Interesting pattern of those recessions.  That Wiki article shows recessions were fairly common up until WWII...around one every couple of years.  Then, post WWII, those recessions' frequency slowed, with them happening about every three, then five years, then about every 10.  

The last few have been at the beginning of a Republican-Democrat-Republican-Democrat administration.  Did Reagan get his from Carter?  Did Clinton get his from GH/Reagan?  Did GW get his from Clinton?  Obama from GW?

Did their policy pull them out of their recessions, but only set up the next?

Did you notice the debt tends to go down when Congress is majority the opposite party of the President?  Does that mean a government getting something done only increases debt?  LOL...