John F. Kennedy | whitehouse.gov Air Force One John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States (1961-1963), the youngest man elected to the office. On November 22, 1963, when he was hardly past his first thousand days in office, JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, becoming also the youngest President to die. On November 22, 1963, when he was hardly past his first thousand days in office, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was killed by an assassin's bullets as his motorcade wound through Dallas, Texas. Kennedy was the youngest man elected President; he was the youngest to die. Of Irish descent, he was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, on May 29, 1917. Graduating from Harvard in 1940, he entered the Navy. In 1943, when his PT boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy, despite grave injuries, led the survivors through perilous waters to safety.

Back from the war, he became a Democratic Congressman from the Boston area, advancing in 1953 to the Senate. He married Jacqueline Bouvier on September 12, 1953. In 1955, while recuperating from a back operation, he wrote Profiles in Courage, which won the Pulitzer Prize in history. In 1956 Kennedy almost gained the Democratic nomination for Vice President, and four years later was a first-ballot nominee for President. Millions watched his television debates with the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon. Winning by a narrow margin in the popular vote, Kennedy became the first Roman Catholic President. His Inaugural Address offered the memorable injunction: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." As President, he set out to redeem his campaign pledge to get America moving again. His economic programs launched the country on its longest sustained expansion since World War II; before his death, he laid plans for a massive assault on persisting pockets of privation and poverty. Responding to ever more urgent demands, he took vigorous action in the cause of equal rights, calling for new civil rights legislation.

His vision of America extended to the quality of the national culture and the central role of the arts in a vital society. He wished America to resume its old mission as the first nation dedicated to the revolution of human rights. With the Alliance for Progress and the Peace Corps, he brought American idealism to the aid of developing nations. But the hard reality of the Communist challenge remained. Shortly after his inauguration, Kennedy permitted a band of Cuban exiles, already armed and trained, to invade their homeland. The attempt to overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro was a failure. Soon thereafter, the Soviet Union renewed its campaign against West Berlin. Kennedy replied by reinforcing the Berlin garrison and increasing the Nation's military strength, including new efforts in outer space. Confronted by this reaction, Moscow, after the erection of the Berlin Wall, relaxed its pressure in central Europe. Instead, the Russians now sought to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. When this was discovered by air reconnaissance in October 1962, Kennedy imposed a quarantine on all offensive weapons bound for Cuba. While the world trembled on the brink of nuclear war, the Russians backed down and agreed to take the missiles away.

The American response to the Cuban crisis evidently persuaded Moscow of the futility of nuclear blackmail. Kennedy now contended that both sides had a vital interest in stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and slowing the arms race--a contention which led to the test ban treaty of 1963. The months after the Cuban crisis showed significant progress toward his goal of "a world of law and free choice, banishing the world of war and coercion." His administration thus saw the beginning of new hope for both the equal rights of Americans and the peace of the world. The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association. For more information about President Kennedy, please visit John F. Kennedy - Biography - IMDb John F.

Kennedy Biography Showing all 141 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (3) | Trivia (88) | Personal Quotes (43) Overview (5) 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Rose Kennedy (née Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald) and Joseph P. Kennedy . John was named after his maternal grandfather, John "HoneyFitz" Fitzgerald, the mayor of Boston. John was very ill as a child and was given the last rites five times, the first one being when he was a new-born. He was the second of four boys born to an Irish Catholic family with nine children: Joseph Jr., John, Robert F. Kennedy (called Bobby), and Ted Kennedy (born Edward). Because Rose made Joe and Jack (the name his family called him) wear matching clothes, they fought a lot for attention. When John was young, the family moved from Boston to New York. John went to Choate, a private school. Most of the time, though, he was too sick to attend.

In the late 1930s, father Joe became the ambassador to England. He took sons John and Robert with him, as well as his wife and daughters Kathleen and Rosemary Kennedy . John went to Princeton, then Harvard, and for his senior thesis, he wrote a piece about why England refused to get into the war until late. It was published in 1940 and called "Why England Slept". His older brother Joe was a pilot during the war, and was killed when the bombs his plane was carrying exploded. Not long after that, John's sister Kathleen and her husband died in a plane crash. In the early 1950s, John ran for Congress in Massachusetts and won. He married Jacqueline Kennedy (thirteen years his junior, born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier) on September 12, 1953. He became a father rather late in life. Their first child, Caroline Kennedy , was born on November 27, 1957 when J.F.K. was forty and their son, John Kennedy Jr. , was born on November 25, 1960 when J.F.K. was forty-three.

They had a son named Patrick Bouvier, but he died a few days after birth. In 1954, J.F.K. had to have back surgery and in the hospital wrote his second book, "Profiles in Courage". His father always said that his son Joe was going to be President of the U.S.; when he died in World War II, though, that task was passed on to John. He ran for president in 1960 against Richard Nixon and won. His administration had many conflicts, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis being key examples. In November 1963, he and Jackie (his wife's nickname) went on a trip to Texas. Everywhere they went there were signs saying "Jack and Jackie." On November 22, 1963, John was to give a speech in Dallas, but on his way an assassin hidden on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository opened fire at Kennedy, who was riding in an open car. Hit twice and severely wounded, Kennedy died in a local hospital at 1:00 P.M.

The alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald , was captured a short time later after shooting and killing a Dallas policeman, and was himself assassinated before he could be thoroughly interrogated, let alone tried. In just a little bit of irony, considering the death of Abraham Lincoln a century earlier, Kennedy was shot in a Ford Lincoln (Lincoln was in Ford's Theater when he was shot). He was laid to rest on his son's third birthday. - IMDb Mini Biography By: CR Spouse (1) ( 12 September 1953 - 22 November 1963) (his death) (4 children) Trade Mark (3) He always put his hand in the pocket of his suit Jacket Chewed on end of earpice on sunglasses Boston accent Believed to have been shot by Lee Harvey Oswald , who was later killed by Jack Ruby . Was the first and to date only Roman Catholic US President. Was the youngest elected US President. Was the 35th President of the US, from 1961-63. Attended the installation in Rome of Pope Pius XII with his parents and family. In 1956 his wife Jacqueline Kennedy gave birth to their first child, Arabella Kennedy.

