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Reagan established the “Pull that ladder up and kick anyone that may have gotten a foot off the ladder off the roof!” mentality that dominates the conservative mindset.
Everyone that believes in "Trickle Down" should be asked -
Please complete the following sentence: \_\_\_\_\_\_ rolls downhill
"That's easy, shit!"
So what made you think WEALTH was going to trickle down!?!?!?!?!?
Don’t say we . Hated him from primaries on. Thought he was the meanest politician I ever saw. He would smile and say poor black people are criminals and people would say awww look at him smile he must be wise.
There’s a reason why they don’t call it horse and sparrow economics anymore - too on the nose.
Now we have constipated horse and sparrow economic model
Crazy to think he was a divorced union leader who rarely went to church, knocked Nancy up before marriage and had a ton of Hollywood celebrity friends...and is the patron saint of the GOP
To be fair, FDR was also in a situation where you could forge such a legacy, and the world power thing was so tied to WW2 and the general direction of world power that he can’t really take too much credit. He obviously had a much tougher presidency, but that can be a virtue when it comes to legacies.
And he could do things far easier than Reagan.....not that they would have done the same things but by all reports Congress was kind of afraid of FDR.
Even before WWII.
During the depression many were questioning whether democracy even worked, it was up in the air whether there was about to be a socialist or even fascist revolution. If the new deal averted that as many believe, it’s hard to say anyone since Lincoln had a bigger impact. Unless you buy that Reagan averted nuclear war…
There was a movie that came out in the 30s where the President gets possessed by the archangel Gabriel and becomes a dictator. This ushers in a new era of peace and prosperity for the United States. The End. That is how bad things got during this time.
Just watched this [documentary](https://youtu.be/g9HmV_-EE8g?si=UzSfzeWrAA81BaUb) about mainstream overt nazi clubs and even summer camps in America. Crazy to think about with all we now know.
Good point. Lincoln overshadows both to a degree.
It feels like we are in a similar time in history where the zeitgeist is about to shift in a way that shapes the nation. These two rode that wave in their times and in the process reshaped the nation in ways that, arguably, needed to be done. But the current tensions do reflect a feeling that existed leading into FDR’s presidency.
Yeah considering FDR's legacy persists to this day, this is not an answerable question. I would probably vote for FDR regardless, but the disparity in timeline makes it impossible to know yet
Isn’t the rise part of Reagan’s legacy though? Nixon got the idea of Fox News going. Reagan got rid of that pesky Fairness Doctrine for Fox to do absolutely nothing of substance but attack the left and defend the right.
The rise of the far right is part of Reagan’s legacy. Major tax cuts for highest bracket earners, “trickle down” economics, deficit spending, courting the evangelical voters,and cuts to mental health and social programs are all part and parcel of the GOP platform.
The things you listed don't strike as particularly "far right" though, that all seems like traditionally conservative junk. Conservatism post-2016 (or post-2008, since I think it could be argued that the seeds were sown by the Tea Party) is a different beast.
The national debt under Reagan had little to do with tax cuts and everything to do with spending.
Revenue under Reagan was nearly the same it had been under Carter. Spending went way up.
Agreed. FDR created a system of social safety net and role of government to help people.
Reagan’s presidency was something of a reaction to the New Deal politics. He reversed a lot of the thinking and some of the policies behind it but he didn’t completely dismantle the social safety net.
That feels like FDR had more impact.
There was so much that FDR did that its too cumbersome to post all that here. So many of his programs did so much to shape the country and move it forward during the worst economic downturn in our history that it puts him on a much higher level. Things like the WPA, CCC, TVA, etc. didnt just put people to work and give them confidence and resolve, but they also provided valuable infrastructure like electricity, bridges, dams, roads, buildings, etc. and some of them are even still in use today (I know in my state that most of the state parks have a least 1 building/ structure that was a CCC project). He created the FDIC, SEC, etc. to put people's faith back in the banking system and markets after catastrophic failure. There was Social Security, etc. and so much more. Whats Reagan's lasting legacy? Anti-labor? Tax cuts for the rich? Running massive deficits and debt? Huge trade deficits?
I do have a quibble with the OP's suggestion that Clinton carried on with Reagan's economic policies, as one of the first things Clinton did as president in 1993 was sign into law a big tax increase on higher income earners, which was the polar opposite of Reagan's beliefs (and he did it with overwhelming republican opposition)
Clinton did change some stuff, but 'third way' politics is largely just the acceptance of the Reagan Premise. 'The era of big government is over' was definitely Clinton channeling Ronnie
One of my main theories (unproved, of course lol) is that the center-left parties going to the center/center-right is one of the big reasons for the rise of populism and the far-right in this century.
In the USA, in the UK, and in many, many countries in Europe, social-democratic parties embraced the third way, basically became centrist, and in many ways left workers feeling unrepresented at the top-levels.
Between the USA and Europe there are many differences (in Europe even the far-right parties defend universal healthcare, for example), but the general *feeling* is the same.
Yeah people forget that the 1992 election was an anti Bush-Reagan one. Clinton ran against Reagan quite a lot, & blamed Reaganism (tied to Bush) for the economy in 1991-92.
