Which recent Democratic president had a better second term?

[Suburbia]

Which recent Democratic president had a better second term? Bill Clinton (1997-2001) or Barack Obama (2013-2017)?

Me personally? Bill Clinton. Yes, the Lewinsky scandal overshadowed his policy work, but he got stuff done and the American public was probably happier economically, socially and race relations were doing well in 1999 than in 2015.

Clinton got Balanced Budget done, etc. Lott, Gingrich and Hastert still worked with the man. He seemed busy until the final hour in January '01.

Barack Obama's second term sapped out around April 2013 with the IRS stuff and he checked out. I remember 2013-14 where his SOTU ratings declined and his failed proposals never got traction (myIRA, etc.)

I am sure he felt bored in 2014-15.

[Alben Barkley]

You're pretty much right. Clinton was still able to get stuff done, Obama not so much. But not really his fault, the GOP's entire strategy by that point was just to obstruct as much as possible. That STARTED in the Clinton years but didn't become basically all there was to GOP Congressional policy until the Obama years.

[Suburbia]

You're pretty much right. Clinton was still able to get stuff done, Obama not so much. But not really his fault, the GOP's entire strategy by that point was just to obstruct as much as possible. That STARTED in the Clinton years but didn't become basically all there was to GOP Congressional policy until the Obama years.

True.....this is why a lot of people fear a Biden second term because what can he get done in 2025-29 with a Republican Congress, especially in a potential six-year itch?

Presidents need to make a mark right away, especially in Years 1 and 2....that's why FDR was one of the greatest....he made a mark right away and we are still reaping from it (New Deal programs, etc.)

[Mr. Smith]

Obama. He got stuff done and stuck to his guns with the executive orders. If Hillary had won, all of those massive accomplishments would have lasted.

Clinton got impeached and he got most of what he did by appeasement and caving to a bunch of short-sighted policies that went nowhere.

[dw93]

Tough call as  both of their 2nd terms ended with the GOP narrowly (and controversially in the case of 2000) winning the Presidency without the Popular Vote. The Democrats had a good midterm in 1998 and damn near re took Congress in 2000 despite Bush getting the Presidency while the GOP had a wave in 2014 and didn't gain much ground downticket in 2016. On the other hand, Obama was more principled in his 2nd term than Clinton and as Mr. Smith Said:

Obama. He got stuff done and stuck to his guns with the executive orders. If Hillary had won, all of those massive accomplishments would have lasted.

Clinton got impeached and he got most of what he did by appeasement and caving to a bunch of short-sighted policies that went nowhere.

I'd truthfully say it was a wash. Give me LBJ's elected term of 1965-69 over either one of these recent 2nd terms, even with Vietnam.