The head of our executive branch is arguably the single most scrutinized individual in our nation. From conversations at the dinner table to speeches in Congress, millions of Americans examine and debate his actions and policies. Throughout our history, it has always been this way, but now more than ever, we have more access to information on both the public and private life of the President through television, radio, and the internet. The president always has his supporters and detractors. The former will do their best to defend the president’s policies, and the latter will attack the head of the executive branch. During this exchange, the opposing groups continue to hurl charges and countercharges at each other.
Amidst this constant chaos, it is important to gain a perspective of our presidents throughout history. In studying our president’s predecessors, I always try to figure out how our current president will be rated in comparison to those who previously occupied his position. Will he be considered one of the great presidents, or one of the worst? Many Americans already have formed their own judgment on this question. However, it is important to remember that some of the great presidents were not well liked while they were in office. In studying the history of our presidents, I cannot find one who was immune from criticism. Even the presidents we most revere such as Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt endured their share. In gaining a perspective on our president, we should remember that the consequences of his actions may not be fully understood and appreciated years after the president leaves office. As for rating the presidents, historians use two criteria: the difficulty of the circumstances of the nation, and the president’s response to those circumstances. It takes a considerable amount of time for us to realize the full impact of the president and the context in which he worked. It is difficult to rate our most recent presidents because new revelations about the president’s decisions and the context in which those decisions were made always will surface, and our opinion will change over time.
While it is difficult to have a clear perspective on our current president, we should actively participate in our government. Most of us will not communicate directly with the president, but our congress can be the conduit through which the will of the people is expressed. The bills presented to Congress will need to come before the president for veto or passage. We can facilitate the passage or abolishment of legislation. Through Politivote, we can make our feelings known concerning legislation, and this will dictate what bills make it to the president to sign into law. I would encourage the reader to register with Politivote and use this site to be a part of this process.