Esquire columnist Charles P. Pierce has been reporting on politics for decades. When a man with that much experience tells you what makes a good president of the United States, you listen. And so, he ranked them. No, not all of them. Out of the flawed men who have led our nation, Pierce chose the ten best to hold this “impossible job,” as he calls it. Find his picks below. –Chris Hatler, deputy editor
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They were not perfect, but they were great.
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There have been presidents who were more than up to the job. They managed the country through its birth pangs, which, by design, continue to this day. They helped get us through a civil war, world wars, and a cold war. They respected the Constitution, but they pushed it until the parchment seemed ready to burst. (Hi, Abe!) So here is one man’s completely subjective list of the ten best people to hold this impossible job.
One thing to keep in mind: None of these guys was great, or even adequate, on either minority rights or on the rights of Indigenous peoples. At best, they were dilatory and more than a little cowardly. At worst, they were actively hostile to them. Two of the top five owned slaves. That was an unforgivable sin against the country’s ideals, a “cruel war against human nature itself,” as slaveholder Thomas Jefferson wanted to say in the Declaration of Independence. But he folded due to political expedience and kept his slaves, including Sally Hemings.
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There’s nothing like the sheen of a new hotel. We would know because here at Esquire we make it our job to see what’s new and what’s good—see our Best New Hotels list here. But staying someplace fresh and new is just one way to travel. There’s also something about a hotel that has already stood the test of time. It’s become synonymous with its city. It might be the sole reason to visit a particular place at all. We want to honor those hotels too. Welcome to Esquire’s Hotel Hall of Fame.
So what are the criteria that make an establishment eligible for this list? Well, the doors need to have been open for five or more years for consideration. (You’ll find one property on this list that has been at the top of its game for five times as long—and another that debuted way back in 1910!) But it’s not just longevity that makes a place Hall of Fame–worthy. It also needs to have been a constant in its community—defining or shaping the very region in which it stands.
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Japanese watchmaker Citizen is probably best loved for its affordable watches with professional, field-ready specifications and durability, but that doesn't mean you should expect any less from the brand's other offerings.
Citizen's newest Eco-Drive One, the AR5065-54W, is a 38mm dress watch with a slightly sporty twist. The dial features a deep black centre surrounded by a textured emerald green, as well as rose gold hands, markers and an inner ring, with the contrasting colors giving it a modern edge. Plus, the four screws on the bezel give it a technical look.
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