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The 5 Most Badass Presidents of All-Time

By Daniel O'Brien February 15, 2008 3,050,983 views
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#2.
George Washington

Plenty of people know George Washington as the father of our country, but few people know, (and this is, perhaps, more important), just how similar he was in behavior to the Incredible Hulk. Stay with us.

As described by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington "was naturally irritable" and when his temper "broke its bonds, he was most tremendous in his wrath." One time, in fact, he became "much inflamed [and] got into one of those passions when he cannot command himself." Witnesses agreed that, after these sudden bursts of rage, Washington generally became calm and amiable again. Sound like anyone you know? Anyone, incredible, perhaps? (It's the Incredible Hulk.) The Iroquois Indians affectionately nicknamed Washington "Caunotaucarius," which translates to either "Town Destroyer" or "Devourer of Villages." We were really hoping it translated to "One Who, (When Angry), You Will Not Like" so we'd have more evidence for this whole Incredible Hulk thing, but "Town Destroyer" is pretty cool too, we guess.

Washington wasn't just a shirt-ripping comic book character waiting to happen, he was also an amazing general and, possibly, totally invincible. Washington was always at the frontlines in any of the many battles he took part in and there are countless stories of Washington returning from battle with bullet holes in his uniform, or without a horse, (it having been shot from under him), but he always remained unharmed. As a general, he believed, (like the always-screaming Leonidas), in the strength of small numbers. Typically both a loner and rebel, Washington preferred a small band of dedicated warriors over large armies any day of the week and he won plenty of battles when the odds were decidedly not in his favor. He once wrote that "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all."

Though that isn't quite as catchy as "This is Sparta!" you'll have to agree that it's slightly more eloquent and certainly more recyclable, as it is more applicable to situations that may not explicitly involve Sparta.

Greatest Display of Badassedry:
Making America.

Most Badass Quote:
After another tough battle where Washington was miraculously not wounded, he wrote a letter to his brother detailing his experiences. He described being surrounded by bullets and death and concluded by saying "I heard the bullets whistle and, believe me, there is something charming to the sound of bullets." When he caught news of this, King George III reportedly remarked that Washington's attitude would change if he'd heard a few more. But King George III didn't win the war, so fuck him.

FDR didn't do s**t: Eisenhower & MacArthur won WWII -- FDR turned a blind eye to the invasion of Poland and was well-aware in advance of the Japanese specifically attacking Pearl Harbour; he was stuck in a wheelchair for his entire life (way to go on "kicking polio in the face"); and he married his horsefaced lesbian cousin

6/29/2009 2:06:47 PM
TheRunningMan

I'm a proponent of adding FDR to this list. Not only did he win WWII and serve three terms (elected for four), he kicked polio in the face, which is a neat trick WHEN YOU HAVE POLIO.

6/28/2009 1:06:42 PM
Plangkye

If I lived any time beforehand (note: reincarnation) I'd love to go to the grave fighting one of these motherfuckers. Roosevelt would've beat my ass and I'd be proud of it.

6/28/2009 6:40:27 AM
Flashpenny

Jackson deserves to be much higher on this list. Yes, he murdered many Creek and Cherokee Native Americans. Yes, I am Native American. Nevertheless, Jackson was a force with which to be reckoned.

1. In one of his duels, someone shot him in the chest. The doctors refused to operate, saying the bullet was too close to his heart. The wound never healed correctly; it just skinned over. It also had a tendency to ooze, so he kept a handkerchief over it. Fifteen or twenty years later, sitting at the Presidential desk, the bullet starts to get on his nerves. What did Andrew Jackson do? He reached into his chest and pulled it out! Pop! As if that weren't enough, he then mailed the bullet to the man who shot him with a note saying, "I believe this is yours." The man mailed it back with a note saying, "You've been taking such good care of it for so long. You should keep it."

2. Jackson wanted the Native Americans out of the Alabama area. The Supreme Court told him that was too bad. He'd been treating them like an independent, sovereign nation for too long. Jackson essentially thumbed his nose at the Justices and had his Army remove the Native Americans. Note: I'm not defending the Trail of Tears. I'm just saying deliberately ignoring the Supreme Court Justices is pretty awesome.

3. Before assuming the Presidency, Jackson went to Florida, which was still owned by Spain. He took over the area, which including tying the governor to a raft and letting him loose in the Gulf of Mexico. He committed an Act of War against a much bigger, more powerful nation because he was bored with killing Creek Indians.

Truly, Andrew Jackson was insane. For those who may be interested, my source is a professor (who has a doctorate in this particular era of American history) at my university.

6/28/2009 1:27:19 AM
AshsWorkshed

Thank GOD Clinton wasn't on the list.

