Why not? He really wasn't that bad. He wasn't chosen as the leader and only took the job when William Harrison died.

Just barely makes the "OK" grade, for holding things together after the death of Harrison. A stubborn man, and a Southern slave owner for life, he became a member of the Confederacy during the Civil War! That was AFTER his presidency, however, and we're rating presidents here.

I notice a comment stating that he fathered 9 children. While that's true it's not completely accurate. He actually fathered 15 children; eight by his first wife and seven by his second wife. The last one being born after his 70th birthday.

No accomplishments of note. He replaced Harrison after Harrison died in office. Congressional gridlock marred his tenure. But he's still better than Jackson.

John Tyler was full of bs, that's why he didn't run again he knew he would loose.

very stubborn, and refused to be an acting president side note: he fathered nine children!

President Tyler was rather successful, especially when you consider the political circumstances he entered office with; he was dubbed his accidency by opponents due to the fact that he was the first Vice President to succeed a sitting President who died in office. The prior President, William Harrison has the distinct place in American history of being the only President who only served for 40 days after dying in office due to pneumonia that he caught while giving his inaugural address in the pouring rain for 2 hours; indeed many have speculated that the 70 year old President, the oldest elected up until that time, was trying to demonstrate his vigor to the country. Regardless of, Tyler began his Presidency by essentially vetoing his own parties entire agenda, beginning with the re-chartering of a national bank, which Andrew Jackson had revoked famously 10 years earlier and which (arguably) lead to great economic instability during the late-1830's. The Whig party disowned him and his entire cabinet which had been inherited from Harrison had resigned except one. Most of his Presidency was politically deadlocked as a result of these events, thus he was unable to run for re-election in his own right. However, one of the most important legacies of his Presidency was formed near the end. In 1845, he signed a bill which formally annexed the Republic of Texas into the Union. This act essentially shook the balance which was established in the Missouri compromise of 1820 between slave states and free states. Arguably this event set into motion the series of crises throughout the next decade that would lead up to the Civil War. More immediately, it lead to the Mexican-American War, which his successor James Polk would have to deal with. After his Presidency, Tyler went on to retirement, briefly making a political comback in 1861 to serve on the Confederate House of Representatives. Tyler was a slaveowner for life who believed that the decision to be a 'slave' or 'free' was up to the individual states. He was president during some critical times, but the poltical gridlock created by his ascension to office made it difficult for him to govern effectively, thus diminishing his rating somewhat.

History has come kind on him. I would like to argue the point by YRFan though. The only strong president between Jackson and Lincoln was Polk. You can argue Lincoln was a dictator that had to be elected as he broke almost the entire constitution, so maybe Polk was the only strong president between Jackson, a drunk southenor and Hayes, another president by accident. No, Tyler was not strong enough, but he was as strong as the others during this period.

Caused the Civil War.

selfish selfish man.

Much better then dubya.

The only president to join the Confederacy.

He was a traitor to this country

Upon the death of President W.H. Harrison, Vice President sent a precedent for future Vice Presidents by immediately assuming office. Although he drew wide criticism for this, it was by far his greatest contribution to the nation, setting the precedent for A. Johnson, Arthur, Roosevelt, Truman and L.B. Johnson. However, after assuming office, the President made his first ill-fated mistake by keeping all of President Harrison's cabinet, made up of men who mostly despised him. Their subsequent resignation was a result of President Taylor twice vetoing a bill to recharter the Bank of the United States. As a result of this veto, the President's relations with Congress formed into one of the worst in history. He also vetoed a bill raising tariffs, but when word broke out of Congress's intent to impeach him, the President finally signed the bill. Controversy also swelled in 1842, five months following the death of his wife, the President began courting a woman twenty years younger than he, Julia Gardner. this even further lowered the public's opinion of "The Accidental President". The President fought long and hard for the annexation of Texas, but faced much opposition because it would mean another slave state in the Union. In a direct slap in the face to Congress, he signed the Texas Statehood Bill three days before leaving office. In foreign affairs, the President had much success, much due to his Secretary of State. The President sent diplomats to China and opened up negotiations for trade with the Pacific Nation. He also extended the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the Hawaiin Islands were off limits to Europeans. Also, the Webster Ashburton Treaty of 1842 ended the Maine/British-Canada border dispute, averting war and greatly improving diplomatic relations between the two nations. The President also in 1842 ended the decade long hostilities of his predacessors against Native Americans, a respectable move in my book. In the final analysis, Tyler was first and foremost, a southernor at heart who did nothing to address slavery simply because he advocated it. However, he set several historic precedents. His expediant sucession to the president signified a smooth transition of power. Tyler demonstrated that a president without popular or party support could exercise Jacksonian types of exclusive powers and privileges. The Whigs could not get their national bank or their high tariff. During a timein which sectionalism was running wild, his failures as President are not surprising, but his successes sure are. "In 1840 I was called from my farm to undertake the administration of public affairs and I foresaw that I was called to a bed of thorns. I now leave that bed which has afforded me little rest, and eagerly seek repose in the quiet enjoyments of rural life."-- John Tyler, 10th President of the United States.

Was president by accident, the first VP to succeed a President who had died in office. He was not strong enough to be President in the 1840s.

He was elected as a Whig but was really more of a Southern Democrat. The only reason he was even on the ticket was to help Harrison carry the South. As a result when he took office after Harrisons death he had a very unsuccessful and contriversial term.

Could have done so much to improve life and did little to nothing for the country. and the Native Americans.

He left his mark on nothing so he gets one star for no stains

He did nothing great. He wasted his chance

Listen Tyler, we caught you sneaking in. We won't throw you out, just don't let it happen again.