She was stillborn. Son John Kennedy Jr. , born 25 November 1960 and died 16 July 1999. His fourth child, Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, died from infant respiratory-distress syndrome two days after his birth in the summer of 1963. Was instrumental in the creation of the space program, and in just eight years (1961-69) the US sent a man to the moon. Appointed his brother, Robert F. Kennedy , as US Attorney General. After his appointment, Congress enacted laws to prevent immediate family members from serving in the President's cabinet. Daughter Caroline Kennedy , born 27 November 1957. Graduated from the Choate School in Connecticut in 1935. Was elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and to the United States Senate in 1952. In 1940 he wrote the best-selling book "While England Slept", about some of the decisions which led to World War II. Suffered from Addison's disease. He created the Peace Corps. He graduated from Harvard in 1940.

Was named after his grandfather, John Fitzgerald, who was elected mayor of Boston, MA, in 1905. In 1955 he wrote "Profiles in Courage", which won the Pulitzer Prize in history in 1957. Served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was the youngest man elected President, and the youngest to die. Uncle of Christopher Lawford Pictured on a 5¢ US memorial postage stamp issued 29 May 1964 (birthday following assassination). Pictured on the 13¢ US postage stamp in the original Prominent Americans series, issued 29 May 1967 (50th anniversary of his birth). In 1961 he was chosen as Time Magazine's "Man of the Year". During a stopover in Palm Beach, FL, en route to Dallas, TX, on November 17, 1963, a private screening of Tom Jones (1963) was organized for him. It was the last film he saw. During his tenure at the White House, Kennedy, like Herbert Hoover before him, refused to accept a presidential salary.

While in office, the family Secret Service code names were: Lancer (The President); Lace ( Jacqueline Kennedy ); Lyric ( Caroline Kennedy ); Lark ( John Kennedy Jr. ). Died November 22, 1963, the same day as C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley . Although he was the youngest person elected president, he was not the youngest person to become president. That was Theodore Roosevelt , who became president after William McKinley was shot. US Senator from Massachusetts from 1953-61. His Vice President, Texas congressman Lyndon Johnson , campaigned against him for the presidential spot in 1960, and Kennedy later chose him to be his Vice President because he needed Johnson to win over southern voters. John's brother, Robert F. Kennedy , disliked Johnson intensely and the feeling was mutual. Was a natural speed reader. He could read about 2,500 wpm (ten times the average reading speed). He would read six newspapers from front to back while he had breakfast. In stark contrast to his own poor physical health, his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy was a very strong and physically active man who enjoyed hiking and canoeing among other outdoor sports.

His favorite film was Spartacus (1960). His funeral took place on the same day as that of Lee Harvey Oswald and Officer J.D. Tippit , the Dallas policeman who was killed by Oswald. His assassination inspired journalist Hunter S. Thompson to create his famous phrase, "Fear and Loathing". He, Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby all died in Parkland Hospital in Dallas, TX. The Lincoln Continental convertible limousine (plate: GG 300) in which he and then Texas governor John Connally and wife Nellie Connally were riding in on the day of Kennedy's assassination is on display in a museum in Dearborn, MI. In the course of his famous 1963 speech near the Berlin Wall, Kennedy had meant to say, "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a Berliner). Since nationalities in German are not preceded by articles, Kennedy actually said, "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am one with the people of Berlin). The urban legend that it translates into "I am a jelly donut" is a myth, since the pastry is known in Germany as "pfannkuchen" (pan cake).

Was portrayed by Martin Sheen in the miniseries Kennedy (1983). The second of only two US presidents to be entombed in Arlington National Cemetery, the first being William Howard Taft . "Black Jack", the riderless horse that served at his funeral, also participated in the funeral ceremonies of Presidents Herbert Hoover and Lyndon Johnson and Gen. Douglas MacArthur . Coincidentally, "Black Jack" was also the nickname of Jacqueline Kennedy 's father. Brother-in-law of Lee Radziwill He had numerous bizarre distant connections with the 16th US president, Abraham Lincoln . Although privately he suffered from numerous illnesses and ailments, he insisted on a public image of rugged fitness and masculinity. Following his infamous debate against Richard Nixon , he spent a week in Florida tanning and working out on the beach. He was often photographed playing football with younger brother Robert F. Kennedy , working out and playing various sports with his family. In one famous photograph, he is pictured wearing a leather jacket, jeans and sunglasses, casually leaning against a wall. In reality, he was so exhausted from getting over a virus and the job, that he literally fell asleep standing up.

Was portrayed by Stephen Collins in A Woman Named Jackie (1991) and Martin Donovan in RFK (2002). Grandson of Congressman John F. Fitzgerald. Both he and his brother Robert F. Kennedy have been portrayed by Martin Sheen . Was an avid reader, and at one point expressed his fondness for the James Bond novels of Ian Fleming . He said that a particular favorite was "From Russia with Love". For this reason, the producers of the Bond series made From Russia with Love (1963) the second Bond film. Encouraged Kirk Douglas to make the anti-nuclear movie Seven Days in May (1964). Was a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, belonging to both the Bunker Hill No. 62 and the Bishop Cheverus General Assembly. Fourth US president to be assassinated (unsuccessful attempts had been made on Presidents Andrew Jackson and Harry S. Truman , and on President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt ) and the seventh president to die in office. He was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

This was something instilled in him by his grandfather, Boston mayor John Francis Fitzgerald (aka "Honey Fitz"), who was himself a member of The Royal Rooters, a turn-of-the-century Red Sox fan club. His sister Jean Kennedy Smith was US ambassador to Ireland from June 1993-September 1998. His portrait appears on the US half-dollar coin. The street Rue John-F-Kennedy in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is named in his honor. When he died in 1963 he left an estate estimated at $10 million, all of which derives from trust funds established by his father, Joseph P. Kennedy . PT 109--the boat that he commanded during World War II--was mentioned on more than one occasion on the television series, McHale's Navy (1962), Kennedy is referred to, but he is never mentioned by name. On at least one episode, however, PT 109 is seen backing out of the dock next to the one where McHale's PT boat is, although no one can be seen on it.

