Ronald Reagan for modern history. I guess Harrison for the old history since all he did was get sick and die.
Reagan did some good things for the economy. He would have been a great President if he had not committed three horrible actions:
1. Allowed payroll (FICA) taxes to increase from 7.9% to 15%--almost doubling the tax burdens of poor working people.
2. Approved RICO--allowing the government to seize cash and other assets from innocent people with impunity under pretenses that it might be drug related.
3. Gave weapons, cash, and assistance to the Mujahadeen to fight the Russians, thereby creating the Taliban. If it wasn't for this, 911 would have never happened.
Tough choice. Buchanan, Harding, or Coolidge. I can excuse Harding to some extent. He was just stupid and completely unqualified for the job... even he knew it. He wasn't corrupt as much as those he put in important positions were corrupt. Buchanan's lack of leadership and action lead to the Civil War, Coolidge's lack of leadership and action lead to the Great Depression. Hmmm... Buchanan was a life long statesman, having been a Representative, a Senator, and a Secretary of State, and should have known better. I give him a little sympathy because he did not have the kind of personality to be President during the time in which he served, a time that required strong leadership, but that does not excuse his failures.
I mostly disagree. None of these are anywhere near the top for worst President. Coolidge, in particular, was one of our BEST. He did NOT contribute to the great depression; that was Hoover, and later, FDR. Our economy under Coolidge was extremeny prosperous. Hoover practiced greater fiscal responsibility than all but three or four other Presidents.
The worst Presidents are:
1. FDR--imposed massive socialism onto America; we are still suffering from it. He also agitated the Japanese into bombing Pearl Harbor to get us into a war (Remember his "I hate war" lie?).
2. Lincoln--imposed the War of Northern Aggression, created 1st military draft and 1st attempt at federal income tax.
3. LBJ--Vietnam war, "Great Society," other massive socialist interventions.
4. Wilson--Federal income tax, massive spending and debt increases.
5. Obama--I don't even need to mention all the crap that he has done.