Hyperbole again. Trump is easily the worst human to occupy the White House in my lifetime (going back to Nixon). But let's compare this modern, petty despot with some of the other "gems" that have occupied the office. Three come to mind.
Wilson was an avowed and overt racist who rolled back years of progress African Americans had made thr…
Hyperbole again. Trump is easily the worst human to occupy the White House in my lifetime (going back to Nixon). But let's compare this modern, petty despot with some of the other "gems" that have occupied the office. Three come to mind.
Wilson was an avowed and overt racist who rolled back years of progress African Americans had made thru government programs and employment. He reinstated segregation throughout the Federal government and Washington DC.
Polk invaded a foreign country on a pretext in order to make more land available for the expansion of slavery. Polk himself was a slave owner. At least Bush II nominally "claimed" to be spreading democracy.
And of course there is Jackson. He also invaded (directly) foreign territory on pretext, and through battle tactics killed hundreds of women and children. Later, he committed genocide, killing thousands (indirectly) through his policies. Both for the benefit of existing slave owners (to remove a haven for the runaway enslaved) and later to open more land for the expansion of slavery. In addition, he was a slave owner.
Indian-killing, slavery, and segregation were all policy, and policy debates, within the scope of constitutional democracy at the time. At least two of them were (largely) ended by constitutional processes.
Jackson, refused to abide by SCOTUS rulings on the Indian Removal Act. I believe his response was, "Let them enforce their judgment." He was repugnant even for his own time.
Oh, I almost mentioned that. Yes, the least constitutional act by any of the three. His "corrupt bargain" disparagement of the (perfectly constitutional) resolution to the 1824 election was also not cool, from a civics perspective.
If Jackson had had many more moments like these, he'd have been in a similar space to Trump.
You have a good point about Jackson. On the spectrum of US Presidential vileness, he used to top the list. He was also personally a violent man whose behavior in every sphere of his life was consistent with a belief that he was special, and whatever morality and rules others should follow did not apply to him. It is probably fair to conclude he, like Trump, was high up on the narcissism spectrum.
Of course, he differed from Trump in that he was by no means an idiot, had great organizational and leadership abilities, set serious goals for himself, and worked to accomplish them with iron self-discipline.
I imagine if there is in some afterlife US Presidential Asshole club, the three of them looking down (or perhaps up) at us must be shaking their heads in disgust at their successor, muttering, how disgracefully degraded the former standards of deplorability have become. For assholery and vileness Trump certainly qualifies for admission, but in every other respect can only be regarded as a contemptible failure.
Hyperbole again. Trump is easily the worst human to occupy the White House in my lifetime (going back to Nixon). But let's compare this modern, petty despot with some of the other "gems" that have occupied the office. Three come to mind.
Wilson was an avowed and overt racist who rolled back years of progress African Americans had made thru government programs and employment. He reinstated segregation throughout the Federal government and Washington DC.
Polk invaded a foreign country on a pretext in order to make more land available for the expansion of slavery. Polk himself was a slave owner. At least Bush II nominally "claimed" to be spreading democracy.
And of course there is Jackson. He also invaded (directly) foreign territory on pretext, and through battle tactics killed hundreds of women and children. Later, he committed genocide, killing thousands (indirectly) through his policies. Both for the benefit of existing slave owners (to remove a haven for the runaway enslaved) and later to open more land for the expansion of slavery. In addition, he was a slave owner.
Indian-killing, slavery, and segregation were all policy, and policy debates, within the scope of constitutional democracy at the time. At least two of them were (largely) ended by constitutional processes.
Jackson, refused to abide by SCOTUS rulings on the Indian Removal Act. I believe his response was, "Let them enforce their judgment." He was repugnant even for his own time.
Oh, I almost mentioned that. Yes, the least constitutional act by any of the three. His "corrupt bargain" disparagement of the (perfectly constitutional) resolution to the 1824 election was also not cool, from a civics perspective.
If Jackson had had many more moments like these, he'd have been in a similar space to Trump.
You have a good point about Jackson. On the spectrum of US Presidential vileness, he used to top the list. He was also personally a violent man whose behavior in every sphere of his life was consistent with a belief that he was special, and whatever morality and rules others should follow did not apply to him. It is probably fair to conclude he, like Trump, was high up on the narcissism spectrum.
Of course, he differed from Trump in that he was by no means an idiot, had great organizational and leadership abilities, set serious goals for himself, and worked to accomplish them with iron self-discipline.
I imagine if there is in some afterlife US Presidential Asshole club, the three of them looking down (or perhaps up) at us must be shaking their heads in disgust at their successor, muttering, how disgracefully degraded the former standards of deplorability have become. For assholery and vileness Trump certainly qualifies for admission, but in every other respect can only be regarded as a contemptible failure.