He is mentioned in the lyrics of the songs "Killer Queen" by Queen , "Hey Manhattan!" by Prefab Sprout and "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel . The Oscar-winning "High Hopes" (from A Hole in the Head (1959)) was Kennedy's official presidential campaign song. Uncle of Anthony Radziwill and Tina Radziwill . Considered his younger brother Robert F. Kennedy to be his top advisor and closest friend. Bobby similarly felt the same way about Jack and was "utterly devastated" by Jack's death in 1963. Friends and family said that, after his brother's death, Bobby was never the same man. Despite their later close bond, he and brother Robert F. Kennedy were not close growing up. This was due, in part, to the eight-year age difference between them. It was not until Jack, during his third term as a Massachusetts congressman, took a seven-week trip through the Far East and parts of the Middle East, and took Bobby (who had just graduated from law school) with him that they grew closer. During the trip the duo discovered their mutual similarities and forged the deep bond that would last until Jack's death.

Jack appointed Bobby his campaign manager in 1952 and in 1960 he was reportedly so close to Bobby that while he was President he would often ask "Where's Bobby?" during important meetings, and would finally relax when Bobby showed up. For his part, Bobby's devout loyalty to Jack was often ridiculed and parodied by the media. Bobby, loving to poke fun at himself, often joked, "If I find the guy who says I'm too ruthless, I'll kill him". During his entire political career, he never once lost a single election. Journalist Jeff Greenfield (who later became a speech writer for Robert F. Kennedy ) described Jack as "the guy who looked like your cool older brother". When he visited Ireland in late June 1963, he became the first sitting US. President to set foot on Irish soil. His 1953 marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy (then Jacqueline Bouvier) was celebrated at St. Mary's Church in Newport, RI, where more than 700 guests were in attendance.

The couple later went to Hammersmith Farm overlooking Narragansett Bay (Rhode Island Sound), where a reception for 900 guests was lavishly catered. Best man at the wedding was Kennedy's brother Robert F. Kennedy . Among the ushers were Ted Kennedy , George A. Smathers and Sargent Shriver . Jacqueline's matron-of-honor was sister Lee Bouvier (aka Lee Radziwill ). Only US President to predecease both his parents: (father) Joseph P. Kennedy (d. 18 November 1969); (mother) Rose Kennedy (d. 22 January 1995). Was the first Irish-American President. Was the first US President to be born in the 20th century. After the parade through Dallas, Kennedy was scheduled to attend a Texas barbecue and then spend the night at Vice President Lyndon Johnson 's ranch. Johnson had organized a whip-cracking and sheep-herding demonstration for Kennedy's entertainment. The Kennedy assassination (Nov. 22, 1963) occurred on a Friday. The 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination (Nov.

22, 2013) also fell on a Friday. His great-grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, was a very poor Irish immigrant who emigrated to America in the fall of 1848. He fell sick from cholera and died in his Boston home on November 22, 1858, exactly 105 years to the day of JFK's assassination. His younger sister, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, married English politician and soldier William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, in the spring of 1944. This angered father Joseph P. Kennedy , who hated the idea of his Irish-American daughter marrying a British man. His older sister, 'Rosemary Kennedy', was born with learning deficits and had to be placed in alternative school. This shamed their father, Joseph P. Kennedy , who wanted all of his Kennedy children to be perfect in every way. In 1941 he forced Rosemary to undergo a lobotomy that went devastatingly wrong, causing her to become mentally incapacitated for the rest of her life. During the Cuban Missile Crisis he secretly agreed to remove US missiles from Turkey and Italy, and publicly announced that the United States would never invade Cuba again.

He refused to provide air support for the Bay of Pigs invasion, even though Dwight D. Eisenhower had provided air support for the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'etat. He increased the number of American soldiers in South Vietnam, and tolerated an illegal coup d'état there on 1-2 November 1963. His official height was six foot, although Kennedy himself said he was 5'11". Has an airport named after him in New York. Personal Quotes (43) Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. [5/25/61, in a special address to Congress] I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. [1/20/61 inaugural address, on joint US/Soviet scientific ventures] Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. [1/30/61, State of the Union address] In a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon . . . it will be an entire nation.

For all of us must work to put him there. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. [6/26/63, speech in West Berlin, Germany] Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was "Civis Romanus sum". Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner". All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words "Ich bin ein Berliner!". I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics but for our contributions to the human spirit. Victory has a thousand fathers but defeat is an orphan. Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. [privately, about Richard Nixon ] Richard Nixon's a conservative . . .

and if he became President, we could expect Republican policy would switch to the right. He is a filthy, lying son-of-a-bitch, and a very dangerous man. All my life, I've known better than to depend on the experts. [9/12/62, speech at Rice University, Houston, TX] We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to measure and organize the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone and one which we intend to win, and the others, too. [on Marlon Brando ] The greatest womanizer who ever set foot in Hollywood. [ten days before his assassination] The high office of President has been used to foment a plot to destroy the American's freedom, and before I leave office I must inform the citizen of his plight. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. [ Harry S. Truman ] regards an open convention as one which studies all the candidates, reviews their records and then takes his advice.

[6/10/63, in a commencement address] The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough--more than enough--of war and hate and oppression. We shall do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just. We are not helpless before the task or hopeless of its success. Confident and unafraid, we must labor on--not towards a strategy of annihilation but towards a strategy of peace. In the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's futures. And we are all mortal. Our problems are manmade. Therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. The civil rights movement should thank God for [ Eugene 'Bull' Connor ]. He's helped it as much as Abraham Lincoln . [after the Bay of Pigs invasion] The advice of those who were brought in on the executive branch was unanimous, and the advice was wrong.

