Obama.
John Quincy Adams. A primary negotiator to end the war of 1812 and one of the loudest early opponents of slavery. Intelligent, experienced and stood up for what was right.
Well said Gopher. I can appreciate why JQA was considered underrated. Pretty fascinating guy. He was more global in those days than many politicians are today. Some say his best work was done outside the oval office. I like the end of what the whitehouse.gov bio says..Acknowledged by some historians as the most underrated historical figure in USA history: worked as translator to the USA ambassador (his dad) to the Russian Tsar, wrote the Monroe Doctrine, fought against nullification, won the Amistad case, proved that third party candidates can win the White House, and was the trustee for the Smithsonian making it the grand museum it is today.
If we could have him or FDR the USA would be in great shape.
My feelings exactly, the best of the best, not politicians, but statesmen, who understood the big picture and took the long view. Have you read William Manchester's brilliant 3 volume biography of Churchill? Highly recommended, you'll want to read it more than once. I don't buy a lot of books, but I read a lot of books (libraries are one of our better inventions), but those books I just had to own, in the expensive hardcover versions. They are treasures, I've read them 3 times.Theodore Roosevelt
Teddy was a bloody genius. He and Churchill are without competition in the Great Political Leader of the Twentieth Century Sweepstakes.
Most of the past presidents would not be chosen by their own party if choosing today.
Do really first rate people not go into politics anymore?
My feelings exactly, the best of the best, not politicians, but statesmen, who understood the big picture and took the long view. Have you read William Manchester's brilliant 3 volume biography of Churchill? Highly recommended, you'll want to read it more than once. I don't buy a lot of books, but I read a lot of books (libraries are one of our better inventions), but those books I just had to own, in the expensive hardcover versions. They are treasures, I've read them 3 times.
And where are the leaders like that these days? Do really first rate people not go into politics anymore?
Acknowledged by some historians as the most underrated historical figure in USA history: worked as translator to the USA ambassador (his dad) to the Russian Tsar, wrote the Monroe Doctrine, fought against nullification, won the Amistad case, proved that third party candidates can win the White House, and was the trustee for the Smithsonian making it the grand museum it is today.
If we could have him or FDR the USA would be in great shape.
No, I regret to say, I haven't, haven't been able to find it around here, and I'm not even sure that the first volume is still in print. I may have to go to Amazon....have you read Edmund Morris' brilliant 3 volume biography of Theodore Roosevelt?
Haven't read that either, and wouldn't unless somebody gave it to me, I wouldn't buy it. Reagan doesn't interest me at all, I watched him during his presidency in real time and was consistently unimpressed. I think his belligerence probably prolonged the Cold War by several years, by causing such alarm in the Kremlin that the hawks were able to retain power and influence much longer than they would have otherwise.Oh, and if you read Dutch, don't let it put you off. It is hard to believe the same man wrote both biographies.
George W. Bush.
Now that was a president!
I forgot about James Madison .