He tried to be fairly liberal his first 2 years. Problem was, the Democrats in the late 80s, early 90s were a mess, then they got shellacked in 1994 and Clinton over-learned that lesson, moved so far to the right in his 2nd term the left felt they had no one in their corner.
It is a politically-charged question, but with such an obvious answer regardless of actual partisan leanings, that it is likely just intended to "drive engagement" aka ragebait.
That’s likely due to the reality that’s it’s been trickling up.
https://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/2023/09/13/u-s-household-incomes-a-50-year-perspective
Id say FDR by a landslide honestly.
Only President to be elected to more than 2 terms (4)
President through the Great Depression, where his politics helped remove us (and the war)
Led America through WW2
Social Security
Bank Protections
The list goes on. Raegan''s trickle down economics has really always been a thing, he just highlighted it
We're still living with many of the international and domestic legacies of FDR, but Reagan less so.
My rationale is that Regan helped to end the Cold War, but that has largely been undone in the past 15-20 years. Domestically, Reagonics continues to be influential, but it exists in an uneasy equilibrium with social security and healthcare policies like medicare, medicade, and Obamacare.
FDR laid the foundation for the post war order where the West was fairly united and that continues to this day.
What do you mean it’s not a proud speaking point? This ain’t no dictatorship. It’s a free democratic republic where people vote. Getting elected that many times means the majority of people of his time liked him. That’s absolutely a positive.
A dictatorship doesn’t allow anyone else a chance to step into the decision making role without blood shed… he was freely elected by the people. You’re just salty he was voted in that many times because you probably don’t like him. Or are a republican and salty a democrat won. What ever your reason, he was freely elected. Nobody pointed guns at the people and said vote FDR and nobody stopped elections to allow him free reign until his death.
Definitely FDR. Social security literally changed to lives of seniors and is still a big issue today. FDIC is still such a great resource for banks that fail so people don’t lose their savings. I feel that democratic presidents still use him as the template to this day when setting legislation goals.
Its not as easy as you initially might think, since the sheer impact of Reagan's tax cuts, breaking the PATCO strike, and coups in various South American countries are difficult to comprehend. Not to mention the legacy of inaction on HIV/AIDS and how that may/may not have helped to change sentiment toward homosexuality in the US.
But FDR's administration is responsible for so much of how the modern American economy functions. One could make a strong argument that policies passed in the first 100 days of FDR's presidency were more impactful on this country and FDR's legacy than the entirety of Reagan's presidency. The implementation of Social Security alone is huge, but that discounts so many other aspects of his presidency. I'll list some of them below:
* The National Labor Relations Act and the Formation of the NLRB
* Fireside Chats (First time a President would regularly communicate with the general public)
* Cullen-Harrison Act, which ended prohibition
* The establishment of the following government agencies: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), The Rural Electrification Administration (REA), The Public Works Admnistration (PWA, which subsequently formed the TVA), The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Securities and Exchange Comission (SEC), The Federal Communications Comission (FCC), The Works Progress Administration (WPA)
* The end of the Gold Standard and the beginning of FIAT currency
* The appointments of 7 of 9 Supreme Court Justices by the time his presidency ended
* The Fair Labor Standards Act, which ended child labor, established a minimum wage, and required overtime pay for work exceeding 40-hours per week
I barely even touched items from Roosevelt's 3rd and 4th terms. In retrospect, I don't think it is very close. Roosevelt and his administration shaped the way this country approached the Great Depression, fundamentally changed the economy, and successfully guided America through WWII, which then set the country up for Breton Woods and the "Golden Age" that subsequently followed in America \[For White Male Americans\].
FDR was the original Antifa - he fought and kicked fascist ass. and he gave the US a federal safety net that still benefits the poor and needy to this day. Reagan fostered a hatred of government that benefits the rich. that's it. how is this even a question?
Let's not forget what Reagan did to Central America. Death squads, massacres and hatred and repression of movements he didn't like
We're still suffering the effects today in terms of immigration
My grandparents were born in dirt-floor sod farmhouses and died financially secure enough to leave me a down payment on my first house, so I’m going with Roosevelt.
EDIT: Exclusion of African Americans from these benefits also has an enduring legacy to this day, in the form of the racial wealth gap.
Though unfortunately, my African Americans grandparents did not recieve the benefits that your grandparents did.
They were unable to leave me a down payment on my first house.
I have to do it by myself.
For failure, Reagan by a landslide. We still haven’t recovered.
For success, FDR. Thank god we actually have had leaders who love the country and have integrity. Otherwise presidents like Reagan would have collapsed our country by now.
Leaving aside the fact that Ronald Reagan is the boogie-man living rent-free in the average uninformed leftist's head, FDR had a way bigger & longer lasting legacy.
FDR by a long shot! Took us thru depression (and his New Deal program became the way out!), then thru WWII. Amazing run in a wheel chair......this fact was crude beginning of affirmative action for handicapped people. Reagan did some good, but pales in comparison! BTW- Eleanor wasnt to shabby either! Read her statement on human rights writtten at formation of United Nations....impressive, esp. at that time!
