Richard Nixon was the Best President of the United States
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
After 5 votes and with 8 points ahead, the winner is...
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Standard
- Number of rounds
- 4
- Time for argument
- One week
- Max argument characters
- 10,000
- Voting period
- One month
- Point system
- Multiple criterions
- Voting system
- Open
I will argue that Nixon was the best president of the US. My opponent must pick a president that they believe was better for this debate. Events leading to their presidency(ie. previous political career, humanitarian work, etc.) may be used as points and are encouraged if context is needed. Attacks against character are allowed, but should be kept to just 2-3 points. This is mainly based on policy.
Round 1: Opponent and I state our president and the main 3-5 points we will emphasize in the debate.
Round 2: We will argue the aforementioned main strengths of our president.
Round 3: We will discuss the negative points of our opponent's president.
Round 4: We rebut the negative points and iterate the main strengths of the president.
- Better: of a more excellent or effective type or quality.
- Best: of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality.
- Moral character
- Economic policy
- Foreign policy
- Environmental policy
- Turned the US into a superpower
To conclude, Richard Nixon was crucial to the furthering civil rights for both minorities and women. He also saved his party through his tireless work and evinced a strong loyal character. Nixon can be thanked for the preservation of our environment and saving the lives of many endangered species. He also took America off of the gold standard, which allows us to effectively alter the money supply to combat recessions. Finally, Nixon’s deft foreign policy initiatives ended the Vietnam War, helped end the Cold War, and gained us many trading allies that have been boons to our economy and military.
I. Moral Character
The most important test for leadership is a moral character and a willingness to lead. FDR exemplified this vital trait more than most Presidents. First to consider is his education. He went to Groton School in 1904, Columbia Law School from 1904-1907, Harvard College, Harvard University, and Columbia University and excelled in his academics [1]. Second, FDR was self-confident and had the ability to disagree strongly with his advisors. Most importantly, FDR was bound to a wheelchair due to Polio, but he never let that stop him [2]. Finally, we must consider his fireside chats. Without a doubt, FDR had the hardest presidency in US history. He had to deal with the great depression and the start of WWII. From 1933-1944, FDR gave a series of 30 fireside chats that instilled confidence in the American public and calmed the nerves of the American people [3].
II. Economic Policy
When FDR was elected, the US was undergoing The Great Depression. When the economy crashed in 1929, half the banks failed, unemployment rose to 25%, international trade plummeted, among many other economic failures [4]. In response, FDR proposed the New Deal that has had a profound economic impact that can be felt today.
A. Banking Holiday
“I can assure you that it is safer to keep your money in a reopened bank than under the mattress.” - Fireside Chat, March 12, 1933 [5].
FDR declared a bank holiday from March 6-March 13, 1933. The result was a resounding success. When the banks reopened, depositors stood in line to redeposit their cash. Within two weeks, Americans redeposited more than half the currency that it withdrawn [6].
B. Fair Labor Standards Act
“Do not let any calamity-howling executive with an income of $1,000 a day, ...tell you...that a wage of $11 a week is going to have a disastrous effect on all American industry.” – Fireside Chat [7].
The Fair Labor Standards Act is arguably the most important economic bill in US history. The act prohibited oppressive child labor, set a minimum wage, set overtime pay, and a 44-hour work week [8]. Without this act, we would still be employing children in dangerous working conditions and pay workers far less than $7.25/hour.
There are a lot of other points I could go into, but I feel these two are enough for the purpose of this debate.
III. Foreign Policy
FDR had the most challenging foreign policy test in US history. When he was elected, America still felt the aftershock of WWI. Balancing an anti-war, American-first populist with Hitler rising in Europe is no easy task. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, FDR remained calm and vigilant. FDR’s brilliance helped to defeat the Nazis and the Japanese. Without US involvement, the Nazis would almost certainly have won.
IV. Environmental Policy
To make The Great Depression worse, the dust bowls created drought and crop failure. Unfortunately, the dust bowl was a self-inflicted wound caused by federal land policies, weather changes, and farming practices [9, 10]. In response to this, FDR created the soil erosion service, now called the National Resource Conservation Service. FDR also created the Prairie States Forestry Project not only stopped the dust storms but also changed the landscape of America for the better [11].
