Robert Strauss: America’s Worst Presidents

Michael Gerhardt, Center scholar-in-residence, and Robert Strauss, author of Worst. President. Ever., offer an enlightening - and highly entertaining - account of James Buchanan’s presidency and explain how historians rank presidents over time.

[@Fireball_]

You can tell he's not doing research he says he memorized a book so he will be biased towards the book so if he does other research it won't mean much to him

[@Joepacalypse1107]

Pickett is the guy who lost the confederacy? What a weird statement.

[@user-zc3do8vk4q]

John Kennedy said no one has the right to grade a president.Some things are simply beyond a president’s control.

[@suarezguy]

Some, maybe many things, but other things are their decisions and responsibility, they should be blamed or praised for them.

[@orihoola]

Fantastic talk!

[@suarezguy]

He didn't make a good case for that Buchanan was and did really bad, I don't see how it would have been really good or better for Buchanan to have militarily challenged secession, started the Civil War in January or February 1861 rather than in April 1861.

[@earlpaulson7164]

Strongly disagree. This guy might know his sports, but he obviously only skimmed through Buchanan's history. If you want a much fairer assessment of James Buchanan, read Philip S. Klein's Biography, James Buchanan.

[@Joepacalypse1107]

He referred to Pickett as "the guy who lost the confederacy". I think sports is all he knows well.

[@jerrybrenton6140]

Waste of my time

[@patkottcamp6970]

Perhaps not that elaborate but you can learn something from just about every historian, worth hearing + he's a Philly guy!

[@sjwoz]

This guy is like a brother in law at Thanksgiving-simplified explanations that are not exactly accurate.... or wrong. I'll pass on the book.

[@elhombredeoro955]

Theodore Roosevelt was better than FDR.

[@LMajorDegs]

A lot better. FDR was an average president at best

[@speedweed6747]

Bull!

[@thefreeman8791]

Both were bad but yes you are right. FDR’s policies prolonged the Great Depression and he ruled by fiat issuing over 300 presidential vetoes. The veto was never expected to be abused in such a manner. Teddy created the FBI and FDA illegally and without the consent of Congress.

[@paulaltfornorge]

I am not particularly impressed by Robert Strauss as an interviewee...doesnt seem terribly polished nor energetic

[@gregoryl.mcgarvey1042]

The only criteria that should be used to judge the presidents. That is "WHO PROTECTED AND DEFENDED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES"

[@999reader]

“The only criteria”!

[@deoglemnaco7025]

Winnebago!

[@thefreeman8791]

You mean who kept to their oath of office. Most presidents are ranked on what they did rather then if what they did was Constitutional.

[@billkeogh639]

This is complete fiction.

[@billkeogh639]

The snide comments about Trump are pretty embarrassing.

[@AmericanTestConstitution]

Brandon

[@deoglemnaco7025]

Jack and Paul Winnebago!

[@Fireball_]

James buchanon is only the 3rd worst

[@stevebenaszeski9153]

Buchanan, Pierce, Biden

[@Fireball_]

@@stevebenaszeski9153 buchanan, Wilson, Andrew Johnson. But those are bad presidents too

[@suarezguy]

@@Fireball_ Not sure what Pierce or Buchanan could do particularly different or better, how any president would have been able to not have secession/Civil War coming soon.