Who is the most underrated President in history?

[WillK]

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Oh, I disagree.   

Then how would you have proposed to end the Seminole wars in Florida and other white civilian massacres throughout the south? Using early 19th century methods.

The Seminole War during Jackson's term was the result of his policy.  I agree with what one of the US Army officers wrote in his journal:  "The government is in the wrong, and this is the chief cause of the persevering opposition of the Indians, who have nobly defended their country against our attempt to enforce a fraudulent treaty. The natives used every means to avoid a war, but were forced into it by the tyranny of our government."

[Marokai Backbeat]

John Adams

[WillK]

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Oh, I disagree.   

Then how would you have proposed to end the Seminole wars in Florida and other white civilian massacres throughout the south? Using early 19th century methods.

You know, I've been thinking about this much of the day and I have to admit you have a point.  As much as I think that another solution could have been found, I cant think of one that would have been possible in the political climate of the time.   Its not the "early 19th century methods" that I think are the issue, its the political situation of the time.  Either the federal government had to move the Cherokee or Georgia was going to do it for them.   

[Nixon in '80]

Taft, Truman, Eisenhower, Ford, Carter, Bush 41, and Bush 43 are all underrated in my opinion.

Well, in the case of Carter and Bush 43, they aren't so much "underrated" as "overhated".

[Eraserhead]

William Henry Harrison

[Meeker]

John Quincy Adams

[SPC]

Warren Harding

[Mint]

Warren Harding

Other than not turning a post-war recession into something worse, what did he do?

[WillK]

Warren Harding

Other than not turning a post-war recession into something worse, what did he do?

You think prosperity is worse than recession??

Underrated means that is wasnt as bad as is commonly said.  Harding is commonly listed at the bottom, so it shouldn't take much to make him underrated.

He brought peace, freedom & prosperity after the war, repression, recession & riots of Wilson.
He ended Wilson's segregation of federal offices & supporting anti-lynching legislation
He reduced taxes and reducing the government control of businesses instituted in the Wilson years
He pushed through the Budget & Accounting Act which created the more systematic federal budgeting system we are accustomed to today.
He brought about the Washington Naval Agreement which was an impressive naval arms control agreement. He signed peace treaties with Germany and Austria, which replaced Wlson's failed Treaty of Versailles. He dealt successfully with Labor and Business regarding strikes and work conditions in the steel industry. He established the VA
He made some strong Cabinet choices -- Hughes, Hoover, Mellon, Wallace, Davis, Weeks; but also some bad ones -- Denby, Fall, Daugherty.

[Хahar 🤔]

I have finally found a home. Polk has been my favorite underrated President since I learned about him in my high school American History class. He did so much to expand this country and assert our territorial manifest destiny in one term (as he promised on the campaign trail).

Polk for the face of the $5 bill. Lincoln already has his currency.

Imperialism is not a good thing.

[Хahar 🤔]

I have finally found a home. Polk has been my favorite underrated President since I learned about him in my high school American History class. He did so much to expand this country and assert our territorial manifest destiny in one term (as he promised on the campaign trail).

Polk for the face of the $5 bill. Lincoln already has his currency.

Imperialism is not a good thing.

So then Jefferson would also be a crappy president. Polk kept our borders safe and expanded them to keep us safe. Imperialism is bad today, but manifest destiny then was justified and appropriate.

And he actually kept all his major campaign promises. Never a bad thing.

Manifest destiny was not at all justifiable. How'd how it work out for the Mexicans in the Southwest? I'm not a huge fan of Jefferson, but Napoleon had no use for the Louisiana after the revolt in Haiti.

He didn't get Fifty-Four Fourty or start a fight.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

My favourite saying about the Lousiana Purchase in one foul swoop Jefferson doubled the size, but halved the value.

But I think
- John Adams (talk about bad luck - sandwiched between Washington and Jefferson!)
- Cleveland
- Truman (I just like him)
- George HW Bush (I mean... he was  a godsend compared to Junior)

[© tweed]

He may not be the best president in your opinion, but the question is underrated president. For all that he has done to shape the modern world by his policies, you must give him credit.

this would assume that the "modern world" is a fundamentally good place.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Chester A. Arthur, of course. One of the greatest presidents we never hear about. He modernized the navy, cleaned up corruption in government and established rules for civil service. The man was a great president.

I couldn't agree more.  Arthur is very underrated.

[Psychic Octopus]

Chester Arthur. Arthur ranking so incrediblely low in the list of Presidents is shameful. It's a scam.

[Lunar]

Are current presidents excluded?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Truman.

[k-onmmunist]

John Adams
Polk
Grover Cleveland
Nixon
George H.W. Bush
Clinton

[The Duke]

Arthur.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

     Truman.

I don't see how Truman can be underrated; he always makes the 7 or 8 when ranked.

[Mechaman]

Calvin Coolidge, bitches.

[Rowan]

Clearly George W. Bush.

[War on Want]

Clearly George W. Bush.

He broke international law, invaded a country on false pretenses and shoddy reasonings, then on top of that ran up a huge deficit in a time of economic prosperity. Yeah he isn't underrated.

[Mechaman]

Clearly George W. Bush.

He broke international law, invaded a country on false pretenses and shoddy reasonings, then on top of that ran up a huge deficit in a time of economic prosperity. Yeah he isn't underrated.

I disagree, his ability to f$#k everything up is vastly underrated.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Cooldige, Nixon, Cleveland, John Adams.

Those four.