The Greatest President ?

BBC 4 aired an interesting documentary a couple of days ago called "How To Be A Good President". I, like many other Britains hold a key interest in the Presidential race, but in particular I love to read about the legacy that previous Presidents have left us. I'm no expert, and I firmly believe that if you asked 42 Americans who was the greatest President?, you'd get 42 different answers (well maybe 41). Looking from over the pond, we get a different perspectives on the value and lasting achievements of any given leader. So I was intrigued to find out what criteria the various British based broadcasters, writers and politicians would choose to assess who was the greatest President of the 20th Century.

Here's how they voted:

James Naughtie (Journalist and Radio news presenter) - Franklin D Roosevelt

Peter Jay (Economist, Broadcaster, and Diplomat) - Franklin D Roosevelt

Shirley Williams (Politician and Academic) - Franklin D Roosevelt

Harold Evans (Journalist and Writer) - Theodore Roosevelt

Malcolm Rifkind (Politician) - Franklin D Roosevelt

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Journalist) - Lyndon B Johnson

Bonnie Greer (American born Playwright and Critic) - Franklin D Roosevelt

Simon Hoggart (Journalist and Broadcaster) - Bill Clinton

Robert Tuttle (U.S. Ambassador to the U.K.) - Ronald Reagan

Douglas Hurd (Politician and Novelist) - George H W Bush

Cristina Odone (Journalist, Writer and Editor) - Franklin D Roosevelt

So, over half the votes went to FDR, and interestingly the Democrats won by 8 votes to 3. Aw shucks...what do us Brits know???

For what it's worth my vote would go for FDR for purely selfish reasons. I feel indebted to Roosevelt for the support he gave our country during World War II. Much against the will of collegues, Politicians and the general consensus of the people of America, he stood by us during those long lonely years 1940/41 when our nation was battling alone against the Axis powers to maintain a grip on the shallow possibility of a Europe free from tyranny. Without the Lend-lease policy he set up with Winston Churchill in 1941 we would have had major difficulties supplying our armies and the Atlantic convoys that supplied our small island were invaluable to the war effort. British will power and American generosity pulled us through what could have been our darkest hour.