Abraham Lincoln
Source: wikipedia.org
To this day, Lincoln is revered as one of the greatest presidents in US history. A champion of human rights, moral issues of the day, and political unity, he led the country through its bloodiest war and greatest constitutional threats, helping to modernize the country and, most famously, abolish slavery.
But Lincoln didn’t believe in racial equality.
Several historians have pointed out examples of how Lincoln’s abolishment of slavery was simply a political move that conveniently helped him rise to power and stay there. Emancipating the slaves wasn’t a moral issue for Lincoln so much as an economic one. Just take this quote, “I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voter or jurors of negroes, or of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.” – 1858
Sure, people can have a change of heart, and his definitely did more good than harm, but wow. Lincoln is lucky to be remembered for his successes and not his faults.
Ranking: Lucky Bigot
Laura Bush
Source: wikipedia.org
Former First Lady Laura Bush did a lot of good during her time in the White House, but she has a dark secret from her past that she has rarely commented on. When she was 17, she was rushing to a drive-in theater with a friend and ran a stop sign. It was dark out and so she never saw the car belonging to a fellow classmate and star athlete, Mike Douglas, who was killed on impact. No charges were ever filed for the incident.
Ranking: Guilty
Ted Kennedy
Source: wikipedia.org
Former Senator Ted Kennedy, youngest brother of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was one of the longest-serving senators in US history, holding his position for nearly 47 years between 1962 and his death in 2009. Though adults today as well as residents of Massachusetts will still remember, Kennedy’s great reputation was forever mired by what’s come to be known as the Chappaquiddick Incident.
In 1969, the senator and and five other married men hosted six young and unmarried women who had worked on Bobby Kennedy’s presidential campaign at a house on Chappaquiddick Island, located on Martha’s Vineyard’s eastern shore. Around midnight, Kennedy announced that he was leaving the party and later stated that one of the girls, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne, asked for a ride back to her hotel. Interestingly enough, she left her purse and hotel key at the house and told no one that she was leaving.
While driving, the senator accidentally crashed off of a bridge and the car plummeted into the tidal channel. Kennedy was able to swim to safety, but Kopechne drowned, stuck in the car. Kennedy then walked back to the party, claiming that he and his friends tried to rescue Mary Jo. However, they didn’t call the authorities for nine hours. Kennedy received a two-month suspended jail sentence, and this incident is attributed to why he didn’t run for president in the ’70s.
Ranking: Negligent