Washington: He was actually a fairly decent President, and he should be commended with his actions in stabilizing relationships with Great Britain and France. Still, his inaction against the excise tax on whiskey led to the Whiskey Rebellion. Instead of listening to their points of view, as some of their livelihoods depended upon the profits made by turning grain to whiskey, he instead sent in the troops to put the rebellion down. There had even been non-violent protests before this "rebellion" took place. It was also during his presidency that the polarization of politicians truly reached it's climax. Despite this, however, I will say that Washington was a Fair-Good President.
Jefferson: Once again, a pretty good President, as he repealed the Alien and Sedition Act. He also repealed many federal taxes. Still, you must recall the Embargo Act of 1807, which basically banned the importation of foreign goods, and the exportation of American goods. This greatly harmed the economy of the young United States. Also, in the Winter of 1806, he approved the actions of Gen. James Wilkinson, who arrested several of Aaron Burr's associates without warrants, and also jailing their attorney, the judge, the judge’s closest friend, a newspaper editor, former Senator John Adair, and about sixty other citizens, with no charges against them. Jefferson's only reservation being that Wilkinson had to stay within the limits, not of the Constitution, but of what public opinion would bear.
If Even Jefferson Was Bad… Overall, Fair-Good.
Madison: Madison supported the Embargo Act. He led us in the penultimate War of 1812. Yes, we left it with the Era of Good Feelings, but we also left it with quite a few of our cities as smoldering ash, Washington D.C. included. He also established the Second National Band of the United States, but that could go into either the good or bad category, depending upon your opinion on national banking. Overally, Fair-Good.
James Polk: He endorsed an aggresive expansionist foreign policy against Mexico, although you might argue that it was to support a republic over a dictatorship. This expansion also led to the Compromise of 1850, which further stressed tensions that led to the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln: He suspended habeas corpus. Yes, the Constitution states that it can be suspended if in cases of rebellion or if public safety requires it, but I still feel that habeas corpus is an essential right to every American, even in wartime. He took control of telegraph lines and shut down disloyal newspapers. Establishing liberty by taking it away. There must have been a better way.
Grover Cleveland: Cleveland was an okay president. He had a few problems with labor unions, but overall he was pretty good. I feel that he didn't really do much good in his presidency, but he did very little bad, which I commend.
Teddy Roosevelt: His interventionist policies in world affairs just kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, he was a fairly good president, helping to establish the FDA and National Parks. But "speak softly and carry a big stick" imperialism just doesn't strike me too well.
Woodrow Wilson: Well, he help to pass the Federal Reserve Act, established a progressive income tax, and supported segregation. He also suppressed any opinions contrary to the government's pro-war beliefs. He also establishing the Espionage Act and the Sediton Act, both of which represent the overreach of government to suppress anti-war, anti-British, or pro-German opinions.
Harry Truman: He was an okay president. He supported government intervention in the New Deal, and supported an unnecessary military presence in Korea, even before the Korean War. Debatably, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki could be considered as marks against him.
Dwight Eisenhower: Another okay president. The interstate system and desegregation are good points. I must say that his attitudes toward the Middle East, with the Eisenhower Doctorine and the replacement of a democratically-elected government of Iran with an absolute monarch, disturb me. This definitely created quite a few problems for us in the long run.
Bill Clinton: Yes, he oversaw an era of economic stability. He also supported NAFTA, which I feel harmed our economy in the long run. He also supported American intervention in Somalia and Bosnia. Sadly, he will probably only be remembered for Lewinsky. Overall, I rate him a fair-good president.
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