Who Are The 5 Worst Presidents In Us History

So, I was at this history buff's convention last weekend, right? And this guy, dressed as Abraham Lincoln, was going on about how every president has their ups and downs. I mean, sure, that's true. But then I got to thinking, "Who are the ones that really dropped the ball?" You know, the ones that make us go, "Ugh, what were they thinking?"

Andrew Johnson - The Impeached One

Let's kick things off with Andrew Johnson. Now, I'm not one to kick a man when he's down, but this guy... oh boy. He became president after Lincoln's assassination, and let's just say he didn't exactly inherit a smooth situation. But instead of trying to bring the country together, he went full steam ahead with his Reconstruction plan, which was about as popular as a root canal.

He vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which was basically the first step towards equal rights for former slaves. And when Congress overrode his veto, he just went ahead and ignored it. That's right, he ignored a law passed by Congress. Talk about a power trip. No wonder he's the first president to be impeached. But alas, he missed out on being the first to be removed from office by a single vote in the Senate. Close one, Andrew.

Warren G. Harding - The Scandalous One

Next up, we have Warren G. Harding. Now, Harding was known for his charm and good looks, but unfortunately, that's about where his strengths ended. His administration was plagued by scandals, including the Teapot Dome scandal, which involved bribery and corruption in the oil industry. It's like he thought being president was just a fancy way of saying "most powerful used car salesman".

But wait, there's more! Harding also had a bit of a wandering eye. He had affairs, plural, during his presidency. I mean, I guess it takes a certain kind of... confidence to juggle multiple mistresses while running the country. But hey, at least he had a good sense of humor about it. He once joked, "I'm not fit for this office and should never have been here." Truer words, Warren, truer words.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - The One Who Overstayed His Welcome

Now, before you start throwing tomatoes at your screen, let me explain. I know, I know, FDR is usually remembered as the guy who led us through the Great Depression and World War II. But hear me out.

The Top 5 Worst American Presidents in History - YouTube

FDR served an unprecedented four terms as president. Now, don't get me wrong, he did a lot of good. But sticking around for that fourth term? That's where things got a bit... dicey. He was already showing signs of declining health, and his death just a few months into his fourth term was a stark reminder that maybe, just maybe, it was time to pass the torch.

I mean, think about it. If you've been doing a great job at work, would you really want to stick around until you're so sick you can barely function? Exactly. But hey, at least he had the good sense to leave us with that little gem, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

James Buchanan - The One Who Let the Country Fall Apart

James Buchanan gets the dubious honor of being the last president before the American Civil War. And let me tell you, he didn't exactly do much to prevent it. He was a staunch supporter of states' rights, which, in the 1850s, was basically code for "I'm cool with slavery". He even vetoed a bill that would have banned slavery in the District of Columbia, because, you know, freedom is for suckers.

But the real kicker is that he did absolutely nothing to stop the secession of Southern states. In fact, he even said that if a state wanted to leave the Union, it was their "sacred right" to do so. Thanks a lot, James. I guess he figured, "Hey, if they want to leave, who am I to stop them?" Spoiler alert: that's kind of your job, dude.

Trump ranks among the worst presidents in history, according to new survey

Donald J. Trump - The One Who... Well, You Know

And finally, we have the most recent addition to our list, Donald Trump. Now, I know this is a touchy subject, so bear with me. I'm not here to bash or praise, just to point out a few things that, well, didn't go so great.

Let's start with the whole "insurrection" thing. You know, that little incident on January 6, 2021, where a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the election results. Yeah, that was a real winner. I mean, sure, he didn't exactly tell them to do it, but when you keep telling people the election was stolen, and then they take you literally... well, you do the math.

And then there's the whole COVID-19 response. Or lack thereof. I mean, sure, it's not easy to handle a global pandemic. But when you downplay the severity, refuse to wear a mask, and hold superspreader events... well, that's just not great leadership. But hey, at least he made some great hats, right?

So there you have it, folks. The five presidents who, well, let's just say they could have done better. But hey, every president has their ups and downs. After all, even George Washington chopped down a cherry tree. Or so the story goes. Until next time, history buffs!