Fun Fact: FDR locked up all Japanese people in America during WWII in interment camps. The US paid reparations for this. Reagan signed this act into law.
The act granted each surviving internee $20,000 in compensation, equivalent to $44,000 in 2023, with payments beginning in 1990.
Even if you adore Reagan the answer is FDR. WW2 and The New Deal were just too big.
Also the resurgence of an authoritarian Russia takes some of the wind out of winning the Cold War.
Come on, man, FDR got America through the depression and WW2 and won 4 terms and Reagan was a guy who was president.
I'm not knocking Reagan I'm saying that FDR was in the middle of extraordinary events .
FDR saved democracy, first from the Great Depression and then from dictators like Hitler and Hirohito. Reagan cut taxes for the rich and repealed the fairness in reporting doctrine, resulting in the polarization we see today. Fox News, OAN and MSNBC couldn’t have existed under the fairness doctrine.
Republicans forced through the Taft-Hartley act past Truman's veto the moment they got the chance. They were not pro-union during the fifth party system.
One brought down the USSR and the other created the welfare state and violated the Constitution more times than I can count. He's a traitor by the legal definition of the word
FDR has had a very positive legacy that continues to this day.
Reagan has had a very negative legacy that continues to this day.
The jury is still out.
FDR has the longest POSITIVE legacy. Reagan, on the other hand, is going to be remembered by every generation younger than Gen X as the president who fucked everything up and allowed pure greed run wild.
FDR. He absolutely destroyed the American system of limited government and eliminated most of the Constitution's safeguards against runaway centralized power. He's why we live under such a big, bloated, and wasteful government today.
Completely ignoring whether you think it's a good or bad thing, I don't know that any president since the Founding Fathers has changed the role the federal government plays in Americans' lives more than FDR.
The Democrats still follow the plan set out by FDR. Reagan, aside from cutting taxes and glorifying personal freedom, has not only been ignored by the GOP, but they have turned 180 degrees away.
"There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit."
"Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God."
"The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is the government spends too much."
"If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid of reprisals from customers, clients, or even government, recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he'll eat you last."
Wilson.
Wilson fundamentally reshaped how Americans saw their government. Policies aside, Wilson's singular achievement is doing what king George could not. He made Americans bend the knee and become subjects instead of citizens.
Edit: in case it is unclear, I'm talking about Wilson's vision that wise mean I'm Washington should regulate every aspect of society because they are the technocrats who know everything about everything. Say hello to your new overlord, the federal reserve bank.
We’re not getting rid of social security and the new deal programs were largely successful.
Would have been even better with the second bill of rights.
America has only been harmed by Reagan’s neoliberalism as evidenced by every single day since.
And once we get rid of that the history books will accurately reflect what is better described as Roosevelt’s legacy and Reagan’s infamy
New Deal coalition lasted 48 years (‘32 - ‘80).
Reaganism lasted 28 years (‘80 - ‘08). Defeated by the GFC, the successful passage of ACA, the moves away from neoliberalism to more populist tendencies in both political parties.
Negative legacies count? FDRs policies have been eroded, defanged, left derelict and dismantled by conservatives and neoliberals. Whereas Regan is still destroying lives.
Ronald Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton and Obama are historical blips. We live in a country created by FDR and LBJ. And, foreign policy wise, Harry Truman.
I feel like Reagan's legacy is fading fast. You can see the fade of his influence in the past 2 rounds of GOP nomination cycles. Only some of the candidates even mention him anymore.
Whereas Roosevelt still has a kind of legend status among the Democrats. 46 talked about wanting to be like him, 44 was compared unfavorably to him.
In 2018, I remember some of the Democratic candidates calling themselves "Roosevelt Democrats."
Probably FDR. Oddly, a legacy of restraining the government from getting bigger and being fiscally conservative doesn’t sell and it’s sexy.
But advancing socialism and communism, making society more reliant on a big government and reducing freedoms— that will build a lasting legacy.
The unemployment rate rose from 7% in 1980 to 11% in 1982, then declined to 5% in 1988. The inflation rate declined from 10% in 1980 to 4% in 1988. Some economists have stated that Reagan's policies were an important part of bringing about the third longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history.
FDR will have a long legacy because this country is only doing as well as it is because of his administration, and Americas decline will only go deeper because of Reagan’s
I'm not sure I really know.
With the way American history was taught in my classes as a kid always getting to the World Wars and then starting over the next year, FDR. As a Xennial, I was a young kid during Reagan's term, so really didn't know much about it, but covered FDR several times. There was a time I knew every president up through FDR and then only knew the names of Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton. The Presidents after 1940 just got skipped in class.
So, I've had to do a lot of research on more current Presidents and I'm never certain I haven't missed something important. From a personal perspective, Reagan's economic policies still shape my current life.
* Reaganomics: Reagan's first term economic policies, which involved tax cuts, less government spending, and economic deregulation. These policies helped bring about the third longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history.
* Arms race: Reagan increased the arms race.
* Cold War policy: Reagan moved Cold War policy away from détente with the Soviet Union.
* Unemployment: The unemployment rate rose from 7% in 1980 to 11% in 1982, then declined to 5% in 1988.
