The Worst President In History

Assignment 2

Erin Thrower

POLS 1113

11/3/2007

Prof. Kelton

The Worst President in History

In the Rolling Stone article, "The Worst President in History", Sean Wilentz evaluates the first five years of President Bush's presidency. Wilentz is a well renowned historian and a professor at Princeton University. Wilentz begins his article by comparing Bush to the likes of worst presidents already in history. Those include Buchanan, Johnson, Harding, Hoover, and the only President forced to resign, President Nixon.

In 2004, Wilentz states, an informal survey of 415 historians found that 81% considered Bush a failure (1). Although historians tend to be more liberal than the majority another survey concludes that conservatives, as well, show unanimity about the best and worst presidents (Wilentz 1). In the Rolling Stone article, not only does Wilentz share his views on the subject but breaks it down into four categories: the credibility gap, Bush at home, Bush at war, and presidential misconduct. I believe I will do the same.

The Credibility Gap

Wilentz states in the first sentence that no president has squandered the public's trust more than President Bush. Wilentz, like many, believe that there is a huge credibility gap in the Bush administration. The "credibility gap" refers to the distance of what the president is saying and what we, as a nation, believe is true. I think it is obvious to most that the American people have a hard time believing our President. I believe that the President's ratings are so low due to this gap. It leaves us feeling insecure and uncertain. Wilentz also refers to Bush's attachment to his "loyal aides" no matter how discredited. I think this now been seen when President Bush granted executive clemency to White House aide Scooter Libby in light of his conviction of perjury and obstruction of justice (BBC). I believe the American people need and deserve a President that can admit to mistakes, rather his own or those of his administration. It has yet to be seen that Bush is capable of admitting any wrong doing.

Bush at War

Before September 11, Wilentz states, Bush's ratings were lower than those of any modern president (4). The events of September 11th "transformed Bush's presidency" and gave him the opportunity to achieve greatness (4). I believe that Bush could have rallied the nation but instead the "uniter" pushed away Democrats and even his own cabinet if they did not agree with his policies. I think the American people no longer support the war because we are not seeing the progress that the President keeps reassuring us is happening. Although the death toll is relatively low, men and women are still being pulled away from their families to fight in a war that neither President Bush nor his administration has yet to fully justify.

Bush at Home

There are a wide range of areas that Wilentz covers when he talks about President Bush's impact here in the United States. Those topics include the failing economy, education reform, immigration reform, and his anti-scientific views. Wilentz states that not only did Bush's administration wipe out our federal surplus but has raised federal deficits to an all time high (6). On another note, Bush's No Child Left Behind program has not yielded the results

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