The greatest president in US history | Christopher Capozzola and Lex Fridman

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Christopher Capozzola is a professor of history at MIT.

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[GoodMorningBeautiful]

I don't know if he's the best but Teddy Roosevelt is my favorite. Created national parks, awesome backstory, almost died as a child which inspired him to accomplish so much in life. During his run for presidency he got shot in the chest and instructed his security not to harm his attacker, instead take him to a hospital because the attacker needs mental help. Then went on deliver a 3 hour speech right after with the bullet still lodged in his chest. Total badass.

[marlonmoncrieffe]

1. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45)
2. Abraham Lincoln (1861-65)
3. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09)
4. James K. Polk (1845-49)
5. George Washington (1789-97)

[VictusG]

In regards to the question on if we have individuals of the same caliber as Lincoln, I would agree and say absolutely not; however, we will see some again. For better or worse.

Greatness can only exist in times that require it. How could a President, or a leader, be seen as GREAT -particularly in hindsight- in times of peace and comfort? How could they be seen as Great, without first facing struggle?

Greatness is created out of struggle. Only in times of struggle will it manifest itself within an individual. Unfortunately Greatness, is often prideful.

[JakefromStatePharma]

That moment when an artificial intelligence engineer says 'when the robots take over'🤣

[ptgms]

The ones that will be remembered for their greatness are the ones that emanated the truth of these matters of the day... Capozzola mentioned this with Lincoln and I have a fairly good idea of where the day's truth of this matter lay, and it is self-evident from recent history lived, let alone the record of it. And it is not what is in the news cycle, but that does not make war a means to an end.

[ldwankenobi]

presidents have power no one should want.

[atrholiday]

Comment section- “No! Lincoln was the worst President and let me tell you why based on this thing I read on the internet this one time!-“

[JacquelineDavis]

That might be an interesting question for certain guests: how do you wish to be viewed or remembered?

[katiehultay]

Enjoyable conversation.
I like the thought experiment approach.

[boomcrypto]

Lincoln was un American as he instituted marshall law in the NORTH during the war. He was FASCIST in the way he sent the union army to arrest the editors of newspapers that disagreed with his policies. I also do not need a slavery argument. Slavery is wrong on every level and NO EXCUSE is accepted.

[dang]

Thought provoking. I am fascinated with presidential history and think about this very concept today, for the people who will surpass us. We are truly living in the part of history the future will have to reconcile with.

[kconfesor]

On each video i see i'm more and more convinced Lex loves Putin...wonder if double agent...wouldn't be surprised tbh.

[lproof]

It’s Washington, and it’s not close. Lincoln was somewhat of a tyrant.

[SplendidFellow]

William Henry Harrison obviously accomplished the most in his presidency by far.

[andrewsutherland]

Honestly, I've studied each presidency extensively, and Abraham Lincoln isn't in my top 3.
I judge it based on his successes at the time: it took him almost his entire presidency (worth noting he was in office less than lyndon Johnson) to gain any victory in a war he started, he couldn't keep a general, and he flat out abused his power and arrested people without due process he felt might be confederate sympathizers.
If there are any other historians here, you can't lionize Lincoln and then demonize Wilson. They were the same.
But even if you like his ideology, it's funny because he's remembered as preserving America as a concept of "government for the people and by the people" yet he invaded a section of the country that was attempting to do so and put them in check.
Slavery aside, as that is not the reason he started the war, how would you feel if Xi jiping invaded tiwan, won and then Chinese kids were taught them as an example of what happens if you try to separate from the China.
That's what happened with Lincoln

[neanderthalsnavel]

Well, that guest just blew his credibility by Praising Lincoln's dictatorship.

[emanonymous]

lincoln is the 2nd worst president we had, after woodrow wilson

[gb]

I disagree. FDR was by far the greatest president. World war. Great Depression. New deal. 4 elections won.

[Mr._Infamous]

This guy just gave a stock politically correct BS statement. Does this guy even think for himself?

[William-Ocean]

Washington stole my peeps Teef. Cmon now