Articles
Presidential failures, explained
In-depth, sourced articles on the worst decisions behind each song in Why Every President Sucked.
No. 07 · Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson’s Biggest Failures
Indian removal, slavery, the Bank War and the Panic of 1837, with the famous Marshall quote checked and the song.
Read the article →No. 10 · John Tyler
John Tyler’s Biggest Failures
The bank vetoes, the first impeachment resolution, Texas and slavery, and a Confederate funeral, with the song.
Read the article →No. 13 · Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore’s Biggest Failures
The Fugitive Slave Act, a party that dumped him, the Know-Nothing run and the bathtub hoax, with the song.
Read the article →No. 14 · Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce’s Biggest Failures
Kansas-Nebraska, the Ostend Manifesto, Anthony Burns and the party that dropped him, with the song.
Read the article →No. 15 · James Buchanan
James Buchanan’s Biggest Failures
Who was Buchanan, and why do historians rank him last? Dred Scott, Kansas, the Panic of 1857, the Covode report and the secession winter, with the song.
Read the article →No. 17 · Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson’s Biggest Failures
Reconstruction, the Tenure of Office Act and the one-vote acquittal, with the song.
Read the article →No. 28 · Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson’s Biggest Failures
Federal segregation, the Espionage Act, the stroke and the Versailles fight, with the myths checked and the song.
Read the article →No. 29 · Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding’s Biggest Failures
Teapot Dome, the Ohio Gang, the Veterans Bureau and a presidency without direction, with the song.
Read the article →No. 31 · Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover’s Biggest Failures
Smoot-Hawley, the bank failures, the Bonus Army and the economy, with the song.
Read the article →No. 37 · Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon’s Biggest Failures
Watergate, the tapes, Cambodia and the 1968 back-channel, with the song.
Read the article →More presidents are on the way. In the meantime, all 43 songs and their lyrics are here.