who is the most underrated historical democrat?

[pasadenaboy]

My vote goes for Adlai Stevenson. He was two time presidential nominee, and JFKs UN ambasador during the cuban missle crisis. If you ever get a chance to read his speeches, they are awesome. Here's some great quotes from him. I'd love to hear who others think are overlooked democrats.

Stevenson Quotes




During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to him, "You have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson called back, "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

"My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular."

"In America, anyone can become president. That's one of the risks you take."

"It is often easier to fight for one's principles that to live up to them."

"America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact--the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality."

"Flattery is all right--if you don't inhale."(40 years before Clinton!)



 

[roughsatori]

1. Lyndon Johnson

Due to his stance and lies regarding the Vietnam war he has an awful reputation. But he did more for economically deprived Americans then any President since Roosevelt. Even some Dems mimic the Republican line that poverty is a "result of the welfare state." (that is meant as a slam by the Conservatives against "The Great Society." The Welfare reform act which did very little, if anything, to help a single poor person was a result of this historical and economic ignorance that has infected the USA.

[chaumont58]

7. Agreed

The combination of remorse over JFK's death, the landslide election of '64 and LBJ's legislative skills got the Civil Rights, Voting Rights and War on Poverty started. The VietNam War tarnished his reputation, but, domestically, he accomplished a lot.

[Yupster]

2. James Knox Polk

He ran for president in 1844 promising to do two things. Settle the Oregon boundary dispute with England, and bringTexas into the Union.

He did both, won the Mexican-American War, and then chose not to run for reelection.

In fact, his VP is probably more remembered for the grateful Texans who named a new city after him, George Mifflin Dallas.

[jpgray]

3. Polk was actually quite similar to Bush

The Mexican War was mostly about getting more slave states, and led among other things inexorably to the Civil War. Polk was repeatedly chastised by Lincoln for his absurd claims that Mexico attacked first, and he called Polk's case for war the product of an "enfeebled and diseased mind". If I remember correctly.

:)

[preciousdove]

4. Bruce Vento n/t

[salin]

5. gut response: Jim Wright.

Very effective Majority Leader during the Reagan years. Quiet demeanor (ala Dashcle)... but exceptionally strong in his words. Tanked by Newt shortly after becoming Speaker. Tanked by Newt, ironically for the same reasons Newt was Censored (but not tanked) not a decade later. That was my first BIG inkling that Democrats and Republicans are NOT treated the same by media, and by the body of Congress.

[blm]

10. heh...similar thinking. I like David Bonior.

And I certainly believe that Kerry's work exposing the Reagan and Bush administration's corrupt stewardship in BCCI, IranContra and CIA drugrunning, paved the way for Clinton to win in 92. People act like all that just happened and never attach a name to the figure who actually did the heavy lifting.

[Rowdyboy]

6. William Jennings Bryan

Adlai Stevenson
Hubert Humphrey

edited to remove Henry Clay. Jebus, I'm obviously not firing on all six cylinders. An entire generation of history professors are rolling in their grave, and I'm leaving now to wipe egg off my face.

Sorry.

[Zynx]

8. Henry Clay was not a Dem. He was a Whig.

He ran against Jackson and Polk.

[Rowdyboy]

9. See earlier post...

Good catch, and thanks for not rubbing my nose in it. Early Alzheimers, maybe?

[Zynx]

16. That's okay.

Normally I really rub somebody's nose in it because I am a historical political buff. ;)

[kaybea]

11. Eleanor Roosevelt

Because she never held elective office, was considered a mere First Lady, BUT had enormous positive influence because of her concern for the
disenfranchised.

