Which Presidential flub was Worst?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:27 am

Here's one for serious American history buffs:

The University of Louisville's McConnell Center conducted a survey of presidential historians, asking for the worst presidential blunders. I have the top ten list they came up with, but before I post it I wanted to see what you think.

So tell me: What do you think would be on the top ten worst presidential mistakes in history list?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:23 am

Watergate.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:38 am

Bay of Pigs was #8

Watergate was #5

ChiptBeef · Post by **ChiptBeef** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:46 am

Lewinskygate (Clinton impeachment).

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:14 am

ChiptBeef wrote: Lewinskygate (Clinton impeachment).
#10 actually.

Considering the rest of the list, I'm surprised it was listed at all.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:31 am

Vietnam

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:36 am

Iran Contra:-3

This isn't biggest (my choice was taken)

escalation of war in Vietnam (has got to be up there)

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:36 am

Sheryl wrote: Vietnam
"Lyndon B. Johnson earned the No. 3 spot by allowing the Vietnam War to intensify"

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:45 am

I agree, Vietnam is probably #1. Time will tell about Iraq. It may turn out to be the biggest blunder in U.S. history. Also, saddling Germany with the huge debt after WWI resulted in the economic doldrums and widespread misery that ultimately led to WWII.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:49 am

Not being an American, I am guessing from what I know of American history so here goes..........

James Buchanan - Civil War

Woodrow Wilson - Treaty of Versailles

Various events in the 1800s....unsure of details...napoleonic wars comes to mind, something today with trade.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:52 am

Benjamin wrote: I agree, Vietnam is probably #1. Time will tell about Iraq. It may turn out to be the biggest blunder in U.S. history. Also, saddling Germany with the huge debt after WWI resulted in the economic doldrums and widespread misery that ultimately led to WWII.What American pres did that?

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:56 am

Bez wrote: Not being an American, I am guessing from what I know of American history so here goes..........

James Buchanan - Civil War

Woodrow Wilson - Treaty of Versailles

Various events in the 1800s....unsure of details...napoleonic wars comes to mind, something today with trade.
Buchanan got #1. Very good Bez!

Wilson' refusal to compromise on the Treaty of Versailes was #4

(is this way you were talking about, Benjamin?)

Thomas Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807, a prohibition on trade with Europe during the Napoleonic Wars, came in at #7.

:yh_clap :yh_clap

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:00 am

Accountable wrote: What American pres did that?

Woodrow Wilson ??? do I get a prize ??:D if it's correct ??

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:04 am

Accountable wrote: What American pres did that?
It must have been Wilson. He was president during that time.

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:35 pm

How about 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and letting bin Laden get away? Those are some pretty big blunders by the Bush administration.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:48 pm

Benjamin wrote: How about 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and letting bin Laden get away? Those are some pretty big blunders by the Bush administration.
Apparently the survey didn't include the current administration. Sorry.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:50 pm

StupidCowboyTricks wrote: Iran Contra:-3

This isn't biggest (my choice was taken)

escalation of war in Vietnam (has got to be up there)
Missed Iran Contra. That was ranked #9

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 1:56 pm

Okay folks, Only #2 and #6 left. Here's what has been guessed so far:

1. Buchanan failed to head off secession and the Civil War.

2.

3. Lyndon Johnson allowed Vietnam War to intensify.

4. Woodrow Wilson refused to compromise on the Treaty of Versailles after WWI

5. Richard Nixon's involvement in the Watergate cover-up.

6.

7. Thomas Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807 prohibitting trade with Europe during the Napoleonic Wars.

8. John F Kennedy's Bay of Pigs Invasion.

9. Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra Affair.

10. Bill Clinton's Lewinsky scandal.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:56 pm

Harding-Teapot Dome

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:57 pm

chonsigirl wrote: Harding-Teapot DomeSorry. Not on this particular list.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:02 pm

Hayes and the 1877 election.......................

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:10 pm

Aw now you're just throwing out guesses.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:13 pm

Okay. HINTS!

#2 was post-war, but I'm not saying which one.

#6 got us into a war, but I'm not saying which one.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:13 pm

I have a different view of history..........................:wah:

I am surprised at Buchanan being #1-it seemed almost inevitable in a way.

So, with that thinking, Hoover and the Depression.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:24 pm

chonsigirl wrote: I have a different view of history..........................:wah:

I am surprised at Buchanan being #1-it seemed almost inevitable in a way.

So, with that thinking, Hoover and the Depression.
Yeh, I know what you mean. I'm at a loss why Clinton's on there at all, considering he caused embarassment but hardly got anyone killed.

