Warren G Harding Revisited: Was he the best President of the 20th Century?

[Microsecessionist]

Due to his vehement opposition to the League of Nations, I consider him to be a Savior of the Republic. Not that I love the U.S. Federal Republic (I like the Articles of Confederation a lot better), but he saved Americans from global tyranny and set a good example that was unfortunately not continued for all time; where Wilson failed, FDR succeeded.

He's often ranked as one of the worst Presidents, but I don't think that's fair. I think the mainstream scholars find it frustrating that he made the Depression of 1920-21 a forgotten one by not intervening in the economy.

I'd go as far as to say he was not only the best President of the 20th Century, he was also the only one of the 20th Century who was above average. Coolidge can only be considered average (in my opinion), largely because of his brutal enforcement of prohibition and for starting the FRC.

His accomplishments are quite possibly more than any other president, and he did a damn fine job at clearing the smoke out the room left by Wilson. Unfortunately, FDR reversed it all and we're a Wilsonian Democracy now because of that.

I also question the scholars' who say he was one of the dumbest Presidents. His economic intellect ("if prices must fall, the wages must fall also") was unrivaled by all but a few Presidents after Andrew Jackson.

I've included a poll to see what other Ron Paul Republicans think about Warren Harding.

[Rael]

Warren who?

[BuddyRey]

I'd say it comes down to him and Calvin Coolidge.

[phesoge]

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czcUmnsprQI

5:19 Woods begins to talk about Harding. Coolidge enforcing Prohibition just throws him off for me.

[phesoge]

5:19 no need to go to the link I posted above. Same video.

[heavenlyboy34]

I'd say it comes down to him and Calvin Coolidge.

Yep. Very unfortunate that the best presidents and other statesmen are almost all practically unknown and uncelebrated by most people.

[Rothbardian Girl]

I prefer Cleveland from what I have learned so far about the presidents (admittedly more than most people, but certainly not more than some of our presidential scholars on here), but Harding is up there too. Of course, there isn't a single president who was out-and-out libertarian in all of his actions. I know Rothbard had a lot of love for Harding, but not so much for Coolidge IIRC. I will have to look up that article again. (Shameless appeal to authority? I think yes! )

[Microsecessionist]

I prefer Cleveland from what I have learned so far about the presidents (admittedly more than most people, but certainly not more than some of our presidential scholars on here), but Harding is up there too. Of course, there isn't a single president who was out-and-out libertarian in all of his actions. I know Rothbard had a lot of love for Harding, but not so much for Coolidge IIRC. I will have to look up that article again. (Shameless appeal to authority? I think yes! )

I like Cleveland better than Harding also, but Cleveland wasn't a 20th Century President.

My absolute favorite President is John Tyler. He was basically Jefferson the Revolutionary. Jefferson the President wasn't quite as principled and so Thomas Jefferson isn't quite Dr. Paul.

My favorite Presidents are Van Buren, Tyler, Taylor, Cleveland, and Harding. Andrew Johnson also wasn't bad, but I don't like how he served the Union and the fact that he never would've become President had he not done so. Jackson wasn't bad, but he wasn't good because of the Native American Removal and his threatening to use force against South Carolina over the tariff. Jefferson the President did some good, but he also initiated the process of Native American Removal, he bought Lousiana, he fought the Barbary Pirates, he wanted someone prosecuted for slander, and the Embargo Act was quite awful.

I'd have to say Washington, Adams 2 (the father, not Adams 6), Madison, Lincoln, Wilson, and FDR were probably the worst Presidents up to FDR, but overall Lincoln and Wilson are the worst Presidents of all time. Polk is also pretty terrible since he started the "make the enemy attack first and then lie about it".

[erowe1]

I prefer Cleveland

He said 20th century.

Edit: Sorry, somebody already caught that.

[Aratus]

i think you have to weigh andrew johnson's stint in the presidency with parson brownlow's governorship
of tennessee. senator ross's autobiographical magnus opus is tersely stark when describing the epoch.

[Aratus]

lets be kind as we see that both mr. cleveland and mr. mckinley anticpate and are almost a heralding prophesy for
much of the first half of the 20th century, whereas the potusus after lincoln until cleveland are mired in the 1800s.

[Rothbardian Girl]

I like Cleveland better than Harding also, but Cleveland wasn't a 20th Century President.

My absolute favorite President is John Tyler. He was basically Jefferson the Revolutionary. Jefferson the President wasn't quite as principled and so Thomas Jefferson isn't quite Dr. Paul.

My favorite Presidents are Van Buren, Tyler, Taylor, Cleveland, and Harding. Andrew Johnson also wasn't bad, but I don't like how he served the Union and the fact that he never would've become President had he not done so. Jackson wasn't bad, but he wasn't good because of the Native American Removal and his threatening to use force against South Carolina over the tariff. Jefferson the President did some good, but he also initiated the process of Native American Removal, he bought Lousiana, he fought the Barbary Pirates, he wanted someone prosecuted for slander, and the Embargo Act was quite awful.