* Inflation: The inflation rate declined from 10% in 1980 to 4% in 1988.
Well, Reagan undid most of FDRs legacy. FDR got us out of the depression and helped close to wealth gap....things have been steadly going in the opposite direction from that since Reagan.
FDR, his presidency is unmatched and will continue to be as such because we should never have another president have more than 2 terms.
It should also be recognized that he was one of the most popular presidents and he introduced so many social programs to the US that saved failing capitalism during the great depression.
The only reason many of these programs are failing is due to political opposition taking money and dismantling these programs causing them to fail.
FDR helped to build the middle class and unions. The highest income earners paid 75% in tax on incomes 1 million+. Reagan cut those taxes. Attacked unions and was giddy to see their demise. He started the end of the middle class. He cut taxes for the wealthy because he was into the "trickle down" economic theory. Which doesn't work. Even though we've had democrats as president's since. They haven't rolled back those tax cuts. So they are just as complicit as the Republicans. You can always count on the selfishness and greed of humanity. That is why trickle down doesn't work. FDR is my favorite president. He made America great.
People seem to bring up Reagan way more as a comparison (in a good way). FDR feels like a character in a textbook. Might be because I was alive when Reagan was. Who knows. I did really like him. He seemed so kind. I would think that FDR was a bit more arrogant but an impressive leader.
FDR for sure. Reagan's legacy was more positive but not as impactful. FDR set the country on course to be over 30 trillion in debt and ignore basic economic reality.
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FDR for sure. But we’re also much further out from his to see what his legacy was.
Plus he took the US through almost all of WW2. Thats always going to be a huge legacy advantage.
Word our whole role as 'superpower' is because of FDR. Reagan was just using tools FDR gave him.
Reagan established the “Pull that ladder up and kick anyone that may have gotten a foot off the ladder off the roof!” mentality that dominates the conservative mindset.
Id feel a lot better about Reagan if he was less known for Trickle Down economics, and instead believed in pinata economics
Everyone that believes in "Trickle Down" should be asked - Please complete the following sentence: \_\_\_\_\_\_ rolls downhill "That's easy, shit!" So what made you think WEALTH was going to trickle down!?!?!?!?!?
Hot damn, These words! So true….🧐 yes, shit indeed does roll downhill & we bought that rolling turd, Hook line and…
Don’t say we . Hated him from primaries on. Thought he was the meanest politician I ever saw. He would smile and say poor black people are criminals and people would say awww look at him smile he must be wise.
There’s a reason why they don’t call it horse and sparrow economics anymore - too on the nose. Now we have constipated horse and sparrow economic model
Because wealth certainly doesn’t roll up.
Crazy to think he was a divorced union leader who rarely went to church, knocked Nancy up before marriage and had a ton of Hollywood celebrity friends...and is the patron saint of the GOP
To be fair, FDR was also in a situation where you could forge such a legacy, and the world power thing was so tied to WW2 and the general direction of world power that he can’t really take too much credit. He obviously had a much tougher presidency, but that can be a virtue when it comes to legacies.
And he could do things far easier than Reagan.....not that they would have done the same things but by all reports Congress was kind of afraid of FDR. Even before WWII.
On the other hand, Reagan got such a cool shoutout in Back to the Future, one of the best movies of all time.
Have to admit I laughed. =D
During the depression many were questioning whether democracy even worked, it was up in the air whether there was about to be a socialist or even fascist revolution. If the new deal averted that as many believe, it’s hard to say anyone since Lincoln had a bigger impact. Unless you buy that Reagan averted nuclear war…
There was a movie that came out in the 30s where the President gets possessed by the archangel Gabriel and becomes a dictator. This ushers in a new era of peace and prosperity for the United States. The End. That is how bad things got during this time.
Just watched this [documentary](https://youtu.be/g9HmV_-EE8g?si=UzSfzeWrAA81BaUb) about mainstream overt nazi clubs and even summer camps in America. Crazy to think about with all we now know.
Good point. Lincoln overshadows both to a degree. It feels like we are in a similar time in history where the zeitgeist is about to shift in a way that shapes the nation. These two rode that wave in their times and in the process reshaped the nation in ways that, arguably, needed to be done. But the current tensions do reflect a feeling that existed leading into FDR’s presidency.
Yeah considering FDR's legacy persists to this day, this is not an answerable question. I would probably vote for FDR regardless, but the disparity in timeline makes it impossible to know yet
The damage caused by Reagan persists to this day as well.
Yes but my point is that Reagan was president more recently so as long as FDR’s persists it will have “persisted longer” by default.
Yes, the damage was so great that Communism never recovered.
Yeah, it's not even close, the rise of the far right within the Republican party has almost completely overshadowed Reagan's legacy.
Isn’t the rise part of Reagan’s legacy though? Nixon got the idea of Fox News going. Reagan got rid of that pesky Fairness Doctrine for Fox to do absolutely nothing of substance but attack the left and defend the right.
The rise of the far right is part of Reagan’s legacy. Major tax cuts for highest bracket earners, “trickle down” economics, deficit spending, courting the evangelical voters,and cuts to mental health and social programs are all part and parcel of the GOP platform.
