Los peores presidentes en la historia de Estados Unidos.
Martin Van Buren
8th president, 1837-1841
Making himself nearly disappear completely from the history books was probably not the trick that the "Little Magician" Martin Van Buren had in mind, but his was the first truly forgettable American presidency.
Van Buren was largely done in by an economic crisis brought on by banks offering easy credit while benefiting from little or no central regulation. (Sound familiar?) The President's extravagant lifestyle made him an easy scapegoat for political opponents, and the ensuing economic crisis overshadowed his deft handling of early sectional tensions. He was soundly defeated by William Henry Harrison in 1841.
Making himself nearly disappear completely from the history books was probably not the trick that the "Little Magician" Martin Van Buren had in mind, but his was the first truly forgettable American presidency.
Van Buren was largely done in by an economic crisis brought on by banks offering easy credit while benefiting from little or no central regulation. (Sound familiar?) The President's extravagant lifestyle made him an easy scapegoat for political opponents, and the ensuing economic crisis overshadowed his deft handling of early sectional tensions. He was soundly defeated by William Henry Harrison in 1841.
William Henry Harrison
Harrison has the inglorious distinction of having had the shortest presidential term, dying of pneumonia after just 30 days in office. The pneumonia may or may not have been exacerbated by his Inaugural address, the lengthiest ever and one delivered in freezing temperatures without aide of a coat or a hat. Clocking in at almost two hours, the long-winded speech set a record that still stands. It is Harrison's most noteworthy accomplishment in office.
Harrison has the inglorious distinction of having had the shortest presidential term, dying of pneumonia after just 30 days in office. The pneumonia may or may not have been exacerbated by his Inaugural address, the lengthiest ever and one delivered in freezing temperatures without aide of a coat or a hat. Clocking in at almost two hours, the long-winded speech set a record that still stands. It is Harrison's most noteworthy accomplishment in office.
John Tyler
10th president, 1841-1845
After John Tyler earned the vice presidency on the strength of a campaign slogan that tacked him on as an postscript — "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" — his fate as a historical footnote seemed likely. And when he ascended to the presidency following the death of William Henry Harrison, being dubbed "His Accidency" made it a lock.
Tyler was so deeply unpopular during his presidency that all but one of his cabinet members resigned in protest when he vetoed a bill establishing a national bank. Shortly after, he was expelled from his own party and the House of Representatives tried to issue impeachment charges against him. Tyler, unable to recapture his own party's presidential nomination in 1845, left to support the nascent Confederate movement. He died in the Confederate House of Representatives, fighting another losing battle to the last.
After John Tyler earned the vice presidency on the strength of a campaign slogan that tacked him on as an postscript — "Tippecanoe and Tyler too" — his fate as a historical footnote seemed likely. And when he ascended to the presidency following the death of William Henry Harrison, being dubbed "His Accidency" made it a lock.
Tyler was so deeply unpopular during his presidency that all but one of his cabinet members resigned in protest when he vetoed a bill establishing a national bank. Shortly after, he was expelled from his own party and the House of Representatives tried to issue impeachment charges against him. Tyler, unable to recapture his own party's presidential nomination in 1845, left to support the nascent Confederate movement. He died in the Confederate House of Representatives, fighting another losing battle to the last.
Millard Fillmore
13th president, 1850-1853
Millard Fillmore's rise to the presidency reads like a Horatio Alger tale. Born in a log cabin on New York's frontier before rising through the state's political machine to the highest office in the land, all the ingredients for a great story were there. But his presidency would provide an utterly forgettable ending.
Fillmore became president after the unexpected death of Zachary Taylor and became myopically focused on the Compromise of 1850, which tried to quell sectional concerns by setting the balance of slave states and free states after the Mexican-American War. Here he would prove to be on the wrong side of history, treating the conflict—as the New York Times famously observed—as a political, rather than a moral question. In his desperation to broker the act through, however, he ended up with legislation that united everyone only in their displeasure and did little to ameliorate the tensions that would eventually lead to civil war. Instead, another log cabin-born president would ultimately be remembered for saving the Union. And Fillmore? Fillmore who?
