Let's examine all the presidents now:
Let's use Average annualized return to measure. To see how $10 investment can grow in the S&P index.
Under Democrats 40 years admin, it's 30 times, 300% growing. $10 became more than $300.
For Republicans 40 years admin(the same as Democrats), it's 10% growth. $10 became just $11.
Republicans Harding, Coolidge and Hoover were not good at all. Harding has been the worst prez ever. Hoover even worse. In their administrations, American average annualized returns went -30% down!
Then came the great saver, democrats Roosevelt and Truman, they turned the country around and corrected America back to track.
Then Eisenhower's turn, the republic, but I'd call him left wing of republic. He did a fair good job.
Then back to democrats JFK and Johnson again, they were pretty good too.
All those presidents after Hoover, including 4 democrats Roosevelt, Truman, JFK, Johnson and 1 republican Eisenhower brought American average annualized returns at 10% level.
Then Nixon, republican, was the trouble, the average returns at his admin was -4%. Negative!!!
American economy was in trouble by Nixon's administration
Carter, the democrat, tried hard to make it better, but not too successful, anyway, the average returns for him is 7% positive!
then it's the time for Replicans to save the nation. Both Regan and GHW Bush(the older) were pretty good. they finally brought america back to track. Returns at 10% level
Clinton, the democrat, did the best job on economy. Returns reached above 15% +.
Then came GW Bush (the younger). He's worse than Nixon. American lost -10% negative.
Overall, presidnets, in terms of S&P index average annualized returns, should be sorted as, from best to worst:
Average S&P annualized returns growth:
15%: Clinton(D)
10%: GHWBush(R), Eisenhower(R), Regan(R), Truman(D), Johnson(D), Roosevelt(D)
5%: Kennedy(D), Carter(D)
--- above were positive, below were nagative ---
- 5%: Nixon (R)
- 10%: GWBush(R)
- 30%: Hoover (R)
Persnally, I favor Roosevelt and the older Bush GHW as the best. I'm not a democrat. Then Clinton, Regan.
GWBush (the younger one)'s the worst ever, no doubt about it.