I once read that if Franklin Roosevelt...

...had lost his bid for reelection (again) in 1940 to Wendell Willkie, above, a career businessman (sound familiar?), his presidency may have gone down in history as a failure. After all, the unemployment rate in 1940, on the eve of World War II, was still an eye-popping 14.6 percent.

But Roosevelt didn't lose, and the unemployment rate dropped to 1.2 percent by 1944 (admittedly due to the war), and FDR went down in history as one of the greatest presidents ever.

Where am I going with this? I'm not sure, exactly.

But if the economy recovers in the next four years, whomever is elected in November may be seen as a savior (much like Ronald Reagan). If President Obama wins, his presidency would certainly be considered as successful as, say, Bill Clinton's. If not, his name may be uttered in the same breath as Jimmy Carter's or George H. W. Bush's.

And if Mitt Romney should prevail, he may occupy a place in history that could have gone to Willkie. If he loses, however, his name will trigger the same questions from your grandchildren as Wendell Willkie's (as in "Mitt who?").

Personally, I would have thought the economy would have recovered by now. (I'm afraid it may be getting even worse.) And maybe it won't be any better four years from now. Maybe it's beyond the power of any president to affect. Maybe the economy moves in grand cycles that are completely beyond anyone's control. Maybe we're foolish to think we can have any impact on it at all. Maybe I should get back to work.