John Quincy Adams (6th president)
Term: 1825-29
Party: Democratic-Republican
ABOVE: John Quincy Adams: "F*ck Andrew Jackson." (I'm paraphrasing)
The first son to follow a father in the presidency, John Quincy Adams (we’ll call him “Q”) had grand plans for the country, but unfortunately was unable to accomplish any of them. He had a great mind (like his father), but lacked political skill (also like his father) and came into office under dubious circumstances. The “Corrupt Bargain,” where Q won the election over Andrew Jackson with Jackson’s supporters crying fraud, haunted Q throughout his presidency. The campaign for 1928 (the next election) started the day after Q took office. Q had ambitious ideas for the country, but was met with an indifferent Congress and had little political capital.
"No man who ever held the office of president would congratulate a friend on obtaining it." - Words of encouragement from father John Adams (our 2nd president) to son John Quincy Adams upon Q's election
Pros:
• He was able to get some of his internal improvement plans going, including the Erie Canal
Cons:
• J.Q. Adams was unable to get much of anything done due to strong political opposition and his own lack of political skill
#24 of 39:
Chester Arthur (21st president)
Term: 1881-85
Party: Republican
ABOVE: Another impressive set of whiskers
Chester Arthur wasn’t a bad president, he just didn’t do all that much. Taking office after the assassination of James Garfield, he signed the crucial Pendleton Civil Service Act, which dramatically reduced patronage and cleaned up corruption in Federal government jobs (Garfield had been shot by a disgruntled gentlemen who felt he was owed a government job). This was somewhat surprising since Arthur came out of the New York City political machine, but public demand was so strong he had to act.
Pros:
• Signs Pendleton Civil Service Act and does not run a corrupt administration, defying expectations of a New York machine politician
• Moderate modernization of the navy
• Moderate reforms of the tariffs
• Vetoed Chinese Exclusion Act (it later passed with less harsh terms)
Cons:
• None
#23 of 39:
Millard Fillmore (13th president)
Term: 1850-53
Party: Whig
ABOVE: If you are interested in joining the Millard Fillmore Society, go here. They have sponsored annual pilgrimages to his grave and the essay contest: "What would America be today if there had been no Millard Fillmore?" Evidently, upon receiving some soup from his doctor right before his death, his celebrated (at least by the MFS) last words were: "The nourishment is palatable."
Millard Fillmore’s term was so nondescript that there is a Millard Fillmore Society that celebrates his mediocrity. Compared to the string of terrible pre- and immediate post-Civil War presidents, though, Fillmore was actually a cut above. He took over after the death of Zachary Taylor, and was by most accounts an amiable fellow. The Compromise of 1850 passed under his watch, but that was the work of legislative giants Henry Clay, Stephen A. Douglas, Jefferson Davis, John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster. Fillmore had little to do with it. Fillmore did act decisively when needed, and probably prevented the Civil War from breaking out ten years earlier than it did. Texas was threatening to invade New Mexico and take some disputed land, but Fillmore sent federal troops to the area and Texas backed down. Also, upon learning that South Carolina was gearing up to seize federal forts in Charleston as a precursor to secession, Fillmore sent troops there as well, forcing South Carolina to back off (for the time being). This is at least more than successors Franklin Pierce or James Buchanan were willing to do when confronted with similar sectional crises.
Pros:
• Fillmore sends Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan to force them to open their ports to trade
• Fillmore stands firm and defuses several brewing sectional crises, such as Texas’s threat to invade New Mexico and South Carolina’s threat to seize federal forts
Cons:
• Other than the above, he did not exercise strong leadership
14 comments:
My God, this Presidential thing is soooo boring! Why cant we talk about the new A-TEAM movie?
Haven't seen it. Want to though.
Dez,
One quibble. Though the Pendleton Act was undeniably important, its initial provisions actually preserved very few Federal jobs from the Spoils System. What it did do was allow new presidents to make additions to the list as they saw fit, increasing the Civil Service and reducing the power of patronage significantly over the next few decades.
I forget the details, but one of the bigwig Republican honchos, upon hearing that Garfield had been shot and Arthur had taken over, said something to the effect of, "My God. Chet Arthur is president!"
I found this entry very entertaining. Perhaps it's the names Chester Arthur and Millard Fillmore, which are inherently funny. But your work is good, too. This doesn't mean I wouldn't ALSO like material on the A-Team.
No cons for Arthur? NONE?
Oh, also, what I've liked most about these prez rankings it that they've brought out the subtlety in Dez: For instance, I had no idea you've ever approved of keeping Texas from doing whatever the hell it wants to do.
ANCIANT, good point on the Pendleton Act,but signing it into existence got the ball rolling at least. And it is faint praise, but at least Arthur was not as corrupt as people expected him to be. Being a New York politician and all. I find it funny that we are discussing the details of the administration of Chester Arthur. How often do you think that happens?
JMW, normally I would be in favor of granting Texas its wishes, but in this case, Fillmore was saving Texas from itself. I mean, who would want a piece of New Mexico?
I am glad you are enjoying them. They are fun to write. It gets really interesting from here on, I think. The next entry is a major one. Actually, they all are pretty major from here. We are 2 presidents away from the halfway mark.
And dammit, I will go see the "A-Team," as there seems to be a demand for a review.
My suggestion: combine your A-Team review with a write-up of one of the Presidents. Reagan maybe? Or Teddy Roosevelt? Both seem like they would have been suitable for membership in said Team.
You really must see the A-Team. The new Face is pretty good, and the new Murdock is pretty good, the new Mr. T is basically an imitation of the old Mr. T, and the new Hannibal is pretty colorless but since Liam is a good actor, it is ok.
The van does not get too much time on screen.
Apparently, if you stay after the credits you see a secret scene with the old actors, but I did not know that when I saw it.
I liked it, and I know the critics did not, but are you surprised? Leftists never liked the A-Team in the 80s. There is no way to have a movie review without Leftists doing the review, therefore no A-Team review will ever be favorable.
It could have been sooo bad, but instead it was pretty good for a summer flick. I mean, it is not Terms of Endearment, but hell it was worth the money. Not enough sex though...
I have to say I'm a little surprised these are the Presidents that elicited the most comments. Of course, half the comments are about the A-Team. I agree that the movie was better than expected, but I didn't expect too much. Clearly not enough Salma Hayek.
I think Taos, NM, would have been a great addition to the state.
As an intersting side note, Australia is likely to have a new Prime Minister shortly (the first female Prime Minister for Australia). This is happening very fast. Kevin Rudd was quite popular when I first arrived in Australia last year, but he has lost popularity very quickly in the last few months and his Labor Party seems about to replace him. Some of the Presidents covered in Dez's list so far would not have survived their full term if we had the same form of government as Australia.
I have no comment for these presidents as there is not much to comment on. I approve of their placements
Thank you, Pocky. Now we may continue.
When are you going to see the damn movie and comment on it?
Enough is enough, if you are not going to provide the service that we demand, than this blog has no future.
Get your ass to the multiplex, buy one ticket, see 4 movies all day long, eat milk duds, hire a sitter if you have to, and get to work!!!!!!
Nah, I'll just bring her with me. I'm sure she'd enjoy 'The A-Team.'
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