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Steve Vassallo: The 10 Greatest U.S. Presidents
With President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union Address just a week away, I reached out to my inner circle of historians to obtain a consensus view of the greatest American presidents. These eight brilliant, well-informed and well-read individuals chose as follows:
1. George Washington: Who could argue this choice? The founder of our nation overcame all odds to win America’s independence.
2. Thomas Jefferson: Possibly the lead genius of the 45 presidents, Jefferson is one of the greatest statesmen in U.S. history, if not the greatest.
3. Teddy Roosevelt: A visionary well beyond his time, TR was one of the more courageous men to ever occupy the White House. He’s also one of the four presidents enshrined on Mount Rushmore.
4. Ronald Reagan: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” – With that statement, the 40-year Cold War ended. The Great Communicator gained the respect of all of Washington, D.C. after a difficult start.
5. Andrew Jackson: A military strategist who saved New Orleans and the infant nation from the British, Jackson was a true American hero in every respect.
6. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Another military icon, the General was instrumental in concluding World War II in Europe and then presiding over a robust economy for eight years.
7. Donald J. Trump: With only a year in office, the American economy is reaching plateaus never previously seen. With ISIS on the run, President Trump is getting good reviews on his foreign policies as well.
8. James K. Polk: One of the most underrated presidents, Polk managed an expanding country, making all the right moves at the right time.
9. Harry S. Truman: The development and use of the atomic bomb saved a million American lives by preventing an invasion of Japan. “The Buck Stops Here” president earned the respect of a nation wishing to end the war and return to an era of peace.
10. Calvin Coolidge: A businessman who entered the presidency following the death of Warren Harding, “Silent Cal” steadied the ship at a time when the country called for stability following Teapot Dome.
There you have it. The biggest surprise was the absence of Lincoln and FDR. Neither received a single vote!
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | L, 83-75 |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | W, 72-69 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | L, 92-82 |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | W, 98-84 |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |
Jim Hays
January 24, 2018 at 9:20 am
I followed WWII in the newspapers and on the radio.I took part in the Korean “conflict” (war was never declared) The Viet Nam venture was the dirtiest war we ever took fought. I guess we’ll never be completely “war free”
Baby Bok Choy
January 24, 2018 at 9:40 am
Calvin Coolidge?! LAWLZ!!!
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Loretta
January 24, 2018 at 4:00 pm
George H.W. Bush was president when the Berlin Wall came down.
Nice try, though! It’s fun to rewrite history, isn’t it?
Steve Vassalo
January 24, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Had it not been for Reagan, Bush would never have seen the Presidency. RR laid the groundwork
via “Star Wars” to end the Cold War and bring the wall down. We’re not rewriting history, only
reflecting on it.
Loretta
January 25, 2018 at 11:32 am
That is not what your piece says. You have flip-flopped.
Your “Star Wars” claim perpetuates fake news. Legitimate history sources relegate the Strategic Defense Initiative to a small, insignificant footnote in Cold War history.
The demise of the Soviet Union’s military and industrial prowess was much more complicated than your simple belief. For instance, do you think the Soviet Union’s prolonged war with Afghanistan played any role?
Steve Vassallo
January 25, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Legitimate history sources?
Would love to know what these are.
The reality of the matter that brought
the Soviet Union to its knees is the
harsh fact that its economy could not
keep pace with the west. The Star Wars
initiative launched by Reagan, not Bush,
was the straw that broke the bear’s back. My simple belief is shared by
millions, maybe not by CNN however.
G.C.
January 25, 2018 at 11:19 pm
First of all, the USSR was brought down by by the Communism they Practiced. Second, the War in Afghanistan, which was conceived in Carter’s Administration, bled the USSR of Young Men and Money. Last is the fact that Saudi Arabia, et al, drove the price of oil down. This Oil revenue was critical to USSR’s economy. These Factors combined to Bankrupt the USSR. Reagan’s SDI had little to do with it. The pieces were already in Place. Washington, Jefferson, Coolidge, OK. Polk, maybe. The rest I think you’re just Pranking. Remember Lord Acton’s admonition that “Power tends to Corrupt, and Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely.” The reason he says is because the men who seek that kind of Power are Bad men to begin with. Most Presidents should not be thought as “Great”. Men of Peace should be.
Steve Vassallo
January 26, 2018 at 10:52 am
G.C. How would you rate Obama?
According to your last comment,
Lincoln would not be considered
as a “Great President.” This opinion
does not fly with history, however.
Loretta
January 26, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Good point, G.C. This list wasn’t meant to be serious. Thanks for pointing that out.
Sorry, Mr. Vassallo. It seems your joke is on me!