by River Addington

Created on: July 04, 2008

A top ten list of American Presidents is certainly a difficult proposition. It is my belief that Americans do not know all of the problems that each President faced. We are often inspired by the boldest of our leaders, but ignore the ones that have compromised for the nation's future. It is also difficult to judge many of the Presidents that are more recent. Our collective judgment is still cloudy on Presidents like George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

#10: Harry Truman (1945-1953)

I will start with the President that I believe deserves the tenth spot on the list: Harry Truman. Truman faced one of the most important decisions that an American President has ever had to make, whether or not to use the nuclear bomb. Truman chose to use it in order to save American lives and bring a swift end to a long, terrible war. Truman was not popular during his Presidency. He was especially unpopular for relieving General MacArthur from his command in the Korean conflict.

#09: John Kennedy (1961-1963)

The thousand days of the John F. Kennedy Presidency are often referred to as a majestic Camelot. Kennedy was a rock star of a President, the youngest ever elected. His handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis was unique and likely saved millions of lives. Kennedy's vision of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade came true, although when he made that speech it was almost laughable. Kennedy is etched into the American conscience.

#08: Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

Teddy Roosevelt can be described in many ways. A number of Americans can identify with his story. He was a war hero in the Spanish-American war; he went out West to find himself and to become tougher. He was a stubborn man, but in an admirable way. Although not a fan of the muckrakers who attacked American industry, he allowed himself to make some reforms in America. His face is on Mount Rushmore because his story is so captivating. It is his life narrative and his fiercely American leadership style that places him so high on this list.

#07: Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961)

Dwight Eisenhower is on my list for being a visionary leader in a peaceful time. Although he inherited the Korean War, he worked to end it and reigned over an excellent time in American history. The 1950's is a time that many people look back on and envy. Companies like General Motors, Ford and Chrysler employed many Americans at great wages. America was the envy of the world and was producing great products. Eisenhower created the Interstate

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