The University of Louisville in Kentucky recently surveyed a panel of presidential scholars and asked for their opinions on the worst presidential mistakes. To be sure, they also surveyed members of the general public to get their take, but I respected their decision to focus on experts in the field.
Now, before anyone gets dismayed (or excited, depending on your point of view), I’ll reveal that George Bush isn’t on the list (neither “W” nor “H.W.”). As it turns out, the most recent president on their is Clinton, and he’s down at number 10 (for the Lewinsky thing).
History wasn’t really my strong suit in school, but I got by. All the same, some of the “great mistakes” that they mentioned were only on my periphery of knowledge. Take this one, for example:
- #7: Thomas Jefferson: Embargo Act of 1807
“His embargo almost destroyed the American economy, and in attempting to enforce it he was the only president ever to use the US army against the American people. The embargo's effect was that of a flea trying to stop a dog-fight by threatening suicide.”
— Forrest McDonald
[…]
Um, there was an embargo in 1807? Ooh-kay — so noted. (Then again, maybe that partly explains why scholars placed that event at #7, while the public placed it at #9.) In all, the list and the accompanying commentary made for an interesting read.
That was very interesting – I wasn’t familiar with many of those. I appreciate history a lot more as an adult since I don’t have to memorize all the dates like back in school.
I hadn’t thought about it that way before, Jeremy, but I think you’re right — part of what makes it interesting is that I don’t have to know this stuff ;).