sd72 wrote:Reagan created national debt. Satellites with laser beams never really took off for him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_public_debt wrote:Except for about a year during 1835–1836, the United States has continuously held a public debt since the US Constitution legally went into effect on March 4, 1789. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress, under the Articles, amassed huge war debts, but lacked the power to service these obligations through taxation or duties on imports.
Congress Session*****Years*****President*****Party*****Start debt/GDP*****End debt/GDP*****Increase debt (in Billions of $)*****Increase debt/GDP(in percentage points)
77–78*****1941–1945*****Roosevelt*****Democrat*****50.4%*****117.5%*****+203*****+67.1%
79–80*****1945–1949*****Roosevelt, Truman*****Democrat*****117.5%*****93.1%*****-8*****-24.4%
81–82*****1949–1953*****Truman*****Democrat*****93.1%*****71.4%*****+13*****-21.7%
83–84*****1953–1957*****Eisenhower*****Republican*****71.4%*****60.4%*****+6*****-11.0%
85–86*****1957–1961*****Eisenhower*****Republican*****60.4%*****55.2%*****+20*****-5.2%
87–88*****1961–1965*****Kennedy, Johnson*****Democrat*****55.2%*****46.9%*****+30*****-8.3%
89–90*****1965–1969*****Johnson*****Democrat*****46.9%*****38.6%*****+43*****-8.3%
91–92*****1969–1973*****Nixon*****Republican*****38.6%*****35.6%*****+101*****-3.0%
93–94*****1973–1977*****Nixon, Ford*****Republican*****35.6%*****35.8%*****+177*****+0.2%
95–96*****1977–1981*****Carter*****Democrat*****35.8%*****32.5%*****+288*****-3.3%
97–98*****1981–1985*****Reagan*****Republican*****32.5%*****43.8%*****+823*****+11.3%
99–100*****1985–1989*****Reagan*****Republican*****43.8%*****53.1%*****+1,050*****+9.3%
101–102*****1989–1993*****Bush Sr.*****Republican*****53.1%*****66.1%*****+1,483*****+13.0%
103–104*****1993–1997*****Clinton*****Democrat*****66.1%*****65.4%*****+1,018*****-0.7%
105–106*****1997–2001*****Clinton*****Democrat*****65.4%*****56.4%*****+401*****-9.0%
107–108*****2001–2005*****Bush*****Republican*****56.4%*****63.5%*****+2,135*****+7.1%
109–110*****2005–2009*****Bush*****Republican*****63.5%*****84.2%*****+3,971*****+20.7%
111–112*****2009–2013*****Obama*****Democrat*****84.2%*****102.7%*****+6,061*****+18.5%Not one to be a party pooper, but the debt % increase under Reagan's eight years is about the same as 4 years of Obama. In terms of $$$'s the debt under Obama is a bit more than all under all Presidents combined since Roosevelt.
