What Makes a Good President?

Presidents’ Day is often filled with glorification of men who have held the highest office in the land—most of whom have expanded government power, trampled civil liberties, and driven us deeper into debt. But rather than blindly celebrating politicians, let’s ask a more important question:

What makes a good President?

From a Libertarian perspective, a good President is one who prioritizes individual liberty, small government, free markets, and non-interventionism. It’s not about charisma, speechmaking, or how well they “unite” the country—it’s about how much they stay out of your life and keep government in check.

Let’s break down what a real pro-liberty President would look like and highlight policies that, even if rare, have embodied libertarian values.

A Good President Shrinks Government, Not Grows It

Every President takes an oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.” Most have broken that oath by expanding federal power far beyond what the Founders intended. A good President understands that government is the biggest threat to liberty—not its protector.

Libertarian Policies in Action:

• Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929): While not a full Libertarian, Coolidge believed in limited government, cutting taxes, and reducing federal spending. His hands-off economic policies helped fuel the Roaring Twenties, proving that free markets, not government intervention, drive prosperity.
• Welfare Reform (1996): While deeply flawed in execution, the bipartisan effort to limit federal welfare and return some decision-making to the states under President Clinton and a Republican Congress was a small step toward reducing government dependence. A real Libertarian approach would go even further—ending government welfare in favor of private charity and voluntary solutions.

Most Presidents inflate government power—a good one would actively dismantle it.

A Good President Ends Unconstitutional Wars & Foreign Intervention

The U.S. government has been at war for over 90% of