Plus, she would be appalled to know that forgiving or overlooking marital infidelity would make one open to derision and attack, as though deserved in some way.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. I will say RFK

although a case can be made that he is not underrated, but that can be said about most if not all of the well known Democrats on the list. First off JFK gets almost all the credit for whatever went right during his administration, but RFK was almost (not quite but almost) a Co President. His role in resolving the Cuban Missile crisi was critical, and that was the most important instance of conflict resolution in the history of humanity. Second, RFK was incredibly important as a white member of the "Establishment" in healing some of the divides that opened during the Civil Rights Struggle, which prompted him to evolve rapidly as a human being, much to his credit. He ultimately came down passionatly as a defender of the the disenfranchised in America. Third, he held high the torch of personal activism as essential to making this a better country and a better world. I have sorely missed RFK, what a loss.

[Zomby Woof]

13. Mo Udall

Most of the answers in this thread seem to misunderstand the meaning of "underrated". I mean, I love Eleanor Roosevelt, but she gets the level of praise and recognition she deserves.

So I went with someone a bit more in the fashion of "underrated"...

Mo Udall was Arizona's 2nd district Democratic congressman from 1961-1991, and should have been the Democratic nominee for president in 1976.

Here are some choice facts, and a link:


As well as serving in the House of Representatives for three decades, Udall ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976. He became one of the most creative and productive legislators of the century. His concern for Native Americans and love of the environment resulted in numerous pieces of legislation moving through Congress. He also authored important legislation on campaign reform, congressional ethics and was the first major Democrat to oppose President Johnson on the Vietnam War.

He was a floor whip for the 1964 civil rights legislation.

Lead an inquiry that revealed the secret of the massacre of civilians at My Lai, a Vietnamese village by U.S. soldiers.

Chief sponsor of the 1971 Campaign Finance Reform Act, which created the first real set of rules for limiting expenditures, contributions and providing for disclosure.

Introduced legislation that put more than 100 million acres of Federal lands in Alaska into new national parks, wildlife refuges and national forests.

President Carter signed strip-mining legislation authored by Udall which provided for the first time, guidelines to the mining industry for reclaiming and restoring coal strip mine lands.

Sponsored Indian Child Welfare Act that set standards for the placement of Indian children in foster and adoptive homes. Played a major role in the passage of President Carter's civil service reforms.

President Carter signed the Udall-sponsored Alaska Lands bill into law. The bill doubled the size of the National Refuge System and triples the size of the National Wilderness System.

Secured passage of the Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984, adding over one million acres of state land.

Sponsored an amendment to the Price-Anderson Act provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide additional money to compensate the public in the event of a nuclear accident.

Much much more: http://www.library.arizona.edu/branches/spc/udall/homepage.html

And my favorite Udall quote:

"If you can find something everyone agrees on, it's wrong." --
Mo Udall

[blm]

14. Good choice, ZW.

.

[Rowdyboy]

15. I would have listed Mo but I didn't think anyone here

would be likely to remember him. I've mentioned him before and gotten no response. He's my lifetime political hero; I had the pleasure of hearing him speak once, and of spending a drunken evening with his step-son in a dorm room back in the '70's.

Mo was an outspoken liberal representing a conservative district mainly because they respected his character. His wit and personability were legendary. When Udall lost New Hampshire to Carter, I was devastated and remain forever sad that so very few votes kept this great man from the White House.

[Zomby Woof]

18. that's why I took advantage

This is an "underrated Democrat" thread, and what better place to showcase for our youngsters here what a REAL Democrat was like back in the day?

Another reason the conservatives here accepted him was that he brought home the goods for the state, and both parties like that. Luckily, what he brought home here was more protected lands, more help for the Indians, and improved civil rights for all. He was even friends with conservative Arizona icon Barry Goldwater, and they proved that you could disagree on many policies, but not question that you had the public's interest at heart either way. Those days seem gone...

Glad to know others appreciate my choice of Mo Udall!

[blm]

19. Actually, you just mebtioned another good egg

from the GOP camp. What I wouldn't give if Republicans today would be more like Goldwater.

[JohnKleeb]

17. On Udall I think my dad may know his son or nephew somehow

Not sure really. My dad does know President Gore's cousin through a friend. Thanks Zomby for researching that, he seems like a great guy.