[chzvacmyye]

Personally, I picked Eisenhower.

He presided over an era in which America, still got the big jobs done, such as the Space Race ( NASA ), enlarge Social Security, and begain the National Highway System. As for forgein policy, he oversaw the cease-fire in Korea, and made nuclear deturrence a policy, that kept the Soviet Union at bay ( Atoms for Peace speech comes to mind ).

He also presided over the most equitable wealth distribution in American history. The income tax was graduated to 91% in the highest category.

That's partly what accounts for the late Fifties being perceived as a golden age.

And he warned of the imminent military-industrial complex, which in time took over.

* * *

I picked Kennedy. He had the power to inspire us to wish for a better world --and actually work towards it.