Throughout American history, some Presidents have left an indelible mark with their successful policies, while others, despite their best efforts, fell short. This light-hearted look at 17 past U.S. Presidents focuses on those who didn’t quite hit the mark.
John Adams
John Adams, the second President, faced a tough act following George Washington. His support of the Alien and Sedition Acts, aimed at strengthening national security, backfired, leading to accusations of tyranny.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson, who took office after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, initially had a surge of popularity. However, his involvement in the Vietnam War greatly tarnished his reputation. The war, which escalated under his administration, became increasingly unpopular and is often seen as a blight on his presidency.
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon’s presidency is indelibly marked by the Watergate scandal, leading to his resignation—the only U.S. President to do so. Nixon initially achieved significant foreign policy successes; however, the Watergate scandal, stemming from a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up, drastically eroded his public support.
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the first President born as a U.S. citizen and not a British subject, but sadly it didn’t help. He inherited an economic crisis, the Panic of 1837, and his policies failed to provide a quick solution. His single term was marred by this financial downturn.
John Tyler
John Tyler, who assumed the presidency after William Henry Harrison’s death, was often at odds with his party and had most of his policies blocked. He was even nicknamed “His Accidency” due to the unexpected way he became President.
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore’s support of the Compromise of 1850, including the controversial Fugitive Slave Act, made him unpopular in the North. He failed to secure his party’s nomination for a second term. Fillmore was also the last member of the Whig Party to be President.
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce’s support of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed these states to choose if they wanted slavery, led to violent conflict and was seen as a policy failure. Pierce loved to unwind by reading but apparently didn’t find any suitable solutions between the pages.
Herbert Hoover
Hoover was an orphan by the age of nine and later became a successful mining engineer before entering politics. Unfortunately, the success ended there, as the president during the onset of the Great Depression, struggled to provide effective relief. His policies were seen as too little, too late.
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, often rated as one of the worst Presidents, failed to prevent the country’s slide into the Civil War. His indecisiveness and inability to address the slavery issue are widely criticized.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson’s presidency after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination was turbulent. Johnson’s approach to Reconstruction and frequent clashes with Congress, leading to his impeachment, marked his term as largely unsuccessful. Johnson was a tailor before his political career and made his own suits even as President, more successfully than he made policy.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant, a Civil War hero, faced a presidency marred by corruption scandals, although he personally remained uninvolved. The administration’s inability to effectively tackle Reconstruction issues and the economic crisis of 1873 overshadowed his military achievements.
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency, which began with the contentious Compromise of 1877, saw him struggling to reconcile the divided nation post-Civil War. His efforts in reforming civil service and ending Reconstruction were met with mixed reactions.
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison’s tenure saw the controversial McKinley Tariff and increased federal spending, which contributed to an economic downturn. Harrison’s policies were often criticized for favoring big business over the general population.
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft is more remembered for his post-presidency role as Chief Justice. His presidency was seen as lackluster, with failed tariff reforms and a split in the Republican Party. Taft once even got into trouble in the White House bathtub, leading to the installation of a larger one.
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding’s presidency was overshadowed by the Teapot Dome scandal, marking his administration as one of the most corrupt. Though Harding was personally liked, his inability to detect corruption among his associates greatly tarnished his legacy.
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge, known for his laconic nature, presided over a period of prosperity. However, his laissez-faire approach is criticized for setting the stage for the Great Depression. Coolidge was so famously quiet that a dinner guest bet she could make him say more than two words; his reply: “You lose.”
Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur, ascending to the presidency after James Garfield’s assassination, struggled with a reputation for being part of the spoils system. Though he attempted reform with the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, his efforts were often overshadowed by his initial association with patronage politics.
READ MORE
There’s no denying that Millennials have fallen for some pretty questionable gadgets, much to the amusement of the Boomer generation. In this post, we’re diving into 17 gadgets Millennials bought into that made boomers laugh.
THE BOOMERS CALLED IT: 19 STUPID TRENDS THAT BACKFIRED
20 THINGS THAT WEREN’T CONSIDERED LUXURIES 20–30 YEARS AGO (BUT ARE NOW)
Times change, and some of us are old enough to remember how much. Some things that were seen as affordable or reasonable a few decades ago are now luxury items kept as a rare treat, only exist in certain instances (or not at all), or are reserved for the wealthy. One internet user recently inquired, “What was normal 20–30 years ago but is considered a luxury now?” Here are the top 20 replies:
20 THINGS THAT WEREN’T CONSIDERED LUXURIES 20–30 YEARS AGO (BUT ARE NOW)
23 THINGS HUSBANDS WISH THEY COULD TELL THEIR WIVES WITHOUT STARTING A FIGHT
A recent internet survey posed the question, “Married men: what’s one thing you wish you could tell your wife but won’t because you know it will start a fight?” Here are the 23 best responses.
23 THINGS HUSBANDS WISH THEY COULD TELL THEIR WIVES WITHOUT STARTING A FIGHT
STUCK IN THE PAST? 21 HOME DECOR ITEMS THAT INSTANTLY EXPOSES YOU AS A BOOMER
Some things never change, and a few products hold onto the past. Here are 21 items that scream ‘Boomer’ and are associated with outdated technology and nostalgic trinkets. Check your home to see if you have any of these relics.
STUCK IN THE PAST? 21 HOME DECOR ITEMS THAT INSTANTLY EXPOSES YOU AS A BOOMER
19 THINGS THAT ONLY OLD PEOPLE SEEM TO HATE (AND NO ONE ELSE CARES)
As times change, there are inevitably some things that baffle our beloved seniors, while leaving the rest of us in splits or simply shrugging it off. From avocado toasts to e-books, in this article, we’re highlighting 19 things old people hate that the rest of us just don’t understand.
19 THINGS THAT ONLY OLD PEOPLE SEEM TO HATE (AND NO ONE ELSE CARES)