Millard Fillmore's rise to the presidency reads like a Horatio Alger tale. Born in a log cabin on New York's frontier before rising through the state's political machine to the highest office in the land, all the ingredients for a great story were there. But his presidency would provide an utterly forgettable ending.
Fillmore became president after the unexpected death of Zachary Taylor and became myopically focused on the Compromise of 1850, which tried to quell sectional concerns by setting the balance of slave states and free states after the Mexican-American War. Here he would prove to be on the wrong side of history, treating the conflict—as the New York Times famously observed—as a political, rather than a moral question. In his desperation to broker the act through, however, he ended up with legislation that united everyone only in their displeasure and did little to ameliorate the tensions that would eventually lead to civil war. Instead, another log cabin-born president would ultimately be remembered for saving the Union. And Fillmore? Fillmore who?
James Buchanan
15th president, 1857-1861
Millard Fillmore just stalled the Civil War — James Buchanan made it a near certainty. Claiming that his hands were bound by the Constitution, Buchanan believed the best action to quell the threat of secession was no action at all. Sympathetic to the South, Buchanan supported the Dred Scott decision, and when Southern states stated their intention to withdraw from the Union, he called their actions illegal but said he had no authority to stop it. He hoped to negotiate a compromise but didn't bother to seek reelection, leaving behind little record of accomplishment and the Civil War looming starkly on the horizon.
Millard Fillmore just stalled the Civil War — James Buchanan made it a near certainty. Claiming that his hands were bound by the Constitution, Buchanan believed the best action to quell the threat of secession was no action at all. Sympathetic to the South, Buchanan supported the Dred Scott decision, and when Southern states stated their intention to withdraw from the Union, he called their actions illegal but said he had no authority to stop it. He hoped to negotiate a compromise but didn't bother to seek reelection, leaving behind little record of accomplishment and the Civil War looming starkly on the horizon.
Rutherford B. Hayes
A Republican presidential candidate loses the popular vote in a disputed election, but wins the White House after months of partisan wrangling. It's not a lie — history does repeat itself. Rutherford B. Hayes squeaked into office thanks only to a congressional commission's narrow vote. Though if you thought George W. Bush had enemies, consider this — Hayes' official Inauguration was secretly held inside the White House, for fear of the trouble his opponents might stir up.
A former Ohio Representative and governor, Hayes scored points from good-government types for appointing Cabinet members regardless of political ties, though his reputation took a hit after he called in federal troops to squash widespread railroad strikes in 1877. The troops opened fire on workers and killed dozens.
First Lady Lucy Hayes, a temperance supporter, became known as "Lemonade Lucy" after banning liquor from the White House. But on the flip side of the fun spectrum, President Hayes began the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, which continues each spring. And for this, we remember him.
A former Ohio Representative and governor, Hayes scored points from good-government types for appointing Cabinet members regardless of political ties, though his reputation took a hit after he called in federal troops to squash widespread railroad strikes in 1877. The troops opened fire on workers and killed dozens.
First Lady Lucy Hayes, a temperance supporter, became known as "Lemonade Lucy" after banning liquor from the White House. But on the flip side of the fun spectrum, President Hayes began the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, which continues each spring. And for this, we remember him.
Chester Arthur
21st President, 1881-1885
Chester Arthur was one of five Presidents who was never elected — he took office after James Garfield's assassination and served nearly a full term.
His political rise took place in the not-quite-squeaky-clean New York political machine, where he had a reputation for cronyism and allegedly demanded kickbacks from workers to support the Republican party. So he shocked many observers by becoming a reformer in office, ushering in the civil service commission to crack down on the rampant spoils system. Even Mark Twain said it would be "hard to better" his administration.
But Arthur's do-gooder streak didn't particularly please other Republicans, and he became one of the few Presidents to fail to win his own party's nomination for re-election. Historians suspect he didn't campaign very aggressively for it, as early in his term he learned — but kept secret — that he had a fatal kidney disease. He died less than two years after leaving office.
Chester Arthur was one of five Presidents who was never elected — he took office after James Garfield's assassination and served nearly a full term.
