Since I was 9 years old, I have loved reading about the U.S Presidents. On my own, I memorized the order of the Presidents and I can still weirdly recite that order today. I made it my goal to own and read a biography of every U.S. President, and I completed that goal in 2023. With this in mind, I have undertaken to rank the Presidents based on four categories: (1) Leadership - essentially, were they able to get things done? (2) Policies - essentially, did the policies they promoted further the good of the country? (3) Character - essentially, did they display high moral character in personal and public life? (Note: Presidents who were slave-owners could not score higher than 2 in Character). (4) Legacy - essentially, did their presidency influence the country positively and does their time as President have a positive, lasting influence today? For those who were tied in their ranking scores, I tried to evaluate who was the better president in general as objectively as I could to break the ties. So, each number represents where I think each President ranks out of the 40 who completed at least 2 years of a term.
If I have a bias in this list, it's towards Presidents who were able to further the good of the country by finding a middle ground that created an environment in which life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness could thrive under law. So, please don't believe that I hate your favorite President because I ranked him too low. I'll also say that the more recent the Presidency, the more difficult it is to rank that Presidency accuracy, so I'm sure that as I read more and more time passes, some of these grades will change.
I hope this list will encourage someone to do some reading on the lives of the Presidents, and, most importantly, inspire us to look for inspiring, moral, effective leadership in future Presidents. As I updated this list for this year, I realized anew some of the futility of it. The vast majority of men on this list have glaring flaws; actions or character traits that lead us to look at their legacies with skepticism and even disdain. So, while recognizing that you could justly argue for every slave-owning President to be at the bottom of the list, that as many great things as FDR did, his running Japanese internment camps tarnishes all of the good he oversaw, and so on... I have tried to give each person their due credit for noteworthy accomplishments while not ignoring the harm they did to the nation.
Presidents listed in following order...
Rank Name Leadership Policies Character Legacy Total
1-40 5-1 5-1 5-1 5-1 20-4
THE BEST OF THE BEST: We were fortunate with the leaders who came to power at the crucial moments of both the U.S.’s founding and its being put asunder in the Civil War. Lincoln’s incredible abilities to unite his political rivals and keep those under him focused on the goal of preserving the country and ending the forces that threatened to divide them. Lincoln loses one point for the repeated suspension of habeas corpus, but this is more of a sad necessity of being a War President than anything else. He also executed Dakota Indians in the Dakota War. He did try to commute as many executions as politically possible, but this is a character mark. Lincoln was did not always hold the right views, but he virtually always found his way to the truth through his experiences; he was an expert manipulator and I am of the view, historically-speaking, that he always had as his intention to accomplish abolition, but he used any rhetorical tactic he could to keep people at the negotiating table. He is known as the Greatest President for a good reason. Washington’s ability to lead without coming close to dictatorial status is crucial. His decision to voluntarily stepping aside after his second term single-handedly established the nation as a democratic republic. Washington was a slave-holder, but he did decry slavery and release his slaves in his will. This is a commendable sign that he at least recognized a great evil in his life.
1. Abraham Lincoln 5 4 4 5 18
2. George Washington 5 4 2 5 16
ELITES: Each President in this section lead the country at an absolutely elite level, but each had their flaws. FDR took drastic steps to help the citizens of the country escape from the Depression and, then, to defeat the threats posed by the Axis powers in World War II. With that said, Roosevelt cheated on his wife, created a Japanese prison camp, and paved the way for some big government initiatives that remain somewhat unwieldy, while also helping millions. Monroe united the yet fledgling nation in an unprecedented fashion and established an expansive identity for the United States under one of the most skilled cabinets ever assembled. Monroe was an unrepentant slave-holder who made no move toward abolition. Coolidge supplied moral leadership when Harding died, and his fiscal policies seem to have sparked some booming economic times – however, those times were followed by the Great Depression and much debate has ensued as to how much Coolidge was to blame for that event. Coolidge also had a surprisingly good record speaking for racial equality, but failed to stand up against a racially-motivated immigration bill from Congress, perhaps because of depression that besotted him after the loss of his young son to blood poisoning.
