The McConnell Center at the University of Louisville (Ky.) conducted a survey of presidential scholars (at a conference on Feb. 18 & 19, 2006) and compiled a list of the 10 worst mistakes made by US presidents.

I think they deliberately omitted the Iraq war because it was (then) too recent and too controversial.

I know how y'all love lists. I like this one, because it helps put things in historical perspective.

I have copied only the titles. Their web site has a few paragraphs of explanation for each item.

* * *

Top Ten Greatest Presidential Mistakes

1. James Buchanan: Failure to oppose secession

2. Andrew Johnson: Reconstruction Policies

3. Lyndon Johnson: Escalation of the Vietnam War

4. Woodrow Wilson: Refusal to compromise on Treaty of Versailles

5. Richard Nixon: Watergate

6. James Madison: War of 1812 with Britain

7. Thomas Jefferson: Embargo Act of 1807

8. John Kennedy: Bay of Pigs Invasion

9. Ronald Reagan: Iran-Contra Affair

10. Bill Clinton: Monica Lewinsky Scandal

[My own reaction: I only question the inclusion of #5 and #10. As embarrassing as they were, nobody died. Arguably, though, if Clinton had resigned, Al Gore might have gotten us to do something about global warming a lot sooner.]