Best ex-presidents of all time?

[MontanaHatchet]

NYANKS said:

MontanaHatchet said:

James Polk.

Jacksonian Democrat without the asshole policies of Jackson. Managed to negotiate the Northwest with Britain as well improve trade with them (through the Walker Tariff). Also started the Mexican-American War and secured California and Texas (our two most important states today), as well as Arizona and New Mexico. Almost got us Cuba too.

Didn't he also have the possibility of just taking over all of Mexico?  Was that his term?  Also Lincoln is still considered better.  Civil War, peoplez!

He probably did. He was facing a lot of opposition from the Whigs though (Lincoln being among the most prominent of them), and I doubt he would have ever gone through with it even if he could.