The depression is not on the list. Sorry.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:28 pm

:wah: Then I really don't get the Depression not being listed, and Clinton.

Oh well, next person to guess-this historian would draw a different list up altogether!

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:41 pm

Okay, here are a couple blunders...

Reagan punishing Israel for destroying Iraq's nuclear facility

Bush Sr. not finishing the job in Iraq

Carter and the hostage rescue mess

Reagan's deregulations leading to the S&L scandal

Then I really don't get the Depression not being listed, and Clinton.
The depression wasn't really a blunder... just lack of regulation. Clinton's up there because many republicans will only look at the faults of democrats in something like this.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:41 pm

I'll give it till tomorrow so some other historians can weigh in. If you want my reference, pm me.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:51 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: I think prohibition was incredibly stupid... but that's probably not of the list.Uh uh. sorry.

One got us into a war and the other was a post-war presidential flub. The post-war one is something you'd really have to know history to guess, I think.

nvalleyvee · Post by **nvalleyvee** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:04 pm

The American prisoners in Iran during Jimmy Carter. That was a big whopping mess and I believe led us into the Gulf Wars.

2nd choice - we didn't see WWII coming to American soil.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:08 pm

nvalleyvee wrote: The American prisoners in Iran during Jimmy Carter. That was a big whopping mess and I believe led us into the Gulf Wars.

2nd choice - we didn't see WWII coming to American soil.
Wouldn'tcha think so?!? But no. They're not on the list either.

nvalleyvee · Post by **nvalleyvee** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:13 pm

Accountable wrote: Wouldn'tcha think so?!? But no. They're not on the list either.

OOOOOOOWWWWW ----- Wrong 2 times today..............BUMMER.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:16 pm

nvalleyvee wrote: OOOOOOOWWWWW ----- Wrong 2 times today..............BUMMER.
Ah don't feel bad. They got the easy ones early on.

Benjamin · Post by **Benjamin** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:52 pm

How about Bush Sr. blundering his dinner all over the Japanese prime minister.

Jimmy Carter admitting he saw a UFO (that really instills confidence in the public)

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:59 pm

Benjamin wrote: How about Bush Sr. blundering his dinner all over the Japanese prime minister.

Jimmy Carter admitting he saw a UFO (that really instills confidence in the public)

Ronald, Nancy and the astrologers too.

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:01 pm

SnoozeControl wrote: Okay, them's fightin' words, Red. Put up your dukes, you've had this coming for a while.

Hmmm ... why am I starting to sound like Clipper?

are you going through the change yet?:sneaky:

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:01 pm

Benjamin wrote: How about Bush Sr. blundering his dinner all over the Japanese prime minister.

Jimmy Carter admitting he saw a UFO (that really instills confidence in the public):wah: I'd forgotten those.

both incidents these guys cited happened in the 19th century - one early, one late.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:06 pm

Lincoln going to Ford's theater? 'our American cousin' had lousy reviews. ....ok ok, don't yell at me! i know that was terrible.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:10 pm

McKinley-Spanish American War

Cherokee Trail of Tears-Jackson

Jacksonian spoils system

election of John Quincy Adams-it was a little crooked

Gosh, I could go on and on, these are my last guesses of the evening.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:15 pm

chonsigirl wrote: McKinley-Spanish American War

Cherokee Trail of Tears-Jackson

Jacksonian spoils system

election of John Quincy Adams-it was a little crooked

Gosh, I could go on and on, these are my last guesses of the evening.
Ah the shotgun approach. Well, it didn't work for Cheney and it didn't work for you.

One flub got us into a war.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:20 pm

Gosh, talk about a skewed list!:wah:

And one of my major fields is 19th century US!

Nothing is worse then Jackson defying the Supreme Court, and forcing the Trail of Tears.

I await your other 2 responses unless someone gets them before bedtime.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:40 pm

Shall I tell you now?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:48 pm

Oh no, let them guess all night. Put it up in the morning. I'm going to watch Olympics now.

I would write a different list, maybe I will tomorrow when I'm bored at school.

*it's a revisionist history list there, but hey, that's all right*

I stick by my comment on Jackson and denial of the Supreme Court and the consequences to the Cherokees, and what that meant for Native Americans; that was one of the most shameful episodes in American history.

Luv ya' AC, I'll look for your list tomorrow.

:-4

Post by **spot** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:38 pm

I'll have a shot at the reaction to the USS Maine exploding.

Accountable · Post by **Accountable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:39 pm

spot wrote: I'll have a shot at the reaction to the USS Maine exploding.
Nope. A president was involved?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:34 am

AC, you forgot to post the other rwo.