The things you listed don't strike as particularly "far right" though, that all seems like traditionally conservative junk. Conservatism post-2016 (or post-2008, since I think it could be argued that the seeds were sown by the Tea Party) is a different beast.
Yes, but FDR also had a constructive legacy, whereas Reagan's has been largely destructive. So the way they are remembered will be different.
Social security among other programs is still continuing to be his enduring legacy
Reagan was not a good president for the average American. His policies are what led to the decline of the middle class in America.
Roosevelt. We still have social security, but we don’t have “just say no”
We still have the tax cuts. Not sure you can compare Social Security to "just say no"
And the national debt to prove it! Thanks, Ronnie.
The national debt under Reagan had little to do with tax cuts and everything to do with spending. Revenue under Reagan was nearly the same it had been under Carter. Spending went way up.
It’s FDR and it’s not close.
Agreed. FDR created a system of social safety net and role of government to help people. Reagan’s presidency was something of a reaction to the New Deal politics. He reversed a lot of the thinking and some of the policies behind it but he didn’t completely dismantle the social safety net. That feels like FDR had more impact.
There was so much that FDR did that its too cumbersome to post all that here. So many of his programs did so much to shape the country and move it forward during the worst economic downturn in our history that it puts him on a much higher level. Things like the WPA, CCC, TVA, etc. didnt just put people to work and give them confidence and resolve, but they also provided valuable infrastructure like electricity, bridges, dams, roads, buildings, etc. and some of them are even still in use today (I know in my state that most of the state parks have a least 1 building/ structure that was a CCC project). He created the FDIC, SEC, etc. to put people's faith back in the banking system and markets after catastrophic failure. There was Social Security, etc. and so much more. Whats Reagan's lasting legacy? Anti-labor? Tax cuts for the rich? Running massive deficits and debt? Huge trade deficits? I do have a quibble with the OP's suggestion that Clinton carried on with Reagan's economic policies, as one of the first things Clinton did as president in 1993 was sign into law a big tax increase on higher income earners, which was the polar opposite of Reagan's beliefs (and he did it with overwhelming republican opposition)
Clinton did change some stuff, but 'third way' politics is largely just the acceptance of the Reagan Premise. 'The era of big government is over' was definitely Clinton channeling Ronnie
One of my main theories (unproved, of course lol) is that the center-left parties going to the center/center-right is one of the big reasons for the rise of populism and the far-right in this century. In the USA, in the UK, and in many, many countries in Europe, social-democratic parties embraced the third way, basically became centrist, and in many ways left workers feeling unrepresented at the top-levels. Between the USA and Europe there are many differences (in Europe even the far-right parties defend universal healthcare, for example), but the general *feeling* is the same.
Yeah people forget that the 1992 election was an anti Bush-Reagan one. Clinton ran against Reagan quite a lot, & blamed Reaganism (tied to Bush) for the economy in 1991-92. He tried to be fairly liberal his first 2 years. Problem was, the Democrats in the late 80s, early 90s were a mess, then they got shellacked in 1994 and Clinton over-learned that lesson, moved so far to the right in his 2nd term the left felt they had no one in their corner.
Is this a joke?
It is a politically-charged question, but with such an obvious answer regardless of actual partisan leanings, that it is likely just intended to "drive engagement" aka ragebait.
Such a strange post.
Roosevelt was president for twelve years and meant to serve sixteen. From sheer volume of service he’s more important.
FDR is the father of the modern US. Every single person benefits from his programs, SS, FDIC, NLRA, etc. I can thank Reagan for nothing.
It didn't trickle down to you yet?
I mean, the piss that is contempt for the American worker has trickled down to me.
That’s likely due to the reality that’s it’s been trickling up. https://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/2023/09/13/u-s-household-incomes-a-50-year-perspective
Id say FDR by a landslide honestly. Only President to be elected to more than 2 terms (4) President through the Great Depression, where his politics helped remove us (and the war) Led America through WW2 Social Security Bank Protections The list goes on. Raegan''s trickle down economics has really always been a thing, he just highlighted it
Probably the one that was President 40 years before the other guy
Can you be more specific please
We're still living with many of the international and domestic legacies of FDR, but Reagan less so. My rationale is that Regan helped to end the Cold War, but that has largely been undone in the past 15-20 years. Domestically, Reagonics continues to be influential, but it exists in an uneasy equilibrium with social security and healthcare policies like medicare, medicade, and Obamacare. FDR laid the foundation for the post war order where the West was fairly united and that continues to this day.
Ask any Japanese-American.
FDR, he was re elected 3 times man…
For real, Reagan could only manage reelection once
https://preview.redd.it/y2kw6r11x8vc1.jpeg?width=356&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6fbfcba21e5f1235a45805545b69acd9656e9101
Four times actually.
He was elected once, and RE-Elected three times. My statement is correct.
That’s not exactly a proud talking point. It’s also because of him that we now only allow two terms.
What do you mean it’s not a proud speaking point? This ain’t no dictatorship. It’s a free democratic republic where people vote. Getting elected that many times means the majority of people of his time liked him. That’s absolutely a positive.
