The American President: Compromise Choices

[@alanhorowitz3796]

Nearly an hour of brilliant, informative, significant documentary without once uttering the over-used word "iconic." I think I'll watch it again for that reason.

[@williamsnyder5616]

I was originally from Grand Rapids, MI, but I never voted for Gerald Ford, either as our Congressman or as our President. But I respected him as a first class person. Everyone in Grand Rapids, I think, probably felt that way whether as Republicans or Democrats. Sadlly, that political air is missing today.

[@bigmargie]

I worked at a nonprofit organization in San Francisco in the 1980-90s. Ironically, our press was always better on the LA Times than the SF Chronicles, the opposite of home court advantage. Looks like that applies to politics as well. Eg, NY didn't vote for Trump.

[@robertbates6249]

the political air of today is fowl, I think

[@danceccon8469]

I've learned that I can disagree with a president's policy yet respect the person..(accept for 45)

[@johnnotrealname8168]

​@@danceccon8469At least respect the policy.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

He was very liberal but he got the job done.

[@jburgess9578]

Entertaining and educational. Thank you so much for making this video available here!

[@lifestoriesinterviews]

Hi J, when is there no sound in the video? Please let us know so we can look into this. Thank you!

[@jburgess9578]

@@lifestoriesinterviews The sound problem was on my PC. I have no problem after rebooting. Thank you!

[@lifestoriesinterviews]

@@jburgess9578 Thanks for letting us know! We hope you enjoy your channel and content.

[@kayhathaway6956]

Is Billy Graham speaking as Garfield?

[@larrybaldwin8325]

​@@kayhathaway6956, Yes!! Very Distinctive Voice

[@frisco21]

I enjoyed this presentation more than I thought I would.

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

Brilliant video, thank you!

[@johnnotrealname8168]

A good episode. I have to agree surprisingly.

[@henriomoeje8741]

Pierce's support for the brutal slave system brought him agony and misery.

[@Essey1982]

Great Documentaries

[@robertpolityka8464]

Excellent videos. However, one thing that not mentioned enough was the " 2/3rds rule" that The Democratic Party used in choosing their Presidential Nominee. The rule made it extremely hard to find a candidate who could have the support of both Northern Liberals and Southern Conservatives. 1. In 1844, Van Buren had a majority of the delegates on the first ballot, but lost the nomination to James K. Polk. Both of them are considered to be the heirs apparent to General Jackson. Van Buren was the loyal top deputy and Polk was the "professional son", from Jackson's home state. 2. In 1856, President Franklin Pierce was defeated for renomination, because he couldnt reach the 2/3rds threshold. James Buchanan was able to get the nomination. (By this time, Buchanan was on his 4th attempt at winning the nomination.) 3. In 1860, Democrats couldnt find a compromise candidate. So, there were the Northern Democrats, who support Douglas AND there were the Southern Democrats, who supported Breckenridge. 4. In 1912, Champ Clark had a majority of the delegates at one point, but Woodrow Wilson was able to win the 2/3rds majority on the 46th ballot. 5. It took 103 ballots to pick John W. Davis as the Democratic Nominee of 1924. 6. In 1932, FDR was able to reach the 2/3rds majority, but had to agree to have John Nance Garner as his VP. 7. 1936, the 2/3rds rule was vanished. This allowed the Democrats, in subsequent elections, to pick nominees who are considered to be more liberal.

[@GunnH74]

I believe Garfield could have been a good president. What a shame he didn't get the chance.

[@t.b.g.504]

Only six months.

[@jamellfoster6029]

So true. He was truly a very kind person with desires to protect the marginalized and oppressed.

[@richardhoff1626]

My niece and nephew's grandfather (Born around 1920) was named after Warren G Harding. That's how popular Harding was when he was elected. Timing is everything. (Ironically my brother-in-law (Also a Warren G.) became a politician; but as Liberal Democrat).

[@johnnotrealname8168]

How is it ironic? It was at least 40 years later and he was not even directly related.