V. Turned the US into a superpower
At the conclusion of the great depression and WWII, America stood above all other nations and came out as the global As Sam Ellis et al. notes: “The United States was the only country to emerge from the war in strong economic and military shape, and thus was in a unique position to shape the terms of the peace. The result was a global financial system, called the Bretton Woods system, aimed at coordinating the global economy and preventing another Great Depression — and the United Nations, created to preserve the postwar peace.” [12]
VI. Conclusion
To conclude, FDR had the hardest presidency in history, and he proved himself to be a strong leader who wasn’t afraid to act. Due to his courage, we were able to end the great depression, set up an economic policy that is still felt today, and helped us to win WWII. Not only that, but his policies single-handedly turned the US into a global superpower. The resolution is negated. FDR was a far superior president than Nixon.
VII. Sources
1. https://www.fdrlibrary.org/fdr-biography
2. https://sites.psu.edu/leadership/2016/03/15/fdr-and-trait-leadership/
3. https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/fireside-chats
4. https://www.thebalance.com/effects-of-the-great-depression-4049299
5. Quoted here: https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/emergency_banking_act_of_1933
6. https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/research/epr/09v15n1/0907silb.pdf
7. Quoted here: https://www.theprogressivesinfluence.com/2013/11/us-minimum-wage-time-to-increase-it.html
8. https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/flsa-after-80-years.aspx
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1875963715000798
10. https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/dust-bowl
11. https://rooseveltinstitute.org/fdr-and-new-deal-response-environmental-catastrophe/
12. https://www.vox.com/2016/11/28/13708364/america-superpower-expansion-colony
I'm trying to start the Nixon gang. Coolidge and Teddy are good, too, though
Where's the Calvin Coolidge gang? Massive economic growth, 1/3 reduction in national debt. Restored the integrity of the presidency after the scandal-ridden Harding administration, zero scandals of his own (indicative of high moral character)
I appreciate you taking the time to sift through my debate!
---RFD (1 of 4)---
Interpreting the resolution:
Nixon > Roosevelt
Gist:
Two great men, but unfortunately the comparison stopped with the negatives of Roosevelt uncontested, and all positives of Nixon unchallenged by any negatives.
1. Civil Rights (1) vs Morals (1)
N. Nixon helped minorities enough to get MLK as a character witness.
R. Roosevelt going to law school and being disabled just doesn’t compare (don’t get me wrong, he was still a badass)
Anti-R. Did not listen to his expert advisers. Engaged in propaganda (didn’t they all?). Racist who sent 122k people to concentration camps, of whom 70k were full citizens; further they were directly robbed by the government and not economically reimbursed.
2. Saved His Political Party (2)
This should have been called unified the nation. The continued presence of any one political organization seems unimportant as people would almost certainly just organize similarly under another banner...
N. In short: He was “a pragmatist who would refuse to let ideology get in the way of progress.”
During the election, he won all but two states, which is quite the appeal to popularity. Even Obama could not unify us that well.
3. Environment (3) vs Environment (4)
N. Creating the EPA is quite the accomplishment. As is the Clean Air Act.
R. Ending the dust bowl seems like a divine intervention.
---RFD (2 of 4)---
4. Economics (4) vs Economics (2)
N. “reduced the deficit by over 70%” is amazing. Getting us off the gold standard is a ballsy move I cannot imagine modern presidents pulling off were it still in place.
R. Getting our money back into banks where it can enjoy the multiplier effect of spending (something not spelled out in the debate, but still worth mentioning for refinement of future arguments), is beyond words. Ending child labor and having a minimum wage, are also amazing (I believe N. raised the minimum wage, so neat to see how one followed in the footsteps of the other).
Anti-R. Child labor was already low (mostly rural, where they were often working family farms...), stuff about blacks (it’s dropped so pro gets it, but I feel the need to point out this not being a good interpretation o the data, even if utilized well as an argument). Ended up causing more unemployment worsening the great depression.
---RFD (3 of 4)---
5. Foreign Policy (5) vs Foreign Policy (2) and Superpower (5)
The superpower sounds good, but it is foreign policy worded for impact.
N. Ended one of our worst wars, got trade with the second world resumed, etc.
R. Got us into a necessary war, and presumably shaped the founding of the U.N. as a tool for the USA.
Anti-R. Speaking of WWII on the moral point, it came up that he rejected 1k Jewish refugees fleeing the holocaust, sending them back where many died. Plus empowered Russia with covering up some of their warcrimes, making them an increased threat to the USA. ... Pro continued by linking him to causing Pearl Harbor (on NPR I’ve listened to some stuff about them trying to declare war just before the attack, but us intentionally delaying their declaration to play victim... Not excusing their actions, just pointing out a funny historical detail about our role). And on the superpower note (I hoped this was coming), the simple fact that we did not have fighting on our soil causing our comparative economic strength, to which whomever happens to be president at the time does not get credit.
