RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Benjamin Harrison is tremendously underrated as President. Although he failed to win re-election in 1892, his policies greatly influenced future Presidents and set America on the course to become a great world power. He fostered a spirit of cooperation and unification in the Americas by convening the first modern Pan-American Conference in 1889. Harrison boldly engaged America in world affairs when he forcefully negotiated a three-way protectorate over Somoa with Germany and Britain. A testament to his interest in defending this nation against foreign powers and pursuing a much more active global policy, Harrison supported the massive expansion of the Navy that would prove to be quite useful in fighting future wars. Although he failed in convincing the Congress to annex Hawaii or in constructing a canal in Panama, his initiatives set America on the path towards pursuing a true global policy, inspiring Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt to pursue expansionalist policies during their respective administrations. Harrison pursued an active global trade policy, negotiating numerous trade agreements with key markets that set the tone for American trade policy in the 20th century. In the area of domestic affairs, Harrison was just as active and effective. He effectively tackled the issue of corporate fraud, an example future Presidents would seek to follow. Futhermore, Harrison's contributions to the quest for equal rights for African Americans are often ignored. Likewise, he was the first President to take the initiative in land conservation, an initiative that Teddy Roosevelt would aggressively continue. In the final analysis, despite some rather substantial failures as president, especially in dealing with the economic state of the country and enormously high tariff rates, Harrison was one of the most effective presidents of the late 19th century. He pursued an agenda that boldly focused on expanding the American dream to lands afar and enhancing it for those here at home.