[@kxrv6629]

Interesting combination of Presidents… nuanced profiles of each. As for Ford, I wasn’t quite old enough to vote in Ford/Carter election I never forgave him for the blanket pardon of Nixon

[@johnnotrealname8168]

The smartest thing he ever did. Although I might have voted for James Earl Carter Jr. A Conservative Democrat after all.

[@jamellfoster6029]

​@@johnnotrealname8168I was born during the Carter Administration.

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@jamellfoster6029 Noice! He is over 100 now. Sad that his wife did not make it.

[@jamellfoster6029]

@@johnnotrealname8168 very much so. He turned 100 a couple of weeks ago. And to live to see children born during his administration near 50 (I'm about to be 46 in a few months. My late husband would be 46 in a few weeks had he not passed last month)...

[@johnnotrealname8168]

@@jamellfoster6029 I am sorry for your loss.

[@CornPopodopolis]

Calvin Coolidge is the G.O.A.T

[@richardleonori9345]

Well, the 1920's were the G.O.A.T, before the Crash.

[@marcuscochran806]

Cool Cal Coolidge is one of our best Presidents !! 🇺🇸

[@thattimestampguy]

0:01 Opening Sequence. 0:23 Episode 8: Compromise Choices Franklin Pierce 0:37 James K. Polk was the 1st surprise candidate "A Dark Horse" 0:47 Franklin Pierce, 1853-1857 1:25 Magnetic Personality, with good looks, but an alcoholic. 1:47 1834 Marriage to Jane Appleton. 2:09 Jane Hated Washington, Politics, and Franklin Pierce's drinking. 2:36 1840 Franklin Pierce finally denounces alcohol. 3:03 Benny Pierce, Jane Appleton's baby boy. *The Mexican-American War* 3:26 1846 The Mexican American War. 4:02 General Winfield Scott labeled him a coward. 4:18 "I hate war in all it's aspects. I deem it unworthy of the age in which I live." *The 1852 Democratic Convention* 4:35 Lewis Cass, James Buchanan, William Marcy, Sam Houston, Stephen A. Douglas. 5:00 36th Ballot picks Franklin Pierce. 5:43 A Northerner who openly supported Southern Interests. *The Train-wreck Tragedy* 6:21 Benny Pierce dead. *Slavery* 7:28 Franklin Pierce backed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Popular Sovereignty. 8:25 "The South did not need conciliation" - Robert E Neustadt. 8:48 May 1856 Bleeding Kansas. *Back Home* 9:11 March 1857 Franklin Pierce returns home to New Hampshire. 9:21 1861 Franklin Pierce's Support of The Confederacy. It destroyed the last of his reputation. 10:15 "After the White House, what is there to do but drink?" James A. Garfield 10:40 11:10 "The Law of My Life has never been to ask for an office." 11:21 James Abram Garfield, the only preacher to ever become President. 12:06 Faith Saved His Life. The Lord's Prayer. The Gospel. Church of Disciples of Christ. 12:38 "Some slumbering thunder in my soul." 13:06 Wedding talk agitated him. 13:23 Self-loathing Garfield. 13:31 November 11th, 1858 James A. Garfield marries Lucretia Rudolph. *Republican Convention of 1880* 15:24 The Republican Convention of 1880 15:35 Ulysses S. Grant, backed by Roscoe Conklin, vs James Blaine of Maine and John Sherman of Ohio. 16:10 "Delegates from all corners are openly expressing the wish that I was the Ohio Candidate." 16:26 16 Votes to General Garfield. 10,000 Voices were chanting Garfield's name. 16:52 Ulysses S. Grant surrender's to James A Garfield. 17:13 "Few men in our history has been obtained ever by planning to obtain it." 17:41 Garfield moves into the White House with his mother, his wife, and his children. *Senatorial Courtesy* 18:14 18:38 Roscoe Conkling vs James A. Garfield. 19:12 Garfield chose to fight hard for his independent role in the appointments process. *The Assassination of James A. Garfield by Charles Guiteau* 19:32 Less than 4 months into office, Garfield was gunned down in a Washington Railroad Station. 21:07 September 19th, 1881 James Abram Garfield died. 21:27 The Public Roar of Emotion towards the death of James Garfield. 22:02 It means something special to hold the chair Washington and Lincoln held. 22:28 "He was such a mixture of things." *Warren G. Harding* 22:54 Warren G. Harding, 23:12 Voiced by Ben Bradlee. 35:27 Warren G. Harding's Death. 35:58 Scandals and Corrupt Friends, vilified. 36:31 "The Presidency is Hell. There is no other word to describe it." *Gerald Ford* 36:40 The Nominating Process itself was changed from Convention voting to Public Voting. 37:10 Gerald Ford: Healing The Nation 1974-1978 37:44 Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. 38:05 Raised in Grand Rapids Michigan, he was an adopted child. 38:27 Outstanding Football Player, served in the Navy. *Watergate* 39:00 Meeting "Dick Nixon." 39:27 Watergate, Resignation of Spiro Agnew. 42:04 Watergate was a very uncomfortable time. 42:51 The Press's criticism of what Gerald Ford would say, "It was a very narrow path." 43:43 Things unraveled. 44:31 August 9th 1974 escorting Richard Nixon out of the White House. 45:14 "We'll do our best." *Pardoning Nixon, Moving Forward from Watergate* 45:43 "I couldn't prepare my speech." 46:02 Bob Hartman had a nack of saying what I would say. I wanted to strike this sentence "Our Long National Nightmare is Over" but ended up keeping it. 46:52 "My Fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over." 47:25 Full, Free, and Absolute Pardon. 48:20 "This had a very serious affect." *Gerald Ford as President* 48:57 Amnesty to Vietnam Draft Dodgers. 49:31 Increasingly hostile Congress, his public support all but disappeared. 49:54 Gerald Ford was defeated by Jimmy Carter. 49:57 "There were some who never forgave..." 50:22 "I couldn't turn a switch..." and overnight go from Economic Recession to Economic Prosperity. 50:36 The Pardon. 50:51 "Mr Ford's Greatest Success as President was in demonstrating for 2.5 years which is all the time he had, that the Presidency could be administered by Responsible People." Ford brought the people back to Pre-Nixonian terms for The American People. *Compromise Choices - Concluding Statements* 51:33 Acceptable and Safe figures 51:51 "Raised up Mediocrity." 51:57 “Why do great men in America not become president?”

