Which leaders gained popularity over time, and which lost it? (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

For US presidents, there is an example of one who gained popularity and one who lost it based on the same theme: racism.

Woodrow Wilson was president from 1913-1921. He’s known for leading the US through WW1, and known particularly for things like his 14 points (principles of peace negotiations), founding the League of Nations (an earlier but failed UN), and especially his proposition of the idea of self-determination. He was very popular in the past. However, these days he’s gotten more negative attention for being pretty racist, even for his time. Some examples are re-allowing segregated workforces in the negative government, actively fighting against the right for self-determination for non-Europeans, and not taking action to prevent the rise of the second iteration of the KKK, even screening a pro KKK movie in the White House at the start of his second term and supposedly praising it. He’s still in the upper half popularity wise for sure, but his popularity has definitely dropped over time.

Ulysses Grant was president from 1869-1877. He was elected after Andrew Johnson’s presidency, who took power after the assassination of Lincoln. Grant is also very well known for being one of the most important Civil War generals for the Union. His presidency was not viewed well for a long time though, due to widespread corruption. However, it’s not thought that Grant had any hand in it, instead it’s believed that he was just far too trusting of others and got taken advantage of. Still, his presidency was viewed as one of the worst for a long time. However, over time, certain aspects of the presidency have gained more praise and attention. One example is his decisive actions against the KKK. The KKK started under Andrew Johnson’s presidency, but by the mid 1870s, the actions Grant took ensured that the KKK as an organized force would remain gone until the second iteration rose at the time of Woodrow Wilson, 40 years later. He was also overall a strong defender of civil rights and reconstruction in the south, which focused on reintegrating the US while also integrating freed slaves and establishing rights for them such as voting rights.

 

[Ahsoka]

History tag:
@Lexie @Nyaz @Dreamer_of_Songs @Nina @velvet @AuGamer1987 @ChuuAntics @alo @sick

 

[Chohee_nyang]

I bet Kim Jong Il....

 

[RandAlThor]

also Wilson is the foundation of much of the globalist/interventionist thought in policy.

Grant tried and likely believed in Lincoln's version of reconstruction but then as now people love to hate, punish and control more than fix and build.
the latter takes consistent painful effort, and when government does try so much is stolen in graft or projects that might as well be graft.

 

[DaisySkies]

I thought you were talking abt kpop 😭