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt 5 3 3 4 15
4. James Monroe 4 4 2 5 15
5. Calvin Coolidge 4 3 4 3 14
ELITE GROUP: Grant committed to reconstruction, crushed the Klu-Klux Klan, and provided stability for a nation seeking to heal after the Civil War. However, his misplaced loyalty to army friends allowed rampant corruption to seep into his administration, though his own awareness or involvement in it seems to be negligible. He also abandoned the cause of Reconstruction toward the end of his second term. McKinley led a reformed government with a moral conscience he brought to bear on all affairs of state, but his reach sometimes appeared a bit limited. However, when all said and done, his presidency set the pattern for a more responsive and active chief executive, a legacy that continues (with pluses and minuses) today. His assassination unfortunately cut short a Presidential career that might have seen him rise to the top 5. Eisenhower had a huge influence on the development of new technologies and the highway systems. He also governed from the center and reading about his years of power makes one pine for that kind of even-handed political dealing. Eisenhower's open faith was refreshing, but he could have used to be more mindful of the importance of not mixing church and state. Eisenhower's administration's record on issues of race was also very poor. In both cases, however, I am confident that with the benefit of historical perspectives on their failings, each man would have been able to see and correct many of the errors that beset them and lead the country effectively.
6. Ulysses S. Grant 3 3 4 3 13
7. William McKinley 3 3 4 3 13
8. Dwight D. Eisenhower 3 3 4 3 13
RESPECTABLE LEADERS: This group of capable men had their share of turmoil, but weathered the storms to carve out meaningful legacies. Obama was a model of an excellent dad and husband and endured plenty of criticism unfairly because of his race, but his steady leadership helped the country pull out of a Recession and saw the capture and killing of notorious terrorist Osama bin Ladin. His attempts to address the broken healthcare system and address climate change issues stand out as prescient. Obama often failed to negotiate effectively with a Republican Congress and the long-term effects of his reliance on increased executive powers and the failure to find a way to address the national debt leave his legacy an uncertain factor. I also deducted points for his promotion of drone assassinations and inability to come to the table for sensible compromises with conservatives, especially on abortion issues. Harrison’s personality was a bit too abrasive to win him many political friends, but his presidency saw some important anti-trust laws passed, six more states be admitted to the Union, and a strengthening of the Navy which would be crucial for later years. Harrison also pushed for measures to preserve racial equality, but nothing was accomplished because of his inability to navigate the political world. John Quincy Adams was less politically adept than his father, but had great ideas including a national highway system and federal encouragement of the study of astronomy. His was mostly a failed Presidency, but his passionate attacks on slavery as a congressman after his Presidency and defense of the Amistead case dramatically helped his character and legacy ratings. Arthur was a political hack thrust unexpectedly into the Presidency, who showed an undiscovered conscience in continuing the reforming efforts of his predecessor and standing up for the rights of the oppressed with limited political sway. Though one of the most intellectually-gifted of Presidents, Madison was limited by the communication methods of his day in his turbulent and sometimes disastrous management of the War of 1812. However, he recovered quickly by finding leaders he could trust and reaching compromises for the good of the country. His leadership solidified the workability of the Constitution he designed and led directly to the prosperity of the Monroe era of Good Feelings. Madison was also a slaveholder, which lowers his character score. Truman deserves immense credit for holding the country together after Roosevelt's passing and bringing order to the post World War II world. He attempted to stand up for racial equality also, but his decisions to drop the atomic bombs and to enter the war in Korea were terrible (if understandable) mistakes that uniquely alter his legacy and prevent a top 10 finish.