[@liasisboa]

The role of Garfield’s incompetent doctors in his death should have at least been mentioned. Without their “treatment,” Garfield probably would have survived, albeit with some paralysis.

[@84sp84]

In saying Garfield was incorruptible, one must ignore the Credit Mobilier Scandal. While not among the prime movers of it, his testimony about it was less than frank and completely honest.

[@globalspiritualrevolutionmedia]

Was he poisoned?

[@CJ87317]

No, he had a heart attack.

[@bowgart683]

Who

[@2012photograph]

How you compare his administration vs President Kennedy who all high individuals?

[@bryanmelton5538]

This is cool

[@MultiProudMother]

Recognize Billy Graham’s voice in there? (James Garfield)

[@cynthiachronister4082]

I always loved Gerald Ford but now I question his character due to his involvement with the Warren commission

[@jamellfoster6029]

Is that the late, great Rev. Billy Graham voicing Garfield?? Or could it be his son, Rev. Franklin Graham??

[@tbc9096]

Even with the scandals, Harding is still way better than Wilson.

[@Sonormuseum]

Wilson was competent, but arrogant. His arrogance is what doomed his initiatives. Harding was just incompetent.

[@Sonormuseum]

Trump, on the other hand is a mix of the two: arrogant AND incompetent.

[@tbc9096]

@@Sonormuseum What the fuck does Trump have to do with two presidents 100 years before him. See, this is what I hate about modern society, we have to bring modern politics into every discussion.

[@MrOliverwoods]

Wilson & the women’s suffrage movement sold out black suffrage. What’s worse ? Stealing a million dollars from the blind or denying the vote to millions of people for generations ?