And I was responsible. [1962] If anybody is around to write after this, they are going to understand that we made every effort to find peace and every effort to give our adversary room to move. I am not going to push the Russians an inch beyond what is necessary. [in the fall of 1960] I suppose if I win, my poon days are over. [1960, joking with a supporter] Do you realize the responsibility I carry? I'm the only person between [ Richard Nixon ] and the White House. [1961] We are probably strong enough to prevent one nation from unleashing nuclear weapons on another. But we can't prevent infiltration, assassination, sabotage, bribery, any of the weapons of guerrilla warfare. One guerrilla can pin down 12 conventional soldiers, and we've got nothing equivalent. [in 1960, to Benjamin C. Bradlee , on how he intended to announce the appointment of brother Robert F.

Kennedy to the position of US Attorney General] Well, I think I'll open the door of the Georgetown house some morning about 2:00 A.M., look up and down the street, and if there's no one there, I'll whisper, "It's Bobby". [November 1961] This chimpanzee who is flying in space took off at 10:08. He reports that everything is perfect and working well. [1962, to Theodore Sorensen ] If we solve the Berlin problem without war, Cuba will look pretty small. And if there is a war, Cuba won't matter much, either. Some people have their liberalism "made" by the time they reach their late 20s. I didn't. I was caught in crosscurrents and eddies. It was only later that I got into the stream of things. I must say, in defense of our own country, if the United States had not emphasized the military since 1945, the shape of the globe would be very different than it is today. So that those who feel that we overemphasize it might consider the fate of freedom if we had not emphasized it.

[June 11, 1963] It is not enough to pin the blame on others, to say this is the problem of one section of one country or another, or deplore the fact that we face. A great change is at hand, and our task, our obligation, is to make that revolution, than change, peaceful and constructive for all. Those who do nothing are inviting shame, as well as violence. Those who act boldly are recognizing right, as well as reality. [June 11, 1963] If an American, because his skin is dark, cannot eat lunch in a restaurant open to the public, if he cannot send his children to the best public school available, if he cannot vote for the public officials who will represent him, if, in short, he cannot enjoy the full and free life which all of us want, then who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand in his place? Who among us would then be content with the counsels of patience and delay?

[1962] Too often in the past we have thought of the artist as an idler and dilettante and of the lover of arts as somehow sissy or effete. We have done both an injustice. The life of the artist is, in relation to his work, stern and lonely. He has labored hard, often among deprivation, to perfect his skill. He has turned aside from quick success in order to strip his vision of everything secondary or cheapening. His working life is marked by intense application and intense discipline. As for the lover of arts, it is he who, by subjecting himself to the sometimes disturbing experience of art, sustains the artist - and seeks only the reward that his life will, in consequence, be the more fully lived. It is only after you wield the powers of the presidency that you get hated. [ Wayne Morse ], [ Jimmy Hoffa ], Al Hayes, etc., all hate me now merely because of one bill. Presidents are bound to be hated unless they are as bland as [ Dwight D. Eisenhower ]. [November 22, 1963, upon arriving in Dallas, Texas] We're really in nut country now.

[March 1962] I sometimes think we are too much impressed by the clamor of daily events. Newspaper headlines and the television screens give us a short view . . . Yet it is the profound tendencies of history, and not the passing excitements, that will shape our future. [1960] Once you say you're going to settle for second that's what happens to you in life, I find. [on Inauguration Day, January 21, 1961] The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it - and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. [on Inauguration Day, January 20, 1961] Together, let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce. [to 49 Nobel Prize winners who came for dinner] This is the most extraordinary collection of talent that has ever gathered at the White House--with the possibility of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone. We are tied to the ocean.

And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or watch - we are going back from whence we came. See also Best Presidents of the United States - Top Ten List - TheTopTens® Best Presidents of the United States wideup The Top Ten 1 Abraham Lincoln (16) Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865 . Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War - its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis . Should be above Bush, you think 911 was worse than the civil war? Clinton balanced the budget and actually left a surplus but top 5? No. Personally don't think Bush43, Clinton, JFK, or Nixon belong in the top 10. JFK was not a good president, just remembered well. Nixon was a brilliant politician but remembered as a shady scumbag, even compared to other politicians. FDR elected 4 times but if it weren't for WWII his new deal would have destroyed America not to mention court packing is worse than what Nixon did.

FDR = shadiest president every (adulterer, internment camps, undercutting his own party to win a 3rd term... ) Obama is the worst for the deficit so far of any president in history and he won a nobel prize because they hoped that he wouldn't vote on a troop surge, which he did anyway. Those aren't arguments for praise. Any honorable recipient would have returned it after his decision but he was probably busy visiting the last of the "57" states. Washington had the ... more Abraham Lincoln is the reason the United States is still United and began the elimination of racism by ending slavery. To do this he began a largely unpopular but necessary war. This made him hated to the point where he was assassinated but he went through with his decision anyway. Would any politician today do this? I doubt it. Abraham Lincoln was man you could change his ideas. Like slavery he first thought it was good. Then he realized that slavery was wrong. He did almost everything to fix the country. No other president thought about slavery should be wrong or even segregation. Martin Luther king jr was not a president but still fought for what is right. Only Abraham Lincoln thought slavery was wrong.

He was a man of changes and does what should be right among us. If he didn't exist there still would be slavery and African Americans would not be equally treated. So I think Abraham Lincoln should be the best president in history. A masterful politician and leader when our country needed one more than ever. He saved the union and put slavery behind us. He gave his life for his country. V 542 Comments 2 George Washington (1) George Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Even more than Jefferson or Madison he fought for a balance between state and federal government. Not to mention he believed in what he was doing. - LadyLioness #1. (no party) The father of this nation. If it wasn't for him, we simply would not be here and would never have gotten the experience to live in the best country in the world. It is because of strong and heroic men like him, that we live free today and he is a constant reminder of our democracy and the reason why our flag stands up strong and will continue to serve us forever and ever! Don't get me wrong.

