The recent dust up caused by a group of historians naming George W. Bush as the worst president ever makes me think that the rating system of "Great," "Near-Great," "Average," and "Poor" needs to be changed, especially when it comes to living ex-Presidents. Therefore, I propose that Presidents be compared to retired major league baseball players. I willingly grant that this system will increase the number of arguments because baseball fans, the most statistic conscious and verbose fans of all sports, will weigh in and argue about both the Presidents and the MLB retiree, but isn't that the point.
I will start by offering a couple of suggestions. First, George Washington is Babe Ruth. Washington was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of hearts of his countrymen." He set the standard that is used to judge future Presidents. I readily admit that Ruth's personal life might not live up to Washington's standards, although Washington apparently came home with the sunrise rather frequently as a young man. Ruth, however, set the standard by which future stars are judged. He was a great pitcher before he became the home run king.
Abraham Lincoln would be Hank Aaron, the guy who passed Ruth's stats and who is undeniably great. If Wills assertions are correct that Lincoln turned the founders on their heads by placing the ideals the Declaration of Independence over the specifics of the Constitution, then Aaron is even a better fit. Aaron was as quiet of a superstar and home run king as Ruth was boisterous.
On to our current President. I have to go with Dave Kingman. Kingman hit 422 home runs in his career. Bush had some home runs after 9/11, and even if I opposed the war, toppling a dictator should count as a home run. Kingman also struck out grandly and often. Bush mishandled Katrina and the occupation of Iraq. His civil liberties assault is a major strike out.
More arguments, baseball, political history and no absolutely correct answers. What could be better?
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