---RFD (4 of 4)---
---
Arguments: pro
See above review of key points. Honestly, I felt that just on the strengths Nixon would win this, but his negatives are within living memory so may have cost him worse in R3 (I can’t imagine what would compare to the concentration camps, but something could have been argued as worse).
Sources: tied
I really dislike when things are posted outside the debate. I strongly suggest highlighting the intent to do that within the debate description... Actually I really suggest just increasing the character limit to hold them (and probably using a few less to get the gist across...).
S&G: tied
Both were fine.
Conduct: pro
Two rounds forfeited, vs the source issue... Had con raised the character limit violation, I would leave this tied, as is I’ll discount one of the forfeits, but that leaves a forfeit standing.
In case anyone is curious, here's a snapshot of my RFD draft at the end of R2...
1 Civil Rights (1) vs Morals (1)
N. Nixon helped minorities enough to get MLK as a character witness.
R. Roosevelt going to law school and being disabled just doesn’t compare (don’t get me wrong, he was still a badass)
2 Saved His Political Party (2) vs
This should have been called unified the nation. The continued presence of any one political organization seems pretty unimportant as people would just organize similarly under another banner...
N. In short: He was “a pragmatist who would refuse to let ideology get in the way of progress.”
During the election, he won all but two states, which is quite the appeal to popularity. Even Obama could not unify us that well.
R.
3 Environment (3) vs Environment (4)
N. Creating the EPA is quite the accomplishment. As is the Clean Air Act.
R. Ending the dust bowl seems like a divine intervention.
4 Economics (4) vs Economics (2)
N. “reduced the deficit by over 70%” is amazing. Getting us off the gold standard is a ballsy move I cannot imagine modern presidents pulling off were it still in place.
R. Getting our money back into banks where it can enjoy the multiplier effect of spending (something not spelled out in the debate, but still worth mentioning for refinement of future arguments), is beyond words. Ending child labor and having a minimum wage, are also amazing (I believe N. raised the minimum wage, so neat to see how one followed in the footsteps of the other).
5 Foreign Policy (5) vs Foreign Policy (2) and Superpower (5)
The superpower sounds good, but it is foreign policy worded for impact.
N. Ended one of our worst wars, got trade with the second world resumed, etc.
R. Got us into a necessary war, and presumably shaped the founding of the U.N. as a tool for the USA.
My opponent proved my point: Nixon did nothing wrong!
One day left, heads up.
I had a debate on Israel with whiteflame, if you ever want to read a novel. Only one person (blamonkey) allocated points, and I lost :/
The Jews like us supporting their foreign policy by having out men die for things that are of no benefit to the United States. As long as they are enemies with those countries, our leaders under the influence of their campaign contributions and control of popular media, we will be forced to have enemies that would mean us no harm otherwise.
Yeah, I don't really see any benefit to being enemies with these nations. The only option to change anything at that point is to go to war. If we treat them with respect and open negotiations, you can achieve good results without spending trillions and sending thousands of soldiers to die.
Obama caufht shit from Hillary for saying he would have a dialogue with dictators as well. They say it showed his inexperience. It is completely retarded for any head of state to be opposed to dialogue with another head of state. Kim Jung UN was visibly frightened sitting across from Trump. Putin seems to be putting on a front in front of Trump. No Democrat could get this type of respect. They don't understand that his reckless demeanor gives him an advantage over every head of state he sits across from. Reagan used the same tactic. Pretending he had dementia, intentionally spreading rumors of it so they would think they were dealing with an unpredictable dangerous entity. Democrats are scared Putin has black mail material on Trump. They are too stupid to know Trump is the real teflon don and there could be footage of him killing a 5 year old and fucking its severed head and he would still come put looking like roses.
Did you know about what they did about his Supreme Court pick? They had signs against each of his picks premade. They found a stockpile. They oppose him just to oppose him..... Not to mention the "meeting with dictators" narrative. They praised Obama for going to Cuba...
The Democrats already had a memo sent out to each other that said to oppose him on every front, even on policies they agree with, so pretty clear they are pieces of shit
Yeah, Trump is up there. Everything good like the economy (2 years later) they try to take credit, but the child separation and the little camps set up under Obama are Trump's fault. A little consistency would be nice
I think Andrew Jackson was better. Richard Nixon was pretty good though. Almost as Good as Trump
Do you agree that my main man Nixon is the best?
I will join you in the top ten. I am done fucking around.
This debate needs to regain its hype.
I'm rooting for you because I want more conservatives in the top 10. I'm currently the only one.
Thanks, my dude. Even though I'm rooting for "Mr. Watergate"?
Good luck. I'm rooting for you.
This debate could use some comments :P