General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Scholars list of best and worst presidents [View all]exboyfil
(17,865 posts)and herding the Jews and other undesirables into concentration camps, Hitler wasn't that bad either. He did love his dog Blondi.
I think Jackson was a forceful individual. One of the most forceful ever to hold the office - only someone like Washington can truly compare to him. If you had a military engagement to win, then he was your man. He was utterly ruthless and racist (probably not out of the box at the time). He did not look past himself to something grander.
I feel Lincoln, Washington, and both Roosevelts are different in that regard. That is why they are great. To a lesser extent Jefferson as well.
You should probably have a most influential list
Washington
F. Roosevelt
Lincoln
Jackson
Polk
Eisenhower
Jefferson (for the Louisiana Purchase alone)
Reagan
L. Johnson
Truman
G. W. Bush (for totally screwing up domestic and foreign policy together)
The country was substantially different when these men left office. Some for better and some for worse.