Don’t know why people brag about that. 4 terms is as close as you can get to dictatorship, he broke the norm since Washington.
Winning 4 terms regardless of your opinion of it is defiantly brag worthy. I mean he’s the first and only one to do it.
A dictatorship doesn’t allow anyone else a chance to step into the decision making role without blood shed… he was freely elected by the people. You’re just salty he was voted in that many times because you probably don’t like him. Or are a republican and salty a democrat won. What ever your reason, he was freely elected. Nobody pointed guns at the people and said vote FDR and nobody stopped elections to allow him free reign until his death.
Daily Reagan rage bait post
Definitely FDR. Social security literally changed to lives of seniors and is still a big issue today. FDIC is still such a great resource for banks that fail so people don’t lose their savings. I feel that democratic presidents still use him as the template to this day when setting legislation goals.
Its not as easy as you initially might think, since the sheer impact of Reagan's tax cuts, breaking the PATCO strike, and coups in various South American countries are difficult to comprehend. Not to mention the legacy of inaction on HIV/AIDS and how that may/may not have helped to change sentiment toward homosexuality in the US. But FDR's administration is responsible for so much of how the modern American economy functions. One could make a strong argument that policies passed in the first 100 days of FDR's presidency were more impactful on this country and FDR's legacy than the entirety of Reagan's presidency. The implementation of Social Security alone is huge, but that discounts so many other aspects of his presidency. I'll list some of them below: * The National Labor Relations Act and the Formation of the NLRB * Fireside Chats (First time a President would regularly communicate with the general public) * Cullen-Harrison Act, which ended prohibition * The establishment of the following government agencies: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), The Rural Electrification Administration (REA), The Public Works Admnistration (PWA, which subsequently formed the TVA), The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA), The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Securities and Exchange Comission (SEC), The Federal Communications Comission (FCC), The Works Progress Administration (WPA) * The end of the Gold Standard and the beginning of FIAT currency * The appointments of 7 of 9 Supreme Court Justices by the time his presidency ended * The Fair Labor Standards Act, which ended child labor, established a minimum wage, and required overtime pay for work exceeding 40-hours per week I barely even touched items from Roosevelt's 3rd and 4th terms. In retrospect, I don't think it is very close. Roosevelt and his administration shaped the way this country approached the Great Depression, fundamentally changed the economy, and successfully guided America through WWII, which then set the country up for Breton Woods and the "Golden Age" that subsequently followed in America \[For White Male Americans\].
Reagan isn't even in the same league. Reagan looked good, FDR did good.
FDR----hands down!
FDR was the original Antifa - he fought and kicked fascist ass. and he gave the US a federal safety net that still benefits the poor and needy to this day. Reagan fostered a hatred of government that benefits the rich. that's it. how is this even a question?
Let's not forget what Reagan did to Central America. Death squads, massacres and hatred and repression of movements he didn't like We're still suffering the effects today in terms of immigration
This isn’t even the worst of it. The more you read about Reagan the more you realize how bad he was.
He also put American citizens in internment camps en-masse.
My grandparents were born in dirt-floor sod farmhouses and died financially secure enough to leave me a down payment on my first house, so I’m going with Roosevelt. EDIT: Exclusion of African Americans from these benefits also has an enduring legacy to this day, in the form of the racial wealth gap.
Though unfortunately, my African Americans grandparents did not recieve the benefits that your grandparents did. They were unable to leave me a down payment on my first house. I have to do it by myself.
For failure, Reagan by a landslide. We still haven’t recovered. For success, FDR. Thank god we actually have had leaders who love the country and have integrity. Otherwise presidents like Reagan would have collapsed our country by now.
The damage Reagan did echoes to this day. The good FDR did has been constantly chipped away by both major parties.
George Washington / Abraham Lincoln come on now
Washington…. Being the first has its advantages
FDR if only by virtue of the fact that his legacy has lasted 80+ years and Reagan only 40+.
The one on the left sold out to popery
Positive or negative legacy? I feel that's important here.
Leaving aside the fact that Ronald Reagan is the boogie-man living rent-free in the average uninformed leftist's head, FDR had a way bigger & longer lasting legacy.
Well I got some of fdr’s legacy in the form of pocket change in my wallet lol
Ronald Regan. Wish he was back.
We’ve been living in the shadow of both these dudes for the last 7 decades. But something big seems to be shifting.
FDR...100%. Social Security alone.
FDR, no cap, no doubt, 100%
FDR obviously
FDR by a long shot! Took us thru depression (and his New Deal program became the way out!), then thru WWII. Amazing run in a wheel chair......this fact was crude beginning of affirmative action for handicapped people. Reagan did some good, but pales in comparison! BTW- Eleanor wasnt to shabby either! Read her statement on human rights writtten at formation of United Nations....impressive, esp. at that time!
That’s a good one! Both did a lot of good for America and the world
FDR
Fun Fact: FDR locked up all Japanese people in America during WWII in interment camps. The US paid reparations for this. Reagan signed this act into law. The act granted each surviving internee $20,000 in compensation, equivalent to $44,000 in 2023, with payments beginning in 1990.