I love America. But even if the country I am about to say did have an evil, evil history and terrible leaders, it got better after a bit. I'm proud to be 1/4 of the country who brought us Albert Einstein, even if Steven Hawking is smarter. Germany FOR THE WIN! George Washington kept the fledgling nation alive during one of its greatest challenges, and did it without circumventing the constitution. However, the most remarkable thing about his presidency is that I can't think of anything bad to say about his time in the office. Bush jr., Reagan, FDR, JFK, and Clinton belong nowhere near the top 10. He is the father of our great country. V 204 Comments 3 Ronald Reagan (40) Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician and actor who was 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 . Prior to his presidency, he was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, following a career as a Hollywood actor and union leader . #40.

(Republican) he was able to fix the economy, create twenty million new jobs, lower inflation rates, exempt low income Americans, create economic stability for small businesses, lower taxes, and bring in an end to the Cold War with his concise and effective foreign policy skills. He also was able to survive a gun shot and return to his duty only three weeks later. A real true American who believed in this country and a real true father to Conservatism! Even the democrats loved him. Good Bless Reagan. The only president that was true to his word, most people that don't like him want a pacifist in charge, why do you think we are still bad ass Ronald Reagen is top president. He is a real but kicker, and if you see this in heaven ron I'll say you're the best president that ever lived and is still living. The most successful U.S president on the economic and social plan, an icon to respect forever! 4 Thomas Jefferson (3) Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father who was principal author of the Declaration of Independence. I personally don't understand how anyone can out rank this founding father, other than General Washington, for his role in creating the Americas. But even then - what is America if not free?

Jefferson was one of those rare independent thinkers, who spent his life studying the nature of man; and when you read what he wrote, it was all spot on. All his warnings and insistence on keeping power at a local, state level, where people could be held accountable for their actions were warnings that the entire world, not just America can learn from in today's globalist governments who act with impunity. He was unfortunately the last of a dying breed of men, whose education of Latin and philosophy was soon traded for the ideals of the industrial revolution. I often wonder what Jefferson would think of the modern world. Yes, our lives are incredibly easy and comfortable, but are we truly free? Would he sit back as the fed rapes and ruins what he fought for. Or would he ... more Thomas Jefferson is one of the most underrated presidents ever. The fact that G.W. bush and Bill Clinton were voted above Jefferson is bad enough, but Lincoln being number two is unbelievable. Lincoln destroyed Jefferson's vision of a free, VOLUNTARY union of sovereign states. If people understood history, Bush, Clinton, LINCOLN, and all other imperialist presidents would be voted down as some of the worst presidents in the history of the country.

Read Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and it will become clear that every president which was voted above Jefferson (with the exception of Washington) supported policies which were counter to the founders' vision. Thomas Jefferson was a Hypocrite... he might have come up with the Declaration of Independence but he refuse to free the slaves because their absence would make his life hard. I have not respect his efforts. Thomas Jefferson was a hero, visionary, revolutionary thinker, as well as architect and all around genius. Any man who rejects these facts is just plain stupid and to replace them with the slavery scandal will be just as much so. What jefferson provided for this nation far surpasses any of his person shortcomings which all presidents even Washington and especially Lincoln, and to judge his political character by these would be foolish. Why is this bloke #4?! His second term almost bankrupted america! He should be #20 at the most! V 80 Comments 5 Franklin D Roosevelt (32) Franklin Delano Roosevelt, commonly known as FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served as the President of the United States from 1933 to 1945.

A Democrat, he won a record four presidential elections and dominated his party for many years as a central figure in world events during ... read more . No one greater than Roosevelt. He was dead before I was born, but I can barely look at his picture without crying. My parents were children in the depression, and credited this man for literally saving them from starvation. Mother said no one was working, had any food, or money, and lived in daily fear of what would happen to them. They would listen to his fireside chats on the radio, and she said the fear would lift at the sound of his voice, and calm come over the house. He assured them they would be taken care of, not to worry, and the government trucks started delivering the potted meat and some staples. I have been told that almost every American home at that time had his picture hanging on the wall of their homes. Unless you lived during those times, you cannot fully appreciate what this man did. He saved America, paralyzed from a wheel chair. I adore this man. Lead us through one of the toughest times this country has ever faced. How could Governor Bush even be on this list.

Yes I still call him governor because that's the only political position he's actually ever fairly won (remember Al Gore and Florida? ) - crazyeyes56 He got us through the Great Depression and WWII, and yet George Bush (who got us IN a depression and a war) is still ahead of him. That just doesn't make sense. Above every other president. He saved our butts. If it weren't for his leadership during the depression, we wouldn't have became the industrial hub of WWII, and the Axis Powers would have won. He saved the free world. He saved everything that the founding fathers made this country for. V 263 Comments 6 Theodore Roosevelt (26) Theodore Roosevelt was an American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. As a leader of the Republican Party during this time, he became a driving force for the Progressive Era in the United States in the ... read more . An honest politician, if there is such a thing. A man who actually cared about the average American citizen and the environment. He was brave in conflicts on the battlefield and in Washington.

I'm not what you would call an educated man (only high school grad. ) But I can read and from what I have read, I feel I am right. We would have no National Parks if it was for him. A great solider, sportsman, conservationist, and most of all President. Thank God for Teddy Roosevelt. #26. (Republican) strong imperialistic leader who's influence on government is still vital to the U.S. today with the creation of the Big Stick Policy. His love for nature and keeping America's national landmarks forever reserved is a constant symbol representing our pride and integrity! He also installed other effective policies such as the Meat Inspection Act and was determined to fight for the workers rights and benefits for the many Americans affected by America's Industrial Period. Come on, he was a cowboy for one, and was even shot before giving a speech but still gave it. He was an amazing man and president V 138 Comments 7 John F Kennedy (35) John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy, commonly referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963.