9. Barack Obama 3 3 4 2 12
10. Benjamin Harrison 3 3 4 2 12
11. John Quincy Adams 1 2 5 5 12
12. Chester A. Arthur 3 3 3 3 12
13. James Madison 3 4 2 3 12
14. Harry S. Truman 4 2 4 2 12
UNEVEN PERFORMERS: LBJ certainly had his high-points – working for racial equality, attempting to use the federal government’s powers to help people in need, reforming immigration, and working for civil rights progress – and also his low-points – prolonging and intensifying the Vietnam War, deceiving the public in regards to the war (a HUGE demerit here), and personal infidelity to his wife. Roosevelt Teddy makes his appearance in this category, just as he does on Mount Rushmore. TR was a strong leader, without a doubt, and his dealing with corruption and support of the National Parks system had far reaching effects. However, a thorough examination of his record leaves one with the impression of a man who had a more style than substance AND left a dangerous legacy of cult of personality leadership that focused on an expansive federal government. I’m not sure I’d have the guts to say that to his face, however, and he was able to make deals to accomplish an agenda without sacrificing his principles, a key to effective leadership. He espoused some racist beliefs that guided some of his policies, and that is reflected here as well. Reagan was able to pull the nation through the Cold War, to work with the opposite party to enact needed compromises and to set the country up for an economic recovery. However, trickle-down economics is not an effective strategy for long-term growth, and Reagan was inattentive to the cries for justice from people of color and other minorities, overseeing a good degree of harm to those communities, whether intentional or not. He also promoted a neo-populism that has had continued disastrous effects. Cleveland’s style of limited government provided steady leadership that saw the country through some tumultuous years in two non-consecutive terms at the turn of the 20th Century, but the laissez-faire nature of what he did resulted in some financial problems nationally. And his personal dealings were not always morally circumspect. Kennedy was easy to like and inspired a fervent following of a populace believing in an optimistic form of government that fairly represents its constituents, but made some youthful, prideful mistakes, and his philandering lost him significant points in the character category. Jefferson was a slaveholder who raped and had children with one of his slaves, and while his pushing the nation toward recognition of states' rights while also overseeing nation-building efforts like the Louisiana purchase deserve a noteworthy place in terms of legacy, he was also a very hands-off administrator which led to factionalism. John Adams’ personality, skills and character were absolutely crucial to the American cause during the Revolution, but his uncompromising nature and prickly manner hindered his effectiveness as a President. However, he was avowedly against slavery, he stood up for the separation of church and state, and he established the Presidency as a force to be reckoned with even after Washington’s retirement.
15. Lyndon B Johnson 3 3 2 3 11
16. Theodore Roosevelt 3 3 3 2 11
17. Ronald Reagan 3 3 2 3 11
18. Grover Cleveland 3 3 2 3 11
19. John F. Kennedy 3 3 2 3 11
20. Thomas Jefferson 4 3 1 3 11
21. John Adams 2 2 5 2 11
REPLACEMENT LEVEL: George W. Bush was able to prevent large-scale follow-up attacks in the aftermath of 9/11 but missed some clear warnings that preceded it. That and the now clear illegitimacy of the War in Iraq, a lack of concern for certain minority groups, his reckless increase of the deficit, and the financial recession of his terms’ later years lessen his score. I will say that I find myself to be mostly a compassionate conservative, a philosophy he promoted - but also failed to embody in many cases. His score is improved by many effective initiatives for world relief that not only saved lives but helped with national security. Polk was a slave-holding President, which dramatically decreases his character score, and he entered an unnecessary war against Mexico. However, he was able to navigate numerous challenges and restore the nation to financial stability while ultimately bringing in new states. Hayes, meanwhile, was a moral paragon, but also suffers from a lack of tangible results. He stood for reform, bravely held to a vow to seek one term, but made no attempt to support Reconstruction efforts and remained stymied from pushing any notable agenda due to his one-term vow and a very sketchy electoral process that empowered him. George H.W. Bush attempted to continue the policies of the Reagan administration from a more centrist perspective. His administration won the Gulf War, but their nation-building and foreign interference led to conflicts in later years, including those when his son was President, and questions about his moral character have emerged in these later years. Carter’s moral fiber bumps him up on this list, but he was not a particularly effective President. His commitment to his own ideas often seemed to keep him from recognizing the best policies and practices to keep the U.S. safe and prosperous. He did broker a peace between Israel and Egypt that remains in place to this day, and, from almost all accounts, is a very good person. Harding doesn't get credit for some excellent moves to stabilize the federal government and help the marginalized because his administration was so incredibly corrupt and he was a moral failure. Woodrow Wilson held abhorrent views on race and suffered from some dictatorial tendencies, but he navigated the nation through World War I and influenced increased involvement by the Federal Government in the lives of its citizens, for good or ill.