I'd have to say Washington, Adams 2 (the father, not Adams 6), Madison, Lincoln, Wilson, and FDR were probably the worst Presidents up to FDR, but overall Lincoln and Wilson are the worst Presidents of all time. Polk is also pretty terrible since he started the "make the enemy attack first and then lie about it".

DUH! I didn't mean to derail your thread. I should try reading more closely next time. I pretty much agree with your assessment of all the presidents, and I would definitely say that Harding has been the best in the 20th century.

[Aratus]

again.... how you view the issues of the day....says things and then some...

[Anti Globalist]

Hes framed and regarded as being one of the worst presidents in american history. But no historians want to talk about how during his presidency there was a mini depression and he ended up getting us out of it.

[acptulsa]

Hes framed and regarded as being one of the worst presidents in american history. But no historians want to talk about how during his presidency there was a mini depression and he ended up getting us out of it.

And they certainly don't want to discuss how the depression was caused by Wilsonian socialism, and was cured by We, the People without government interference.

[tfurrh]

I like Cleveland better than Harding also, but Cleveland wasn't a 20th Century President.

My absolute favorite President is John Tyler. He was basically Jefferson the Revolutionary. Jefferson the President wasn't quite as principled and so Thomas Jefferson isn't quite Dr. Paul.

My favorite Presidents are Van Buren, Tyler, Taylor, Cleveland, and Harding. Andrew Johnson also wasn't bad, but I don't like how he served the Union and the fact that he never would've become President had he not done so. Jackson wasn't bad, but he wasn't good because of the Native American Removal and his threatening to use force against South Carolina over the tariff. Jefferson the President did some good, but he also initiated the process of Native American Removal, he bought Lousiana, he fought the Barbary Pirates, he wanted someone prosecuted for slander, and the Embargo Act was quite awful.

I'd have to say Washington, Adams 2 (the father, not Adams 6), Madison, Lincoln, Wilson, and FDR were probably the worst Presidents up to FDR, but overall Lincoln and Wilson are the worst Presidents of all time. Polk is also pretty terrible since he started the "make the enemy attack first and then lie about it".

Van Buren and Tyler were great presidents. Both very underrated.

Tyler kept a secret stash and funded a few pet projects with propaganda and whisper campaigns, but a great prez in my book. He was also a senator from VA to the Confederate States of America. Upon Tyler's death, Lincoln refused to allow congress or the WH to honor the fallen president.

As far as Harding goes, I don't know much other than I believe he was assassinated/poisoned.

[Ender]

Van Buren and Tyler were great presidents. Both very underrated.

Tyler kept a secret stash and funded a few pet projects with propaganda and whisper campaigns, but a great prez in my book. He was also a senator from VA to the Confederate States of America. Upon Tyler's death, Lincoln refused to allow congress or the WH to honor the fallen president.

As far as Harding goes, I don't know much other than I believe he was assassinated/poisoned.

Harding was definitely one of the best presidents & yes, it looks like he was definitely JFK'd.

[Aratus]

Harding was definitely one of the best presidents & yes, it looks like he was definitely JFK'd.

If anything, even if it was actually food poisoning or a medical issue catching up to him,
in his day he was very popular and rather anti-war. The scandal hit after his passing...

[Snowball]

Taft was better. JFK was better.
Harding didn't do enough to roll back the Wilsonian damage.

[Sammy]

Taft was better. JFK was better.
Harding didn't do enough to roll back the Wilsonian damage.

WTF. JFK pushed for medicare,medicaid & the civil rights act of 64.
He almost started ww3 with the soviet union.
He was a communist like almost every democrat after Cleveland!

Harding was a great President but Calvin Coolidge was the best President.

[Ender]

Taft was better. JFK was better.
Harding didn't do enough to roll back the Wilsonian damage.

Nope.

Harding pulled the country out of an impending huge depression & operated on the "less government, more freedom" principle. He was very much the Ron Paul of his day. Cleveland & JFK line up after him.

[Anti Globalist]

If we could have another Harding and Coolidge presidency, that'd be great.

[Snowball]

Nope.

Harding pulled the country out of an impending huge depression & operated on the "less government, more freedom" principle. He was very much the Ron Paul of his day. Cleveland & JFK line up after him.

Oh, so then why didn't he End The Fed?
Taft resisted the bankers. He also kept the peace and the nation in strong hands.

[Ender]

Oh, so then why didn't he End The Fed?
Taft resisted the bankers. He also kept the peace and the nation in strong hands.

Because, as I stated before, he was basically JFK'd for going against TPTB.

[Ender]

WTF. JFK pushed for medicare,medicaid & the civil rights act of 64.
He almost started ww3 with the soviet union.
He was a communist like almost every democrat after Cleveland!

Harding was a great President but Calvin Coolidge was the best President.

JFK STOPPED the war that TPTB were tryin to start. He actually talked to Khrushchev directly.

[Snowball]

Because, as I stated before, he was basically JFK'd for going against TPTB.

Taft and Harding were both good presidents, no need to compare.
I'm not into this historical comparison stuff. I reckon we agree on who was bad, and that's enough.