Most important Presidency in American history... [View All]

[SaveElmer]

My vote would be Andrew Jackson...

In many ways the first modern Presidency...

Dramatic expansion in executive power in relation to the Congress...

--First use of the veto for reasons of policy

--Solidified the notion that executive department heads worked at the pleasure of the President

--First articulation of the notion that the President was the direct representative of the American people, superseding COngress in that capacity..

--First appeal to public opinion for support on a political issue (Bank war...successfully)

Politically

--Birth of the modern Democratic Party

--Birth of the modern political party structure

--Birth of modern campaign techniques

--Expansion of machine politics

Certainly there have been other watershed Presidencies since, but they mainly clarified and amplified what Jackson first did.

Washington would be a close second just because he was first, and set many precedents himself...but mainly in terms of issues of protocol vis a vis other branches...and mainly for his decision to go with Alexander Hamilton's economic system..