Presidents at Peace: Warren Harding Pardons Eugene Debs

[kensmind]

Throughout history it seems that whenever America was at war or war seemed imminent, free speech and first amendment rights were an early casualty. For example, in 1798, when war with France appeared possible, the administration of John Adams brought about the Alien and Sedition Acts, which, among other things, restricted speech which was critical

Comments

[sdu754]

I agree with the Wilson is way overrated, I think Wilson is highly ranked, because he's a college professor. In effect, the rankers have a soft spot for him, because they identify the most with him. They also like Jefferson, considered one of the most scholarly presidents, as well as Theodore Roosevelt & Kennedy, both writers of historical works.

I actually think Harding is one of the most underrated presidents along with Grant & Tyler. Historians put too much emphasis on his premarital affairs when the original Schlesinger polls came out in 1948 & 1962. They haven't held other presidents to such high standards. As far as the corruption goes, Harding never participated or profited from any of it, and it's way overblown. It's not as though corruption is rare in the federal government. I think Harding suffers from being the "anti Wilson" as well. His landslide election was a direct rejection of Wilson's policies. Historians generally don't consider human rights when rating pre world war II presidents.

Nixon ranks lowly, because he was the guy liberals loved to hate from the mid 40s until the 80s. Conservatives don't like him for being one of the most liberal presidents ever, and the second most liberal between FDR & Obama.

[kensmind]

Well said. I was thinking exactly the same thing about Nixon and the irony that you mentioned about how he was viewed by liberals and conservatives. I think, with Nixon, his strange behavior towards the end didn't help his reputation, and perhaps over time that will be forgotten and he will be more remembered for his accomplishments than for his unfortunate statements caught on tape.

You also make a great point about Wilson. Even though Reagan's popularity declined towards the end of his second term, the country elected a Republican to succeed him. Eisenhower's successor didn't lose by very much, ditto for Clinton. But after Wilson's second term, the voters really protested by giving Harding a landslide. I agree that Wilson gets cut much more slack by those who write his legacy than he deserves.