The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the ... read more . Seriously? George W. Bush is # 1? All he did was start the Iraq and Afghanistan War, not to mention he barely helped at all when Hurricane Katrina came through. Now JFK, he was amazing. He started the Peace Corps, started the Space Race, made sure African Americans had equal rights in housing( And would've done more for Civil Rights if he served longer), made sure Steel industries couldn't raise their prices over and over, and stopped the Cuban Missile Crysis, and he didn't even serve a full term! So JFK deserves first or second for sure. I don't disagree with you that JFK was a good president; however, to blame the Iraq/Afghan War on George Bush is absolutely ignorant of the entire remainder of the story. - themusicking101 People who say JFK doesn't belong in the top ten obviously don't know JFK at all.

He negotiated the Cuban Missile Crisis, which stopped a potential nuclear war, he was the one who started the Space Race which ultimately landed an AMERICAN on the moon, and he was a war hero, Purple Heart bearer who was willing to die for his country long before he actually did. I would cast my vote for JFK as one of the best presidents ever any day. He also caused the Cuban Missile Crisis (via the Bay of Pigs invasion) - marmalade_skies He's was the only Irish-Catholic president ever, and he was the youngest elected president ever. No one can represent the world, let alone America, as well as this guy. He would've completely solved any problems with Russia or Cuba, and who knows, even Korea or the Middle East. This guy knew what he was doing, unlike some other guys (ahem... Bush). He fought for Spanish rights in the 1960's, while Reagan, opposed it. V 300 Comments 8 Dwight D. Eisenhower (34) Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was an American politician and general who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961.

He was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. #34. (Republican) the strong and heroic WW2 general who lead the successful attack on Normandy. He helped the Americans defeat Hitler and it is because of his efficient military actions that helped us win V.E. day (Victory in Europe Day). If it wasn't for him, Hitler would have probably taken over the world, killed the rest of the Jews, and would have the remaining people still living under nazi occupation. Eisenhower was not only a superb war general but also a great president who was a strong civil rights activist and dedicated his presidency to stopping the spread of segregation across America. Not only did he get us out of WW2, but later during his presidency, he also got us out of the Korean War. The fact that he was able to get us out of two wars is very astonishing and is something that not everyone can achieve in their lifetime! However, he did it and he did it well! The reason why America rose to be a GREAT nation. He built our national infrastructure. He built our space program. He educated our population. He WARNED of the military industrial complex.

He oversaw 8 years of peace during one of the worst periods in history. He was everything that Republicans today despise. A very skilled politician who helped ease Cold War tensions and downsized the military-industrial complex, focusing on air power. While he was not personally invested in preventing segregation, he enforced court orders against it. He left most of the New Deal and Fair Deal intact as well. Overall, a very effective politician who fits the label "conservative" in a literal sense. Modern Republicans probably wouldn't support a candidate like him though. He was the father of NASA for goodness sake! Need I go on? - BoltMarksman V 59 Comments 9 William Clinton (42) William Jefferson Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States . He previously served as governor of Arkansas . He became president after unseating incumbent president, George H . W Bush in 1992 . He was re-elected in 1996 after defeating Senator Bob Dole . I've lost all faith in this list and in the people who have voted Bush as the 2nd best president, though I'm not surprised if you get your info from Fox News or even MSNBC.

The economy was BOOMING fantastically during this man's terms, and he knew how to work with both the Democratic and Republican party. Gas was cheaper than it ever was under George W Bush (and Barack Obama's first term. Another thing is that Bush DID NOT inherit a recession from Clinton; he inherited a SURPLUS and drove it into the ground, and yet the man is second place on this list?! Really, being rated ahead of Truman, John Adams, Polk, Jackson and Coolidge. All of his domestic legislation was initiated by Newt Gingrich or Bob Dole. Some of it was excellent and fortunately public opinion forced him to sign the legislation. In fairness to Bill he did expand NATO and built Middle East pipelines around our enemies, but he did screw up in his deals with N. Korea and China. If teachers would really teach American History he would not be rated any where near this level It was the best era in my life time. The economy was good. I had my first job and making good money. There was so much prosperity and so much surplus then little Bush took us to war in Middle East and took it all away.

While he helped to create the financial collapse through deregulation which would come to affect the US economy in later years, he was the only President in most current history that balanced the budget w/o a deficit. His personal life aside, he worked very well as a leader in foreign affairs, was a good negotiator, and domestically we as citizens could not have asked for more from a President. He worked well with Congress and created great economic prosperity. I will always remember this a great time in American History. V 204 Comments 10 James Madison (4) James Madison, Jr. was a political theorist, American statesman, and served as the fourth President of the United States. #4. (Democratic-Republican) the father of the bill of rights who helped create the individual demands and benefits that still hold true to the American people this very day! Another perfect example of a founding father who's policies helped America succeed and improve its conditions for a stronger and more reliable nation. His strong inspiration and courage is a constant reminder of the civil liberties that represent our constitution and law of the land. He was a very well-informed person, and many admired this about him.

Because he knew so much and contributed a lot to the debates, Madison was called "Father of the Constitution." Also, Madison he took notes -published in The Federalist Papers- which are today our best record of what happened during the Constitutional Convention. Madison argued for federalism (power being divided between the states and national government), which eventually won over antifederalism (states having more power than the national government). Madison helped convince Virginia, which as a whole was opposed to a stronger central government, to ratify the Constitution. Madison was secretary of state for Thomas Jefferson (some even commented he controlled the president! ) and then became president himself. While he was president, the U.S. faced the War of 1812. Personally, James Madison is my favorite president He led the nation through the War of 1812, securing US sovereignty for generations to come. He was also the father of the constitution and help to write the Federalist Papers without which we might not have democracy in the world today. A major intellectual contributor to the formation of the government...the Federalist papers are a very interesting and important read.

The Contenders 11 John Adams (2) John Quincy Adams was an American statesman who served as the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. He also served as a diplomat, a Senator and member of the House of Representatives. #2. (Federalist) another founding father who's examples lead to the creation of the constitution and declaration of independence. It is because of his actions that lead to our freedoms and fought for our rights as American citizens. He is also the well known successor of our nation's first president George Washington and continued to carry out his dreams and responsibilities that made America stand strong to this very day! With few exceptions, John Adams is unmatched in Character, morals and honor. Of those in the 'top 10' only Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson come close to matching Adams. He is one of the original founding fathers, as a lawyer he defended the British soldiers in the Boston massacre (and got them equitted in a Boston courtroom full of people who wanted to hang them). He consistantly voted for what he believed was right (including voting for Indian rights) even when it was not popular. What president in the last 50 years would do that?

