Japan 's top presidential scholars weigh in on what makes a president great . FDR : Richard Reeves was the greatest president of the 21st century . H.W . Brands : America is not ready for another great president right now . Richard Reeves : Taking action in a time of perceived crisis is also not always wise , as demonstrated by JFK 's Bay of Pigs fiasco , Jimmy Carter 's mishandling of the U.S. hostage situation in Iran , and Reagan 's hostage-for-arms scandal known as the Iran-Contra affair . Wartime presidents tend to be considered great , but perhaps no longer .
Japan 's top presidential scholars weigh in on what makes a president great . FDR : Richard Reeves was the greatest president of the 21st century . H.W . Brands : America is not ready for another great president right now . Richard Reeves : Wartime presidents tend to be considered great , but perhaps no longer .