I Have An Honest Question For Historians

[ChoppinBroccoli]

When was the last time a Republican presided over a booming economy? OK, forget booming; just a successful economy? And I don't mean a guy who took over a prosperous economy and rode it into the ground, but rather I'm looking for the last time a Republican President took office and strengthened the economy to the point that it was stronger when he left office than when he entered. Was it Eisenhower? Coolidge? Just how far back do we have to go?

[Sherman A1]

1. I think it was IKE

but I could be wrong. By today's standards he would not be in the GOP.

[realisticphish]

2. of course

I also wonder if Roosevelt would be accepted by many in the Democratic Party, as well...

[sandnsea]

4. I think he was handed a decent economy

By 1960, Kennedy was running on boosting the economy. I don't think Ike did much to really put any oomph into anything. At least he didn't crash it, so that's good.

[Sherman A1]

5. He was handed a good economy but let's be

real, it was a completely different period of time. That said he didn't do much to crash it, or as the old saying goes.

Truman proved that anyone can be President....

Ike proved the country can run without one.

[sandnsea]

6. the question is "took office and strengthened the economy"

Ike didn't do that. He didn't crash it like Coolidge, Reagan and the Bushies; but the economy didn't sail along without any bumps and bruises.

Really, when did a Republican truly create a sound economy or take a broken economy and put it back on stable footing?

[Sherman A1]

7. Ya know.....

I was just offering a few thoughts to the OP on their question. I really don't need to have "THE QUESTION" quoted and repeated to me. I was able to read and understand it... Thank You Very Much.

[sandnsea]

8. So was I

And just referring to that specific question and wondering... when did a Republican ever take a completely broken economy and put it on stable footing. I can't think of a time.

That's all.

I thought maybe you knew of someone before Wilson's time.

[MajorChode]

10. Ike had very little to do with the state of the economy

WWII was effectively a huge public works program that finally got the US out of the Great Depression and the relative prosperity lasted for many years after. Even at the time, the GOP wasn't given credit for it. Ike came in on a Republican popularity spike that was very short lived.

[sandnsea]

3. Coolidge cut taxes and created a balloon

That's all Republicans seem to know how to do. I don't know that one of them created a vibrant sustainable economy for the working class.

[dkf]

9. Irony is Clinton presided over a booming economy but created the loopholes

That crashed this one. I'm not sure how that fits into the narrative.