First 100 Days Presidential Flashback

As President Barack Obama reaches the 100 Days mark today, we can’t help but take a look back at former presidents’ achievements and setbacks at the start of their White House tenure.

ABC’s Nancy Gabriner gives us a lighting-quick rundown through presidential history:

FDR is credited with the most productive "100 Days" in
presidential history. The 73rd Congress enacted 15 major pieces of
legislation including the Glass-Steagall Banking Act, the Tennessee
Valley Authority Act and the National Industry Recovery Act. The
President initiated his "fireside chats" and held numerous news
conferences.

Dwight Eisenhower took a less activist role. The U.S. began
exchanging prisoners of war with North Korea laying the groundwork for
truce talks to end the Korean War. Eisenhower announced an end to
price-wage controls and proposed a series of reorganizations of
government agencies, including the establishment of the Department of
Health and Human Services. President Eisenhower found time to take two
golf vacations in Georgia.

President Kennedy suffered one of the biggest debacles of his
presidency during his first 100 days. Kennedy approved the attempted
invasion of Cuba by anti-Communist exiles. The landing at the Bay of
Pigs on April 17, 1961 was repelled in three days. On the more positive
side Kennedy initiated 26 task forces to focus on special projects and
created the Peace Corps.

Richard Nixon took a five-country tour of Europe. He directed
the Defense Department to develop a plan to end the draft and he
announced plans for a deployment of an antiballistic missile system.

Jimmy Carter pardoned Vietnam draft evaders, emphasized
human rights as a basic tenet of U.S. foreign policy, presented the
nation with a comprehensive energy policy (“Good Evening. Tonight I
want to have an unpleasant talk with you about a problem unprecedented
in our history.) and asked the nation to turn thermostats to 65
degrees.  He also banned playing of “Hail to the Chief” in his honor.

Ronald Reagan welcomed home the U.S. hostages from Iran,
survived an assassination attempt, and did not sign a piece of
legislation until March 31st .  He restored the practice of playing
“Hail to the Chief.”

George H. W. Bush initiated legislation to overhaul
S&L’s, traveled to Japan for Emperor Hirohito’s funeral, and saw
the Senate reject John Tower as Secretary of Defense. His job approval
after 100 Days was 71 percent.

Bill Clinton’s 100 days got off to a rocky start with
controversies over gays in the military, his search for an attorney
general, and a failed stimulus bill. A bomb exploded under the World
Trade Center and 76 people died when the FBI assaulted the compound of
David Koresh in Waco, Texas. On the plus side the President did sign
the Family Leave Bill.

George W. Bush sent Congress an education bill after six
days,  reached a compromise with Congress on his tax cut,  and created
an Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He angered
Europeans when he announced the U.S. was pulling out of the Kyodo
accord on climate change and the administration engaged in an 11 day
standoff with the Chinese after a U.S. spy plane made an emergency
landing on Chinese soil. President Bush instituted a West Wing dress
code — no jeans on weekends — and issued a mandate about punctuality:
"I know you may be accustomed to meetings not starting on time in the
last administration, but they’ll start on time under mine."