22. George W. Bush 2 2 4 2 10
23. James K. Polk 2 2 2 3 9
24. Rutherford B. Hayes 2 2 4 1 9
25. George H.W. Bush 2 2 3 2 9
26. Jimmy Carter 2 1 4 2 9
27. Warren G. Harding 2 3 1 2 8
28. Woodrow Wilson 2 2 2 2 8
BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE MEDIOCRE: Van Buren was a political savant with a real rags-to-riches story who failed to show as much aplomb in the White House while facing financial crises and the burden of living into Jacksonian principles. He was not a friend to abolitionists or First Nations peoples, but his opposition to slavery in his post-White House years is worth noting. Taft essentially became President because Theodore Roosevelt wanted him to be President, halfheartedly attempted to promote the progressive cause, and then lost re-election only to become a good Chief Justice. Ford was a good and honest man who mistakenly pardoned a twisted and dishonest man. However, he provided just enough stability to the office of the President to allow the nation to begin to recover a sense of trust in its Executive Branch. That’s about all he did, but it’s probably all he could have done. Jackson advanced the cause of the common citizen. However, his support of slavery, terrible treatment of Native Americans and general lack of political negotiating skills are huge blemishes on his record. Clinton ranks a lot higher on many other lists, but, I cannot point to many specific accomplishments of his administration, and he seemed to draft off of strong economic models built by his predecessors. He certainly was an expert politician, but his moral lapses are well-documented, and their legacy continues to bear sordid fruit today. Additionally, he was a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein and we have yet to understand the full extent of that connection. Biden helped the nation stabilize after a pandemic and an insurrection but failed to effectively compromise and communicate to build something sustainable and emphasized his personal power over the good of the country, refusing to transition out of the campaign in early 2023 and to allow his VP to distance herself from the disastrous lack of popularity of his administration. Finally, his preemptive pardons to end his administration sets a terrible precedent for the future of executive overreach. Hoover was an immensely talented statesman who knew how to find proper compromise solutions both parties could agree to... but he failed to recognize the signs of the oncoming Great Depression and his efforts to push back against it were futile.
29. Martin Van Buren 2 1 3 2 8
30. William Howard Taft 1 2 4 1 8
31. Gerald Ford 2 1 4 1 8
32. Andrew Jackson 3 2 1 2 8
33. Bill Clinton 3 3 1 1 8
34. Joe Biden 2 3 2 1 8
35. Herbert Hoover 1 1 4 1 7
THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL: These five Presidents ruined their respective chances at making a positive impact on the nation and world through their leadership of the executive branch of government. There are Presidents from the 1850’s and 1860’s, 1910’s, 1970’s and 2010's on this list. They all have in common a lack of legacy, as none receive much respect from historians or political analysts. Here you will find Tyler who was a slave-holder and eventually joined the Confederacy. Despite accomplishing the annexation of Texas and establishing a hold in the Pacific, Tyler's appalling commitment to white supremacist thinking tainted every accomplishment of the first Vice President to take over for a President who died in office. And Tyler was the best of this bad bunch, which includes a crook who promoted nationalist ethnocentrism (Nixon), an inept pushover (Pierce), and an incompetent, racist mountebank (Johnson). The bottom of this list deserves extra scorn, so here we go: Buchanan heavily influenced the Dred Scott decision and sped the country down the road to the Civil War with zero attempts at exercising real leadership. Fillmore also was a weak-kneed political flunky who did nothing to combat the issues threatening to tear the Union of the States apart. Finally, the worst President in U.S. history in my view is Donald Trump, a man who traffics in jingoism and populist nationalism, incited a riot on the U.S Capitol after losing an election as a direct challenge to our system of democratic elections, and who has showed little effort to work for compromises for the common good of the country, instead simply seeking to consolidate power. He began a second term by issuing 400 executive orders and handing broad responsibilities over to an unelected billionaire in a dangerous acceleration of executive power, was a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein, threatened to invade Greenland, defended his special agents shooting a soccer mom and a nurse in the head, installed an anti-vaccine person as head of health and human services, and is openly attempting to exert unprecedented influence and control over the next election. Finally, he elected to begin a war in Iran that has, so far, resulted in a worse deal for the U.S. than the one he discarded upon entering office and increased global influence and power for the very people he attempted to remove from power in Iran.
36. John Tyler 2 2 1 1 6
37. Richard Nixon 2 2 1 1 6
38. Franklin Pierce 1 1 3 1 6
39. Andrew Johnson 1 1 2 1 5
40. James Buchanan 1 1 2 1 5
41. Millard Fillmore 1 1 2 1 5
42. Donald J. Trump 1 1 1 1 4
INCOMPLETE GRADES – Combined, these Presidents did not even serve a total of two years. It seems, unfair, then to judge their abilities and policies. It is especially sad in the case of Garfield and Harrison, as both displayed moral courage to enact positive changes in government, both pushing back against their respective era’s electioneering and spoils systems. Garfield’s support of the plight of black citizens makes his assassination most poignantly tragic.
1. James A. Garfield
2. William Henry Harrison
3. Zachary Taylor
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