6/25/2009 7:36:09 AM
JadeEyes1

I can't believe you have genocidal loon like Andrew Jackson one here. Why not tell people about how badass Hitler was while you're at it?

6/19/2009 2:05:05 AM
Gopherbassist

This article rules.

6/15/2009 9:54:29 AM
valduchi

You forgot a number of badass things that TR did. He beat the hell out of Wall Street's trusts, which today would be the equivalent of punching a CEO in the face and expecting to live after it. And when he was talking to the bigwigs of the meatpacking business, he said that were it not for the dignity of the presidency, he would have "pick[ed] one of them up by the seat of his pants and fl[ung] him out of the window".

6/13/2009 8:12:16 PM
loqutor

Honestly, who can argue against the top pick? Especially since he knew how it worked. The adage 'speak softly and carry a big stick' has a few meanings, all important. He ended up as Vice President from, at least one source I've seen says, someone wanting him OUT of their hair. So pack him off to be VP and sit around waiting for the President to die. Oops..

Even the photo on the page makes me think he's upset with the photographer.

6/3/2009 2:20:09 AM
IL-Kuma

Those aren't the only badass Presidents,

After Ronald Reagan was shot, he turned to his wife and said "I forgot to duck" badass.

5/27/2009 9:58:16 PM
Kabosh

That Jackson story cracks me the hell up.

5/19/2009 4:47:51 PM
ReneeIsMe2day

Andrew jackson also lead the american genocide against the indians.
He once murdered an entire indian village and saw that there was a child still being held tightly in his slaughtered mothers arms. He picked that f****r up and adopted him. As you can imagine that must have been a really awkward family story.

5/16/2009 3:02:34 AM
ToastMeister

You got the century numbers mixed up. Jackson was president during the 19th century.

5/8/2009 1:24:37 AM
chamomile7

Surprise to see Bush missing from the list and also where is Lincoln. I guess the list should be haveen of top 10 instead the top 5.

http://www.ekhichdi.com/actors-actress/penelope-cruz-onscreen-sex-with-ben-kingsley

Tina

5/7/2009 3:22:25 PM
tina_iyer

I know the unspoken rule of double posting but you guys didn't do Teddy justice.

I mean he kickboxed with his interviewers. He read at least one book a day. And was so smart that Wislon had to go to dictionary inorder to discipher one of Teddy's insults (Teddy never went low-brow). Killed a bunch of African animals.

Began the national park system and conservation. Is the only President to win the nobel peace prize.

I mean I personally think Teddy was an a*****e, but I'd never say that to his face. I mean he'd kill me, but only after making me (mister 33 on the ACT) feel dumber than s**t.

Oh, and he'd make rude faces at small children.

Does all of that add to his badassery? I think any body who loves life so much and who is so proficient at ending it is very cool.

4/25/2009 9:23:16 PM
ijpowers

you forgot to mention that one of the bullets logged in Jackson's body ( I believe there were three when he died) was right next to his lung.
If he twisted his body right it would scrape his lung.

He could and would in effect spit blood on you.

4/25/2009 9:04:13 PM
ijpowers

Dickinson was also the best shot in Tennessee, and Jackson still challenged him. He dueled CD because CD called his wife a loony or a s**t or something. It was awesome. In one episode of Aqua Team Hunger Force (I think) the characters were printing money on a magic printer, but they were making copies of 1 dollar bills. Eventually the ghost of George Washington came and told them to stop and that it was wrong. When he left, one turned to the other and said, "We should printed up 20s, Jackson wouldn't have given a s**t."

4/16/2009 10:02:29 PM
naz0583

I CANNOT believe Abraham Lincoln failed to make this list!!!! He was the most amazing president and a GREAT man.

4/14/2009 1:18:11 PM
CatcherFOX

I just can`t believe how funny you people are.... keep up the funnys, and I`l send you a cookie...

4/13/2009 2:23:49 AM
Cooler777

One more badass thing about Teddy Roosevelt. Apparently he haunts the bar at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. It was there that he recruited many of the Rough Riders by getting them drunk and essentially "shanghaiing" them.

Several years ago after closing hours, a night janitor was cleaning the bar. Suddenly, the doors slammed shut behind him. He tried to open them, but they were stuck fast. He turned around and saw a man motioning to him from the end of the bar wearing an old-fashioned uniform with a mustache. The janitor began banging on the doors, screaming to be let out. Other staff members heard his cries and rescued him. They ended up calling an ambulance for him, as they were afraid he would have a heart attack, due to severe shock. He eventually recovered, but quit the next day.

So even in death, Teddy Roosevelt is still scaring the s**t out of people.

4/6/2009 2:46:31 PM
Hobbitopoly