Lixy, it was betwen him and his wife up to the point where he lied under oath. He broke the law. His actions affected all of us because the president is the Executive lawmaker. End of story.

Interesting list, though I am not sure I agree with the order & reasoning.

1) There was nothing Buchanan could have done to stop the civil war. Slavery was a cancer that only a violent act was going to remedy. No amount of diplomacy was going to change the hearts and minds of the Southern people.

2) A. Johnson's actions carried little weight at the time and had little true impact on the nation. The Reconstructionists ran government after Lincoln was killed.

3) L. Johnson's mistake was in not prosecuting the war fully once he decided on it. If you are going to make war, then MAKE WAR. Otherwise, don't do it.

4) I do not see how Wilson's refusal to compromise would have prevented the rise of Nazi Germany or of Fascist Italy. Neville Chamberlain tried compromise...with disastrous results.

5) My #1. Nixon's acts rocked the very foundation of the government "by the people, for the people".

6) Consider that U.S. ships were being seized by the British and that thousands of American sailors were being conscripted into the Royal Navy...among other things...what real bearing would the avoidance of war had on a young country's fortunes? Remember: give me liberty or give me death.

7) Jefferson's blunder did indeed cause serious damage to the economy.

8) JFK's error was in not backing the invasion as he promised. Again, if you are going to make war, then MAKE WAR. Otherwise, don't do it.

9) I've never understood the merits of our actions in Nicaragua.

10) It will be interesting to see how history remembers Bill Clinton 25 years from now. His story isn't finished.