Ability to Work with the Other Side
A president that was able to work with the opposite side was a president that most likely got a lot of things accomplished in his presidency. Being able to work with the opposing party is something that most presidents are able to do. It is a hard thing to do, because most of the time, a time of war will only bring the two parties together. However, presidents that are able to do it outside of a time of war have a great skill that only elite presidents have.
President Abraham Lincoln
President Lincoln was very able and willing to work with the democratic side. He did what many deemed was impossible to do. He was able to persuade some members of the democratic party to pass the thirteenth amendment to end slavery. President Lincoln was very able to work with the opposing political party.
President Bill Clinton
President Bill Clinton was very able to work with the opposing side, because he was able to economically compromise with his dark nemesis Newt Gingrich. When the two worked together under Clinton's presidency, they ended up with 11.2 million new jobs in the U.S., and lowered the unemployment rate to 4.2 percent. Clinton truly compomised to work with Newt, who was in the opposite party.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, probably worked the most with the other party to get the most bills and acts passed. President Roosevelt worked heavily with the other side, because he was president during one of the darkest times during america; The Great Depression. The country was desperate for anything, so President Roosevelt continued to answer with reform after reform.
President Woodrow Wilson
President Woodrow Wilson was very much able to work with the other side, during the time of World War I, the whole world was in constant crisis and bloodshed. President Wilson had the willingness and support of both parties while america was battling this awful war that essentially changed the course of history. If Presidential Wilson was not able to gain the respect of both parties, America might not of been able to win the war, because we would of had consistent political battles.
President John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy worked great with the other side. President Kennedy really wanted to focus on civil rights, but in order to make the republicans be on his side, he compromised focused on the Cold War. JFK purposely did not do what he felt morally right because he wanted to earn acceptance from both parties. JFK was great president because he willing and able to work very well with the opposite party.