[@edwardtressel1953]

ARE YOU CRAZY??!! DO YOU REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ACCURATE, DETAILED AND DESCRIPTIVE ABOUT THOSE TWO PRESIDENTS?? HARDING IS IN AA DOWNHILL RACE FOR THE WORST PRESIDENT EVER ALONG WITH BUCHANAN, COOLIDGE, GRANT & TRUMP!!! PLEASE GET BETTER EDUCATED BEFORE YOU EMBARRASS YOURSELF AGAIN PUBLICALLY!!! WILSON IS CONSIDERED BY MOST HISTORIANS AS ONE OF OUR NEAR GREAT PRESIDENTS. A MAN OF GREAT INTELLECT & MORAL DECENCY. A PRETTY GOOD WAR LEADER IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR ERA WITH A GENUINE DESIRE FOR POST-WAR PEACE AND HIS CAMPAIGN FOR A LEAGUE OF NATIONS (FRUSTRATED BY BACKWARD ISOLATIONIST REPUBLICAN SENATORS!!). THREE DECADES LATER BROUGHT TO FRUITION AFTER ANOTHER TERRIBLE AVOIDABLE WORLD WAR BY DEMOCRATIC SUCCESSOR F.D.R. HIS RECORD ONLY MARRED BY HIS BEING A SOUTHERN RACIAL BIGOT!!! READ AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT SOME MORE HERE ALL ABOUT THEM!!! = D.E.T. (Baltimore /// Saturday - September 17th, 2023) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Warren_Harding en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Woodrow_Wilson

[@kennethbrown6141]

Ford, "One day before the story broke... "?? Really??

[@efowlermail]

He died in Long Branh, NJ

[@danlhendl]

Interesting

[@speakonthis]

Who did the voice of Harding?

[@t.b.g.504]

Ben Bradlee.

[@Filterite5]

He was the JFK of that period

[@crystalrogers4988]

So bc of the south’s support..is that why he signed Kansas/Nebraska?So torn on my empathy for him

[@danlhendl]

“Normalcy” is not a word, It wasn’t until Harding anyway

[@marcuscochran806]

Pierce, Buchanan, Johnson, Biden, W. Bush, Carter, Harding, Wilson, Make my list of worst presidents all time. How about you? What are yours?

[@doreekaplan2589]

They all say the subject was great looking......non are so far. So many were depressed for years. Why?

[@georgeprendergast8305]

Why ask why ?

[@tundrawomansays694]

They didn’t have SSRI’s back then.

[@tomjones5650]

Vee Vant All Da Yung Children Truout Da Vorld Du Join Un Da Celebration. -H. Kissinger

[@georgeprendergast8305]

That was horrible ..I see what you were trying to do..not funny and pretty ignorant to be honest.. however..being that you are a troglodyte it makes total sense.👍

[@davidniggemeyer1692]

President Harding was a near great POTUS in my estimation and the corruption within his administration was not his doing and it hurt him deeply. Grant's Administration was far worse!

[@wilverbal]

30:23 "Harding won with the greatest popular majority the country had ever handed a president." No he didn't. Did no one bother to check? Also, what a horrible narrator.

[@BurritoMassacre]

He won 60% of the popular vote, the most of any president before him. How is this incorrect?

[@Theamericanvillian]

@@wilverbal up to tht point he did…

[@wilverbal]

@@Theamericanvillian no. Jefferson and Monroe won with bigger popular majorities. Maybe Madison too the first time; I'm too lazy to check now.

[@JohnnytroutKenny]

President Ford did the right thing.Pardon Nixon

[@davidhickey1972]

WHY DOE NOT ANONE DO THIS FOR BIDEN

[@jcmontecarlo6123]

Lol…..

[@onomatopoeia162003]

Well, even in the series The Presidents. It ended when W. won his 2nd term.

[@chucksmash1]

People are saying.. they're too busy documenting the over 30,000 lies of Trump in his first term, plus his 91 felony charges and the unparalleled idiocy of his MAGA cult fans. Everyone's talking about it.