z")
I checked the first name on the list because, quite frankly, any of them would be light years better than a liar, a criminal, and a traitor. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/11 "2023-08-07T12:24:49Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > a Hobson’s choice _President_ Incitatus does have a ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/12 "2023-08-07T12:25:40Z")
OK, I’m disoriented. Lists of the worst presidents that include Trump put him in the #1, 2, or 3 position, IIRC. You’re citing a list that for some reason largely excludes him. Trump IS one of history’s worst president, and would rank worse than most of your alternatives. Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/13 "2023-08-07T12:26:52Z")
Trump? Lousy President? Why choose? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/14 "2023-08-07T12:27:26Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Am I missing something? The poll already includes him as an option, so if you want to swap Trump with Trump, be my guest. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/15 "2023-08-07T12:28:52Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Probably the blank slate on the other 98% of his presidency versus the known vices of the rest Ah, so voters here don’t tend to subscribe to the “better the devil you know than the one you don’t” philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/16 "2023-08-07T12:29:43Z")
Or are just overcome with Monday Morning Optimism ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/17 "2023-08-07T12:38:30Z")
Presidents don’t need to be “nice.” What we hope they are is one who will be good for the country and its citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/18 "2023-08-07T12:38:33Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Ah, so voters here don’t tend to subscribe to the “better the devil you know than the one you don’t” philosophy. That’s just how gambling works. No one bets on the dice that have already been rolled. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/19 "2023-08-07T12:55:54Z")
The OP is fundamentally flawed. Trump is in a class by himself when “worst presidents” are considered, so by definition the group in the poll are preferable to him. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176/20 "2023-08-07T13:00:45Z")
I already figured that most people would swap in a past president. The thread title is perhaps somewhat misleading; what I’m really interested in is not _whether_ people would swap, but _whom_ they would swap in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-prefer-trump-to-one-of-historys-worst-presidents/988176.md?page=2)