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Including President Donald Trump for the first time, a Morning Consult poll taken February 9–10, 2017, asked 1,791 American registered voters who they believed were the best and worst presidents since World War II.
Feb 19, 2024 · According to a recent survey ranking “Presidental greatness” of the 45 Presidents of the United States, President Joe Biden emerged as the 14th-best President, while his anticipated 2024...
- Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) Historians laud Franklin D. Roosevelt for his extraordinary popularity and his devotion to economic justice. FDR assumed the presidency during the worst of the Great Depression, but assured the American people: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
- Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) Among all the U.S. presidents, Lincoln is almost always in the top five for crisis leadership ability, his dedication to keeping the United States together and for pursuing equal justice for all.
- George Washington (1789-1797) The nation's first president ranked highly for his moral authority and overall performance within the context of his time.
- Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (1901-1909) Theodore Roosevelt ranked highly for public persuasion and other presidential attributes. Just 42 when he became the youngest president in the nation's history, he had the enthusiasm and energy to convince Congress to pass progressive reforms and a strong foreign policy — exemplified by his motto, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
Jul 2, 2021 · C-SPAN's 2021 ranking places Trump near the bottom of the list. Obama, Grant rises higher, while Lincoln holds steady in first.
- Nora Mcgreevy
- Harry S. Truman - Best (713) While serving as president from 1945 until 1953, Harry Truman led the United States through the final months of WWII, funded Europe's recovery with the Marshall Plan, and came to the defense of South Korea in 1950, beginning the three-year Korean War (via History).
- Dwight D. Eisenhower - Best (734) Famous for his role as supreme allied commander during WWII, Dwight D. Eisenhower succeeded Truman as president of the United States on January 20, 1953.
- Theodore Roosevelt - Best (785) According to historian Lewis Gould (via NPR), the prevailing view of Theodore Roosevelt was once set by Henry Pringle's 1931 biography, which gave the impression that Roosevelt was "fun to watch but ultimately inconsequential in the nation's history."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt - Best (841) Professor William E. Leuchtenburg (via the Miller Center) wrote that Franklin D. Roosevelt may "have done more [to] change American society and politics than any of his predecessors in the White House, save Abraham Lincoln."
Jun 13, 2022 · The five highest rated presidents, according to the C-SPAN survey, are Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The bottom five...
Feb 18, 2019 · Nearly 200 political scientists ranked the presidents by order of greatness in a survey, and President Donald Trump came in last. President Abraham Lincoln was first.
