Who Is The Most Underrated President?

[The Ocean]

There are so many polls of "Best President" or "Worst President" but I wonder if anybody gives any thought to the presidents that are skipped over in regular High School history classes. The history classes I was a part of in high school went over Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt and that is about it. A few mentions of Herbert Hoover and FDR, and Wilson, too.

I wonder what people think is the most underrated president. Which president was a decent president that seemed to preside over no particular major war? Which president did a good job but is not really remembered for it? Etc.

For my money, I'd say Rutherford B. Hayes is the most underrated. He had the unfortunate position of being elected despite losing the popular vote, and possibly on the count of fraud (which he was not responsible for). But he ruled with honesty and he ruled with dignity.

What does anybody else thing? Did I make a bad choice? What would YOUR choice be?

[Larry Flyntz]

Truman.

Sure, he appears on a lot of Top Ten lists, but I think he should be higher. I think making the decision to be the first to use nuclear weapons was one of the most important decisions in American history. I think using the nukes only twice kept America safe for half a century or so, and set the stage for the Cold War staying cold. If Truman did not use nukes to end WWII, I truly think there would have been a WWIII between America and the Soviet Union. It probably wasn't necessary to end the war, but it was a damn good decision in the long run. I think people bash him for this decision, but I think he ought to be praised for it.

[The Ocean]

Truman.

Sure, he appears on a lot of Top Ten lists, but I think he should be higher. I think making the decision to be the first to use nuclear weapons was one of the most important decisions in American history. I think using the nukes only twice kept America safe for half a century or so, and set the stage for the Cold War staying cold. If Truman did not use nukes to end WWII, I truly think there would have been a WWIII between America and the Soviet Union. It probably wasn't necessary to end the war, but it was a damn good decision in the long run. I think people bash him for this decision, but I think he ought to be praised for it.

And the Japanese NEVER would have surrendered otherwise. He saved countless more lives than were taken by dropping those bombs. The Japanese were ruthless.

[Larry Flyntz]

Exactly. A Japanese mainland invasion would have been extremely costly in terms of American lives. It could have dragged on for years.