His political rise took place in the not-quite-squeaky-clean New York political machine, where he had a reputation for cronyism and allegedly demanded kickbacks from workers to support the Republican party. So he shocked many observers by becoming a reformer in office, ushering in the civil service commission to crack down on the rampant spoils system. Even Mark Twain said it would be "hard to better" his administration.
But Arthur's do-gooder streak didn't particularly please other Republicans, and he became one of the few Presidents to fail to win his own party's nomination for re-election. Historians suspect he didn't campaign very aggressively for it, as early in his term he learned — but kept secret — that he had a fatal kidney disease. He died less than two years after leaving office.
William McKinley
25th President, 1897-1901
Quick — which President is on the $500 bill? William McKinley, obviously. (And yes, they did make $500 bills for a while.)
McKinley was a savvy politician who listened carefully to the public. Though he opposed it at first, McKinley brought the country to war with Spain in 1898 as Pulitzer and Hearst's "yellow journalism" juiced the nation's appetite for a fight. America's claim to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay count among the war's legacies.
McKinley was shot by an anarchist at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901. Alerted by McKinley's aides, Thomas Edison sent a brand-new x-ray machine to Buffalo after a bullet couldn't be found inside McKinley's body. But doctors, thinking McKinley was improving, never used it. He died of gangrene eight days after he was hit and was replaced in office by his far more memorable vice-president, Theodore Roosevelt.
Quick — which President is on the $500 bill? William McKinley, obviously. (And yes, they did make $500 bills for a while.)
McKinley was a savvy politician who listened carefully to the public. Though he opposed it at first, McKinley brought the country to war with Spain in 1898 as Pulitzer and Hearst's "yellow journalism" juiced the nation's appetite for a fight. America's claim to Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay count among the war's legacies.
McKinley was shot by an anarchist at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901. Alerted by McKinley's aides, Thomas Edison sent a brand-new x-ray machine to Buffalo after a bullet couldn't be found inside McKinley's body. But doctors, thinking McKinley was improving, never used it. He died of gangrene eight days after he was hit and was replaced in office by his far more memorable vice-president, Theodore Roosevelt.
Warren G. Harding
29th President, 1921-1923
The original "Warren G," Harding is widely considered one of the country's worst Presidents.
He was an Ohio newspaper publisher who eventually rose to U.S. Senator, where he preferred poker, socializing and, it was said, womanizing to working. Republican bosses favored Harding, however, finding him charismatic and pliant, and he won the presidency in 1920 promising to restore pre-World War I "normalcy" (his mangling of the word "normality" was ridiculed by critics).
In office Harding appointed a slew of corrupt officials, prompting the Teapot Dome bribery scandal which sent a Cabinet secretary to prison for the first time. An accused adulterer, Harding was the subject of a best-selling memoir from a woman claiming to be his mistress and mother of his illegitimate daughter.
Harding died in office. He lives on, in part, as a cautionary tale told by author Malcolm Gladwell. In his book Blink, Gladwell says the "Warren Harding error" led supporters to assume he'd be a good President simply because he appeared stately and presidential. It didn't quite work out that way.
The original "Warren G," Harding is widely considered one of the country's worst Presidents.
He was an Ohio newspaper publisher who eventually rose to U.S. Senator, where he preferred poker, socializing and, it was said, womanizing to working. Republican bosses favored Harding, however, finding him charismatic and pliant, and he won the presidency in 1920 promising to restore pre-World War I "normalcy" (his mangling of the word "normality" was ridiculed by critics).
In office Harding appointed a slew of corrupt officials, prompting the Teapot Dome bribery scandal which sent a Cabinet secretary to prison for the first time. An accused adulterer, Harding was the subject of a best-selling memoir from a woman claiming to be his mistress and mother of his illegitimate daughter.
Harding died in office. He lives on, in part, as a cautionary tale told by author Malcolm Gladwell. In his book Blink, Gladwell says the "Warren Harding error" led supporters to assume he'd be a good President simply because he appeared stately and presidential. It didn't quite work out that way.
Entradas
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario