Greatest Post World War II President

smhatahy · 10-21-2008, 05:25 PM

Who do you think is the greatest post WWII President?

My pick is Richard Nixon. Yes, I know the Watergate scandal was a huge blow on his presidency, but in his defense, corruption in the White House is very common, he was just one of the few that got caught red-handed. And though he did lie about his involvement, I do find it somewhat honorable that he didn't just destroy the tapes, which any other President would have probably done.

Now on to the good stuff:

1) Ending the Vietnam War.
Sure it wasn't as quick as some of the liberals would have liked, however he managed to get our troops out of Vietnam in a way that wasn't a complete embarrassment to the nation. And it wasn't like he started the war, it wasn't handed down to him, and he did a great job putting and end to it.

2) Contributed Heavily to Ending Racial Segregation
He help desegregate schools, established an affirmative action program (that was at the time necessary, not anymore). Although Kennedy is more known for desegregation and civil rights, I think Nixon deserves more credit.

3) Diplomacy
He was the first US President to visit Communist China and he established diplomacy with them. This has been very influential in the Chinese-American relationship and we benefit from his efforts even now. He also increased diplomatic relationships with the Soviet Union and signed SALT I and the Anti-Ballistic-Missile Treaty. Much of his work of diplomacy with the Soviet Union was undone by the Reagan Administration.

4) Environmental Friendliness
He is considered to be one of the most environmental friendly President, and he's a Republican. Surprising, I know.

Some of his other programs that were implemented I don't personally agree with but I will mention because they were pretty influential and progressive.
1) Wage and Price Control
2) Social Security Reforms
3) Plans for Universal Healthcare (though they weren't enacted)

**Ridley's Own** · 10-22-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshay

Who do you think is the greatest post WWII President?

My pick is Richard Nixon. Yes, I know the Watergate scandal was a huge blow on his presidency, but in his defense, corruption in the White House is very common, he was just one of the few that got caught red-handed. And though he did lie about his involvement, I do find it somewhat honorable that he didn't just destroy the tapes, which any other President would have probably done.

Yes, subverting the constitution you swore to uphold usually is one of those 'minor' things that gets you put in the Presidential naughty book...

My pick: Truman. Two words: Marshall Plan.

JerryLove: Johnson? Really? Are you stoned?!?

**RK_lover** · 10-22-2008, 01:49 PM

I'd pick either Truman, Eisenhower or Nixon.

**thesteve** · 10-22-2008, 02:23 PM

I clicked the button for Nixon as well.

acrossthesirion · 10-22-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridley's Own

Yes, subverting the constitution you swore to uphold usually is one of those 'minor' things that gets you put in the Presidential naughty book...

My pick: Truman. Two words: Marshall Plan.

Bah...I wish I could actually remember all this history I was supposed to have learned...

Bryan · 10-22-2008, 03:26 PM

Gerald Ford because he pardoned Nixon and because he was the first president to never be elected to the executive branch.

smhatahy · 10-22-2008, 10:04 PM

Thrash: George W. Bush? Seriously?

**Thrash** · 10-22-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshay

Thrash: George W. Bush? Seriously?

what! HOW DID YOU KNOW!

**meatfinger** · 10-22-2008, 10:23 PM

ummmm... public poll?

Surprised nobody's said Kennedy.

**Thrash** · 10-22-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meatfinger

ummmm... public poll?.

Yeah, i know that, but I did not know any one could see your vote...

**Fandrew** · 10-22-2008, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrash

Yeah, i know that, but I did not know any one could see your vote...

Well, at the top of the poll, before you voted, it read "Careful: Others can see the option you chose"

Jeffrey · 10-22-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshay

Who do you think is the greatest post WWII President?

My pick is Richard Nixon. Yes, I know the Watergate scandal was a huge blow on his presidency, but in his defense, corruption in the White House is very common, he was just one of the few that got caught red-handed. And though he did lie about his involvement, I do find it somewhat honorable that he didn't just destroy the tapes, which any other President would have probably done.

I cannot believe you are attempting to find the silver lining to one of the most brazen acts of an American president.

Quote:

1) Ending the Vietnam War.
Sure it wasn't as quick as some of the liberals would have liked,

What the **** does this mean? It wasn't just "the liberals" (whoever that is), many conservatives spoke against that unjust, immoral, unconstitutional war.

Quote:

however he managed to get our troops out of Vietnam in a way that wasn't a complete embarrassment to the nation. And it wasn't like he started the war, it wasn't handed down to him, and he did a great job putting and end to it.

Tell that to the POW's left behind. And why did he and Kissinger wait so long to end it? Ridiculous.

Quote:

2) Contributed Heavily to Ending Racial Segregation
He help desegregate schools, established an affirmative action program (that was at the time necessary, not anymore). Although Kennedy is more known for desegregation and civil rights, I think Nixon deserves more credit.

Supporting federally-controlled public education? That's actually very liberal of you.

I can't believe I read your post. My eyes refuse to believe it.

JerryLove · 10-23-2008, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ridley's Own

JerryLove: Johnson? Really? Are you stoned?!?

The great society, the Civil Rights act, a man landing on the moon, Medicare/Medicade, educational investment, War on poverty, national endowment for the arts, public broadcasting, Urban Mass Transit act, Motor Vehicle Safety act and establishment of NHTSA, Truth in Lending, Wilderness Act of 1964, Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, National Trails System Act of 1968, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965, Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965, Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act of 1965, National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Aircraft Noise Abatement Act of 1968, and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

If he hadn't been a domino-theory believer...

Quote:

Although Kennedy is more known for desegregation and civil rights, I think Nixon deserves more credit.

And I think Johnson. Nixon was in a GWB-like power grab to turn "president" into "dictator". In fact, Nixon was the begining of the Cheney/Rumsfeld dynasty, both of whom entered the White House under Nixon.