He was a little paranoid and played a huge role in leading to the collapse of the Federalist Party. He refused to listen to anything Hamilton ever told him, even if it made sense. He was also against many Federalist principles such as a standing army and consequently caused a deep rift in the party. He was the only president before Lincoln who disgusted slavery V 35 Comments 12 Andrew Jackson (7) Andrew Jackson was an American statesman who served as the seventh President of the United States from 1829 to 1837 . He was born near the end of the colonial era, somewhere near the then-unmarked border between North and South Carolina, into a recently immigrated Scots-Irish farming family of relatively ... read more . Jackson's policies toward Native Americans will haunt the population for ever in that he went against the Supreme Court and stationed US troops in Georgia in an attempt to settle and drive all of them out on the Trail of Tears. If only more people knew this travesty. You forgot the part about Scalp Bounties though -- it gets even uglier. - theOpinionatedOne He got rid of the Federal Reserve, which most Americans have no idea is not part of the federal government.

Fought the British as a 13 year old. Fought the British at New Orleans and whipped their butts. There was no national debt for the first and last time in history. As far as the trail of tears, bad deal for the civilized tribes for sure but you never hear of anyone wanting to the the land back to the Native Americans. Such was the case with Manifest Destiny. Jackson was a President who made the democratic process more available to the masses. It does not offset the Trail of Tears with the Native Americans in the South even though the Supreme Court said he could not. He is suppose to enforce the laws of Congress and verdicts of the Court. He destroyed the Bank of the U.S. over a personal quarrel which caused the Panic of 1837. Please do not mention anything about the spoils system. Andrew Jackson was a horrible president and also a complete racist. Signing the Indian Removal Act and sending thousands of natives on the trail of tears. Pretty bad for the first democrat president. V 76 Comments 13 Harry S Truman (33) Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States, an American politician of the Democratic Party.

Harry did what was right not popular, forcing owners and strikers to meet, integrating the military and firing MacArthur's ass. Heck he even brought in a surplus and actually lived a normal life after his presidency. President Truman made the right decisions, Never the most popular. He fought for the country in WWI. He stood up against the KKK. He was against lying. His values were never questioned. He never trusted Stalin nor the USSR. He shaped the policy with his advisors on the cold war. He brought an end the WWII saving hundreds of thousands of allied lives and millions of Japanese. He stood up to the military. He asked Hoover to help feed millions in Europe after WWII. He actually took responsibility for his actions. "The buck stops here" He took responsibility for his action. He used the atomic bomb and implemented the Marshall Plan to save Europe from communism. He won an election where he was a huge underdog because he was such a fighter. The Korean War was the big crack during his years as President. He was such a force. The last and only honest president.

V 46 Comments 14 Woodrow Wilson (28) Thomas Woodrow Wilson was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921. Born in Staunton, Virginia, he spent his early years in Augusta, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina. Ouch! "he created the Federal Reserve Act", you mean he passed the Federal Reserve Act in exchange for money from the private banks that make it up...he then realized he had created a monster allowing private banks to lend money to the government at high interest rates, & that the Board of Directors had more power than anyone in the government, including him!. The man who founded the original Federal Reserve, the "the First Bank", said "Give me the power to print money, I care not who is governing"...because they have no power! Wilson regretted his decision & died saying he betrayed his country by signing that Bill, that's the best thing about him! Benjamin Franklin said giving away the power to print money, (& a private entity with NO audits at that! ) would destroy this country!

I can't believe people are actually so misinformed as to list this as a positive, the man himself died in shame for betraying his country! It's the basis of every economic crisis since then. "The hand giving ... more This guy was actually a pretty decent president. He was hated though cause his presidency fell in a time of war, and subsequently people were sick of him, rejected his ideas (League of Nations was vetoed by America, ironically America's president was the one who proposed it) and wanted him gone. This dude was ahead of his time with the fourteen points and the League of Nations. He saw a world rid of imperialism and a global parliament like the United Nations as a way to prevent large scale european wars. Not to mention he had envisioned globalism before it truly became what it is now. He should be listed with the WORST presidents! V 37 Comments 15 James Monroe (5) The Monroe Doctrine was an important contribution. The geographic isolation of the United States was necessary for this country's experiment in democracy (yeah, I know we're a republic but this had never been tried on such a grand scale before) to come to fruition. The Monroe Doctrine supplemented the geographic isolation.

He was the last of the five founding fathers There is a reason Monroe's 8 years as President is called "The Era of Good Feelings" A: You can't be a president if your not good. B: He was the last founding father! V 12 Comments 16 James Polk (11) James Knox Polk was THE best example of a leader with efficiency, promise, consistency, and was really a major unsung hero. Polk came into the presidency with some laid-out goals, promised to get them all done, ended up completing everything he wanted to do (which was incredibly significant and crucial), and then left and never came back. What a bad-ass. This guy never gets enough credit and is a true success among US presidents. Polk's my favorite of all time, and he should definitely be a Top 10 staple. Polk should never be looked past. Top 10 President #6 He said that he had an agenda and if he achieved it then he would not run again. He set goals and achieved them. Such agenda like annexing Texas, acquiring land in the west and settling the Canada--USA present border.

Polk accomplished these goals in Texas becoming a state, the Mexican War with land acquired to the Pacific Ocean and fifty-four forty or fight to settle the question with Great Britain. He was successful so he served for 4 years as a result. Should be much higher! Annexed Texas, the Oregon Territory and the Mexican Session. Lowered Tariffs and set the groundwork for our modern banking system and completed it all in 4 years. We could use more like him. This guy deserves to be in the top 10. He was a very hard-working man. He expanded America and made California into a state - DoroExploro13 V 22 Comments 17 Lyndon B. Johnson (36) Lyndon Baines Johnson, often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He expanded medicare and medicaid. HE fought for Civil Rights and waged the war on poverty. The only reason he gets a bad rep is because of the prolonged War in Vietnam.

