American History Hit

Episode: "Who Was the Worst President Ever?"

Host: Don Wildman
Guest: Jeremy Suri (Professor & Author of The Impossible Presidency)
Date: October 2, 2025

Overview

This lively and insightful episode sees Don Wildman and presidential historian Jeremy Suri tackle one of American history’s most provocative questions: Who was the worst U.S. president ever?
Avoiding recent presidents (as their legacies are still in flux and out of respect for the show's historical focus), the discussion is rooted in deeply contextual, non-partisan history, exploring what constitutes a “bad” presidency and surveying some of America’s most infamous commanders in chief.

Through historical anecdotes, policy analysis, and critical reflection, they try to understand how changing times, societal challenges, and the ever-evolving presidency have shaped both the best and worst officeholders. The episode builds toward each guest personally selecting their pick for the worst president, reflecting on lessons for leadership and American identity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Evolution of the Presidency (04:00–08:41)

• Early Intentions vs. Modern Reality:

  • The presidency was designed by the founders as a small, largely ceremonial office with the president envisioned as a unifying figure above party politics.
    • “George Washington wanted the president to be above party. He believed presidents should not belong to a party.” — Jeremy Suri [03:57]
  • Early presidents did not campaign as we recognize it today; this changed with Theodore Roosevelt’s active public persona.
  • The office and federal government grew with time:
    • Jackson (1830s): staff of 2
    • Herbert Hoover: staff of 5
    • Now: thousands under the executive

• Changing Scope of Authority:

  • As the country grew and the federal government expanded, so did expectations of what a president should manage (e.g., health insurance, policing).
  • Early presidents were accessible—Lincoln even held office hours.
  • Memorable story: Truman and his wife drove cross-country and stayed in a Howard Johnson’s motel after his presidency [06:48].

What Makes a 'Bad' President? (09:08–12:24)

• Two Core Failures:

  1. Inflexibility/Disconnection:
     • Failing to adapt policies to changing times or remain in step with the public.
     • “You get elected for one thing, but that doesn't mean that's how people want you to govern.” — Jeremy Suri [09:08]
  2. Inept Management and Corruption:
     • Struggling to control their staff or allowing self-interested advisers to drive decisions.

• Other Common Flaws:

  • Lack of political skill
  • Hubris (ex. Hoover)
  • Corruption (ex. Warren Harding, Richard Nixon)
  • Low morality or personal self-interest
  • Lack of vision relevant to the era’s needs

Deep Dive: Presidents Who 'Hit Rock Bottom' (15:11–29:13)

The Antebellum Blunders

• Zachary Taylor [15:55]

  • Military hero, not a politician. Short presidency, lacked political skills, inflamed North–South divisions.

• Millard Fillmore [16:46]

  • Approved the Compromise of 1850 (really five acts), ultimately reinforced slave state power and avoided decisive leadership.
  • Oversaw strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act, igniting Northern outrage and helping precipitate Bleeding Kansas.
  • “The Fugitive Slave act…gave southerners the right to use federal militia forces...to go into northern areas and recapture escaped slaves.” — Jeremy Suri [18:45]

• Franklin Pierce [20:22]

  • New Hampshire native, tried appeasing the South; personally tragic circumstances (lost his son prior to office) but seen as a “northern turncoat” for discounting the abolitionist movement.

The True Lows: Buchanan and Johnson

• James Buchanan [22:02–23:50]

  • “He believed that you could kick the can down the road...That’s why he’s often referred to as a spineless jellyfish.” — Jeremy Suri [22:19]
  • Lacked both vision and boldness; sided with pro-slavery interests, failed to act decisively when Southern states seceded; blamed Northern “radicals” for the split.

• Andrew Johnson [24:07–28:10]

  • Tennessee tailor; only Southern senator not to secede; became Lincoln’s accidental successor after assassination.
  • Mismanaged Reconstruction, allowed former Confederates to regain power, did little to protect freed slaves, enabled Black Codes, and was impeached for undermining Congress:
    • “He tried to reverse what the duly elected Congress and others were doing...He was not doing his job. Not only that, he was passive. He was actively undermining the law of the land and a president's duty under their oath.” — Jeremy Suri [27:29]

The Worst, Chosen (27:22–29:13)

• Jeremy Suri’s Pick:

  • Andrew Johnson
    • “He was so inadequate for the office at a moment of such importance...He was actively undermining the law of the land.” [27:29]

• Don Wildman’s Pick:

  • James Buchanan
    • “Here we have James Buchanan, who lands in this moment, and my goodness, a lot is obvious: screaming states ready to secede. Instead of having any kind of pivot...he decides to stay in the room with his friends and try to make it work just as it was.” [28:10]

Modern Comparisons & Leadership Lessons (29:58–32:24)

• Both agree that history sometimes repeats:

  • Era of rapid change (then: slavery, now: technology/AI and economic uncertainty) challenges older, inflexible leaders.
  • “We're asking grandpas to make sense of artificial intelligence…In a certain way, it's absurd, isn't it?” — Jeremy Suri [29:58]
  • There’s often a failure among leaders to communicate and act on looming threats (then: slavery, now: economic unsustainability).

• Leadership requires both vision and ability to translate that vision for the moment.

  • “It’s not are you a visionary, but does your vision suit the times you're in?” — Jeremy Suri [11:46]

Most Overrated President (32:24–33:20)

• John F. Kennedy

  • Frequently ranked top 10 due to charisma and youthful death, but actually had a short, troubled term (Bay of Pigs, Vietnam escalation), may have been more “middling.”
    • “He wasn't president very long and he didn't actually do very much. And, in fact, some of the things he did were really bad, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion…” — Jeremy Suri [32:28]

• James K. Polk (Producer Freddie's Pick)

  • Expansionist, engineered the Mexican–American War; controversial as a "warmonger" but limited himself to a single term and avoided further expansion.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What goes up always comes down. There’s always so much to be learned from the top of the order—but what about the bottom? How about rock bottom?” — Don Wildman [01:23]

• “I think for [Buchanan and Johnson] the equivalent of struggling to understand AI for them was slavery was so embedded in the world they knew…even though the world was going in that direction, they couldn't adjust to that. Just as…our grandpas who are presidents today can't adjust to a world of artificial intelligence.” — Jeremy Suri [30:42]

• “He was passive. He was actively undermining the law of the land and a president’s duty under their oath…He was doing the opposite.” — Jeremy Suri on Andrew Johnson [27:29]

• “Instead of having any kind of pivot, which is so important for a great leader…He decides to stay in the room with his friends and try to make it work just as it was, claiming it's not my role to play.” — Don Wildman on James Buchanan [28:10]

Important Timestamps

• Presidency’s Changing Purpose: 04:00–08:41
• Defining a Bad President: 09:08–12:24
• Antebellum Presidents (Taylor–Fillmore–Pierce): 15:11–20:22
• Buchanan and Johnson Analysis: 22:02–28:10
• Host/Guest Choices for Worst President: 27:22–29:13
• Modern Parallels & the Burden of Leadership: 29:58–32:24
• Most Overrated Presidents: 32:24–34:34

Conclusion

The hosts agree that while the presidency has always required adaptable vision and courage, the all-time low points have come when the office’s occupant was unable — or unwilling — to rise to the largest challenges of their time. For Suri, Andrew Johnson’s failures during Reconstruction and his undermining of federal law are unmatched in their damage. For Wildman, Buchanan’s paralysis in the face of secession is unforgivable. Both faults, they stress, offer enduring lessons for Americans and their leaders today.

The next episode promises to choose America’s best president — so the saga continues.