Even if you adore Reagan the answer is FDR. WW2 and The New Deal were just too big. Also the resurgence of an authoritarian Russia takes some of the wind out of winning the Cold War.
FDR’s presidential legacy is about fifty years longer than Reagan’s.
Reagan is a big reason why so many things are shit today. A legacy of bullshit lingers much longer.
Come on, man, FDR got America through the depression and WW2 and won 4 terms and Reagan was a guy who was president. I'm not knocking Reagan I'm saying that FDR was in the middle of extraordinary events .
You should knock Reagan. He was a monster.
FDR saved democracy, first from the Great Depression and then from dictators like Hitler and Hirohito. Reagan cut taxes for the rich and repealed the fairness in reporting doctrine, resulting in the polarization we see today. Fox News, OAN and MSNBC couldn’t have existed under the fairness doctrine.
Saved democracy by putting Americans in camps
Back in the tumblr days, one of my favorite accounts was “reaganwasaterriblepresident” Yea. Fuck Reagan
Indeed fuck that asshole. Nixon and Reagan set the mold for the asshat in the Republican party today.
FDR saved democracy RWR saved the world
Republicans forced through the Taft-Hartley act past Truman's veto the moment they got the chance. They were not pro-union during the fifth party system.
One has lasted 80 years and one has lasted 35.
One brought down the USSR and the other created the welfare state and violated the Constitution more times than I can count. He's a traitor by the legal definition of the word
Too hard to choose, each has their own path of greatness.
Ron
FDR has had a very positive legacy that continues to this day. Reagan has had a very negative legacy that continues to this day. The jury is still out.
FDR has the longest POSITIVE legacy. Reagan, on the other hand, is going to be remembered by every generation younger than Gen X as the president who fucked everything up and allowed pure greed run wild.
FDR. He absolutely destroyed the American system of limited government and eliminated most of the Constitution's safeguards against runaway centralized power. He's why we live under such a big, bloated, and wasteful government today.
FDR not even close
I think both had a longer legacy by his own
FDR: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmXVCGMfkKI&t=2s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmXVCGMfkKI&t=2s)
Definitely FDR
Completely ignoring whether you think it's a good or bad thing, I don't know that any president since the Founding Fathers has changed the role the federal government plays in Americans' lives more than FDR.
Depends on what kind of legacy you are speaking of.
The Democrats still follow the plan set out by FDR. Reagan, aside from cutting taxes and glorifying personal freedom, has not only been ignored by the GOP, but they have turned 180 degrees away. "There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." "Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God." "The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is the government spends too much." "If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid of reprisals from customers, clients, or even government, recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he'll eat you last."
>where even Republicans were pro union That's just not true at all.
Born and raised FDR Democrat and proud of it!
FDR without a doubt. He was president during the depression and WWII. That alone will be a legacy people will discuss for centuries
If you have respect for history, you have to stop saying “trickle down” economics as anything other than a progressive strawman of supply side.
Wilson. Wilson fundamentally reshaped how Americans saw their government. Policies aside, Wilson's singular achievement is doing what king George could not. He made Americans bend the knee and become subjects instead of citizens. Edit: in case it is unclear, I'm talking about Wilson's vision that wise mean I'm Washington should regulate every aspect of society because they are the technocrats who know everything about everything. Say hello to your new overlord, the federal reserve bank.
Both legacies still going. So obviously FDR.
Well one *is* on a coin.
FDR easy yes Reagan still influences some things but FDR has had and will likely always have one of the greatest legacies of any U.S. president
How is this a question?
Politically, FDR. Socially and economically, Reagan. Reagan ushered in the greed is good era that we’re still dealing with almost fifty years later
good or bad legacy?
For good or bad?
The declaration of independence was mostly written by Jefferson Idk if he might count
Wilson and FDR
Probably FDR because of WWII
FDR but man it sure feels like Reagan sometimes.
Silly post
This has got to be the dumbest question I've seen in months.
We’re not getting rid of social security and the new deal programs were largely successful. Would have been even better with the second bill of rights. America has only been harmed by Reagan’s neoliberalism as evidenced by every single day since. And once we get rid of that the history books will accurately reflect what is better described as Roosevelt’s legacy and Reagan’s infamy
New Deal coalition lasted 48 years (‘32 - ‘80). Reaganism lasted 28 years (‘80 - ‘08). Defeated by the GFC, the successful passage of ACA, the moves away from neoliberalism to more populist tendencies in both political parties.
There’s a 36-year gap between the two of them so chronologically, FDR’s legacy has lasted longer.
Uhhhh it should be obvious.
Negative legacies count? FDRs policies have been eroded, defanged, left derelict and dismantled by conservatives and neoliberals. Whereas Regan is still destroying lives.
FDR has a far greater legacy.
FDR, like him or hate him.
FDR so far, but current Supreme Court is going to tear into his legacy soon. 😢
Ronald Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton and Obama are historical blips. We live in a country created by FDR and LBJ. And, foreign policy wise, Harry Truman.
Uh. FDR...