Which he didn't even inherit in the first place and its not as if you can immediately pull out of a military involvement without any forethought. He was great. Accept it. His record of domestic achievement including civil rights, medicare, medicaid, the war on poverty, education and the environments is unequalled. Despite Vietnam, a war he inherited, he left the US economy stronger than when he took over. His record grows year by year as his accomplishments and effectiveness are compared with his successors. A great president. Johnson got Civil Rights through and was an incredible politician with a strong history of getting things done in the Senate. He inherited Vietnam and it was a hornets nest, but would have been for anyone. Many others would have led the US to Nuclear oblivion. Johnson managed it. Meanwhile, getting a lot done for society and improving the lives of millions. Great guy. Very clever bastard! Unfortunately he prolonged this war in Viatnam. But what is not told is that tricky dicky Nixon even sabotaged his peace plans. Very sad. Fought like a lion bis whole live and than ended up as one of the most underrrated presidents.

V 38 Comments 18 Calvin Coolidge (30) The greatest president of the 20th century. His demeanor brought the country together: blacks, whites, upper class, and lower class. Under his presidency, the United States saw the greatest economic expansion in its history, which was evenly spread throughout all classes. Not only that, but he restored the integrity of the national government, avoided war with Mexico, normalized relations with Cuba, passed the Young and Dawes acts, which postponed World War II, limited the growth of government, and reduced taxes so the middle and lower classes were paying close to zero percent rates. Despite all these successes, the most profound aspect of Calvin Coolidge, was his adept understanding of the executive branch. Presidents do not create laws, but rather enforce them. My favorite president. Helped pass Immigration Acts and helped change America into the Melting Pot it is today. He did what was necessary in a time of little need to maintain that title and led the body of America with a new found gait and posture unlike any president post-Coolidge or pre-Coolidge. Deserves to be appreciated much more.

Say what you will, but Calvin Coolidge was the best president, at least of the 20th Century. He was able to bring America out of a dark depression in 1921, and he created jobs for nearly the entire Country. Coolidge is the most underrated president, and, in my opinion, the Best. He's actually quite underrated. He fixed the corruption Harding left in the White House, and is responsible for the roaring twenties. - Therandom V 38 Comments 19 George W. Bush (43) George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000. The eldest son of Barbara and George H. W. This Bush is one of the greatest in history, but not as President... he is however one of the greatest nightmares to humanity in the 20th century. He has caused the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians - including women and children.

When he "attacked terrorism", it took him 2 months to send only 11,000 troops to Afghanistan (there are more than 11,000 police in NYC) which gave Osama bin Laden PLENTY of time to get hidden. Then he lied to America about WMDs in Iraq to pull us into a ten year war to line the pockets of his family, and his friends with billions of dollars at the taxpayer's expense. He condoned the use of torture. And when he got into office the US had a surplus - when he left we were trillions of dollars in debt. Plus he scared the public into giving up rights with the Patriot act. Easily one of the worst presidents ever. A total disgrace to the US and the ideals of our founding fathers. Especially to the eyes of the world. I'm just glad he's gone now ... more Accidently gave you a thumbs down on your reply. Actually, I completely agree with what you wrote, spot on! - sharzi To the fellow who has the three-point defense of Bush, you are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. 9-11 happened on September 11, 2001.

George Bush assumed office in January of that year so he had already been in office nine months when 9-11 happened. He did not &quotinherit" it, it happened on his watch. Nor did he do anything that truly helped the economy. When Bush left office, the unemployment rate was 10 percent, which the Obama administration has cut in half. Our country was losing hundreds of thousands of jobs per month at the end of Bush's presidency, which was also reversed by Obama. There is this feeling among Republicans that giving tax breaks to the wealthy spurs the economy, but the fact is that a greater percentage of the population can afford to purchase goods, that's when the economy thrives, as under Clinton and Obama. I realize Fox News has its set of facts and that's all that some people listen to, but these are the actual facts. Probably the 3rd worst president in U.S. history after Buchannan and Andrew Johnson. Lying about the WMDs, helping the events leading to the Great Reciison (a.k.a. the great stock crash of 2008), waterboarded and by killing Sadam Hussein he made the biggest mistake in history.

Now other groups such as Hamas and ISIS are growing and have allies such as Vladimir Putin. As well, on September 11th, 2001 one of the saddest and darkest days in both the U.S.'s and the World's history he was reading a book to some children in Florida (The Big Sheep). Coretta Scott King told him that a plane had hit the WTC's South Wing to which he replied- I'm reading. She later told him another plane hit the North Side to which he responded- I'll deal with it later. About an hour later, the pentagon was hit and he finally left. Total ass. Fool me once shame on, shame on you. fool me,you can't get fooled again.Need to say more? V 172 Comments 20 Ulysses S. Grant (18) His high moral character which is evident in his attempts of peace with the native americans, along with sending federal troops to round up the k in the south has to be appreciated considering he followed arguably the most racist president ever (A. Johnson) Similar to Eisenhower, Grant quelled the hatred in the South during Reconstruction, and secured the lives of many blacks.

He was probably the finest American General, and without him, the war may have been very different. Although he was President during corrupt times, the whole late 19th century was corrupt, so don't let that shadow his presidency. Eisenhower was so long AFTER reconstruction. Who was your history teacher? They should get fired. - TwillyFSniper He was the only president to put us in the green economically and got rid of the BANK during his presidency... He accomplished something all others had failed... Our history books said he was the worst president... They are wrong! Yes, but he really is known for being the best general. As president he was taken advantaged of and taken in by naivety of president.

Question: Who, when he took on the position, was the second-youngest US president to take office, the first US president born in the 20th century and, at age 43, the youngest elected to the office?
Answer: John F Kennedy