Now we could elect a military man. wonder what that might bring us...
The last military man that we elected was Eisenhower, who brought us the beginning of Federal enforcement of civil rights courts decisions, an end to the Korean conflict, an era of peace and prosperity, and the warning (largely unheeded) about the conjunction of the defense and armament industries that lead to the "military-industrial complex".
That's not such a bad track record, in my mind at least.
The general elected before Eisenhower was Grant. His administration could be considered good or bad, depending on where you stood.
The general elected before Grant was Zachary Taylor, whose administration was cut short by his death. Although a Southerner, he didn't believe in secession, and vowed to personally lead an army if the South seceded. I'm speculating when I say that he may have forced the Civil War early.
And then there is Washington, and that speaks for itself.