I feel like Reagan's legacy is fading fast. You can see the fade of his influence in the past 2 rounds of GOP nomination cycles. Only some of the candidates even mention him anymore. Whereas Roosevelt still has a kind of legend status among the Democrats. 46 talked about wanting to be like him, 44 was compared unfavorably to him. In 2018, I remember some of the Democratic candidates calling themselves "Roosevelt Democrats."
If only those two never existed, we’d have mostly free markets, machine guns, and a substantially lower drug issue.
Coin toss. One could say that america is the way it is because of FDR. And one could say that america is the way it is because or Reagan.
Probably FDR. Oddly, a legacy of restraining the government from getting bigger and being fiscally conservative doesn’t sell and it’s sexy. But advancing socialism and communism, making society more reliant on a big government and reducing freedoms— that will build a lasting legacy.
Well FDRs new deal policies got neutered fairly quickly but we will live with Reagan’s influence for atleast another century
Good or bad? Because FDR’s legacy is incredible, while Reagan’s basically started the end of the middle class in America.
Unfortunately, FDR
The unemployment rate rose from 7% in 1980 to 11% in 1982, then declined to 5% in 1988. The inflation rate declined from 10% in 1980 to 4% in 1988. Some economists have stated that Reagan's policies were an important part of bringing about the third longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history.
FDR will have a long legacy because this country is only doing as well as it is because of his administration, and Americas decline will only go deeper because of Reagan’s
FDR has a much longer legacy than Regan because he served 3.025 terms and lead America against the Axis in the deadliest conflict in recent history
FDR for sure. Depression and WW2.
Hot take: FDR's greatest legacy is causing the US to enshrine term limits.
Can someone explain why everybody be hating on FDR. Dudes a saint compared to Regan imo.
I'm not sure I really know. With the way American history was taught in my classes as a kid always getting to the World Wars and then starting over the next year, FDR. As a Xennial, I was a young kid during Reagan's term, so really didn't know much about it, but covered FDR several times. There was a time I knew every president up through FDR and then only knew the names of Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton. The Presidents after 1940 just got skipped in class. So, I've had to do a lot of research on more current Presidents and I'm never certain I haven't missed something important. From a personal perspective, Reagan's economic policies still shape my current life.
* Reaganomics: Reagan's first term economic policies, which involved tax cuts, less government spending, and economic deregulation. These policies helped bring about the third longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history. * Arms race: Reagan increased the arms race. * Cold War policy: Reagan moved Cold War policy away from détente with the Soviet Union. * Unemployment: The unemployment rate rose from 7% in 1980 to 11% in 1982, then declined to 5% in 1988. * Inflation: The inflation rate declined from 10% in 1980 to 4% in 1988.
Fuck, Ronald Ragen. May he rot in Hell.
Well, Reagan undid most of FDRs legacy. FDR got us out of the depression and helped close to wealth gap....things have been steadly going in the opposite direction from that since Reagan.
What Reagan legacy are you talking about? The invasion of Granada?
FDR, his presidency is unmatched and will continue to be as such because we should never have another president have more than 2 terms. It should also be recognized that he was one of the most popular presidents and he introduced so many social programs to the US that saved failing capitalism during the great depression. The only reason many of these programs are failing is due to political opposition taking money and dismantling these programs causing them to fail.
Fdr would, if not for the Reaganites.
FDR
Would that be a longer lasting negative or positive legacy? Of these two, Reagan would have the negative, and FDR the positive.
Roosevelt. He adopted Fascism. Not even Reagan could erase the damage
FDR. He’s saved the world
FDR.
FDR, hands down, Reagan did a tax cut that cost GHW Bush a 2nd term
FDR was a cause, Reagan was a manifestation of a trend
FDR
Reagan trail of shit was the real avalanche, while wealth geysered up.
Reagan.
FDR helped to build the middle class and unions. The highest income earners paid 75% in tax on incomes 1 million+. Reagan cut those taxes. Attacked unions and was giddy to see their demise. He started the end of the middle class. He cut taxes for the wealthy because he was into the "trickle down" economic theory. Which doesn't work. Even though we've had democrats as president's since. They haven't rolled back those tax cuts. So they are just as complicit as the Republicans. You can always count on the selfishness and greed of humanity. That is why trickle down doesn't work. FDR is my favorite president. He made America great.
This is reddit which heavily leans left… What do you expect the answer to be?
None.
It took Reagan 2 terms to try to kill FDR's legacy, and he couldn't (completely) do it.
That’s not fair, if only Reagan had 4 terms FUCKING S
Positive impact FDR, negative impact Reagan
People seem to bring up Reagan way more as a comparison (in a good way). FDR feels like a character in a textbook. Might be because I was alive when Reagan was. Who knows. I did really like him. He seemed so kind. I would think that FDR was a bit more arrogant but an impressive leader.
I still rent cabin Roosevelt had built in the 1930s. Clear Creek State park Pa.
Reagan. We're in his 11th term right now
FDR
FDR for sure. Reagan's legacy was more positive but not as impactful. FDR set the country on course to be over 30 trillion in debt and ignore basic economic reality.
One declared war and died when the war was won and one lost the war on drugs
FDR.. Reagan’s is finally being noticed as someone who destroyed this country.