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Best and Worst US Presidents 1 2 3 Abraham Lincoln Franklin D. Roosevelt George Washington 4 Thomas Jefferson 5 Theodore Roosevelt 6 Woodrow Wilson Republican Democrat Federalistleaning nonpartisan 1.58 Skillful leadership during the Civil War to preserve the Union and abolish slavery, Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude, 2 Leadership during World War II and Great Depression, fireside chats, New Deal, including SEC, Social Security, unemployment insurance, Civilian Conservation Corps, extensive infrastructure investments through the Works Progress Administration and other agencies, rural electrification, FDIC, Federal Housing Administration, Fair Labor Standards Act, G.I. Bill, creation of the United Nations, overcame paraplegia, only President to be elected to four terms. First President, founding father of the republic, establishment of many precedents through acts such as Judiciary Act of 1789, Residence Act of 1790, Bank Act of 1791, Coinage Act of 1792, Naval Act of 1794, 2.83 establishment of the United States Cabinet, response towards the Whiskey Rebellion, relinquished power uneventfully after two terms. Only unanimously elected president (twice). Only president with a state named after him. Set precedent for peaceful transfer of power between rival political parties, Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark Expedition, intellectual leadership for liberty, separation of church and state advocate, states' rights, wrote the Declaration of Independence DemocraticRepublican 4.42 Republican Charisma, conservationism, trust-busting, Hepburn Act, safe food regulations, "Square Deal," Panama Canal, 4.83 Great White Fleet, Nobel Peace Prize for negotiation of peace in Russo-Japanese War Democrat World War I leadership, created Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Antitrust Act, progressive income tax, lower tariffs, women's suffrage 6.58 (reluctantly), Treaty of Versailles, sought 14 points postwar plan, League of Nations (but failed to win U.S. ratification), won Nobel Peace Prize World War II and Cold War leadership, Marshall Plan, NATO, Truman Doctrine, desegregation of armed forces, Fair Deal, forced to make many tough decisions; 7.18 "the buck stops here," ordered use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II, contained the Korean War, established the United Nations (proposed by FDR) 7 Harry S. Truman Democrat 8 Andrew Jackson Democrat 9 expanded political participation to average American citizens (but not yet women and slaves), "Jacksonian democracy," eliminated national debt, Bank War, Trail of Tears, hero general of the Battle of New Orleans Cold War leadership, interstate highway system, era of peace and moderate economic prosperity, emphasized 10.73 free markets but kept New Deal reforms, enforced Supreme Court desegregation, World War II Supreme Allied Commander 9 Dwight D. Eisenhower Republican 10 James K. Polk Democrat 11.08 Federalist Set precedent for peaceful transfer of power between rival political parties, established Department of the 12.17 Navy, criticized for unconstitutional Alien and Sedition Acts, prevented war with France, though many Americans wanted it after XYZ Affair Democrat Cold War leadership, proposed Civil Rights legislation, defused Cuban Missile Crisis, "Ich bin ein Berliner" 12.5 speech in West Berlin, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Project Apollo, Peace Corps, New Frontier, early death left impression of unfulfilled promise, Bay of Pigs 11 John Adams 12 John F. Kennedy 13 James Madison 14 Lyndon B. Johnson Mexican-American War leadership, annexation of Texas, acquisition of Mexican territories (California, etc.), settled conflict with British over Oregon Territory DemocraticBlamed for mishandling War of 1812, main architect of 12.67 Republican United States Constitution Democrat 13.6 Vietnam War quagmire, Civil Rights, Voting Rights Act, Great Society: Medicare (United States), Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Higher Education Act of 1965, War on Poverty welfare programs, Head Start, Department of Transportation, 1965 Immigration Act, Worst Presidents Benjamin Republican Harrison 31 Calvin Coolidge 27.33 Republican Failure to convince country of his leadership capabilities, tariff issue handling, loss of party leader support 28.42 Lack of interest in exerting executive or federal power (regarded as a strength by some and by others as a major cause of the Great Depression), Kellogg-Briand Pact 29.2 Vietnam War, Normalization of relations with China, détente, AntiBallistic Missile Treaty, Clean Water Act, creation of Environmental Protection Agency, corruption (Watergate scandal, harassment of opponents via FBI and IRS), resignation to avoid impeachment 32 Richard Nixon 33 James A. Garfield Republican 29.57 Brief administration (six months), death prompted the Civil Service Act and modern bureaucracy (limiting the spoils system) 34 Zachary Taylor Whig 29.58 Short term, opposed slavery expansion westward, did not support Compromise 35 John Tyler Whig/none 31.75 Lack of support from any political party, post-presidency service in Confederate House 36 Millard Fillmore Whig 32.41 Fugitive Slave Act, Perry expedition and Convention of Kanagawa Republican 37 Ulysses Grant Republican 33.42 Administration (but not Grant himself) corrupt, Civil Rights Act of 1871 (including activities to breakup the Ku Klux Klan), failures during Reconstruction, alcoholism 38 William Henry Harrison Whig 33.57 Extremely brief administration (30 days) 39 Andrew Johnson Democrat/none 34.67 Impeded Reconstruction, vetoed civil rights legislation,impeachment 40 Franklin Pierce Democrat 34.92 Failure to avert the Civil War, Kansas-Nebraska Act, Gadsden Purchase, , died from alcoholism 41 James Buchanan Democrat 36.58 Failure to avert Civil War, failed to act during secession crisis, role in Dred Scott decision, 37.33 Corrupt administration, opposed internationalism and Wilson's League of Nations, moved America into isolationism, presided over "Roaring Twenties," confided "I am not fit for this office and never should have been here," numerous affairs, 42 Warren G. Harding Republican Rankings by Liberals and Conservatives Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Liberals (n=190) Lincoln FD Roosevelt Washington Jefferson T Roosevelt Wilson Jackson Truman LB Johnson John Adams Conservatives (N=50) Lincoln Washington FD Roosevelt Jefferson T Roosevelt Jackson Truman Wilson Eisenhower John Adams Coolidge Pierce Buchanan Andrew Johnson Grant Nixon Harding Carter Nixon Pierce Andrew Johnson Buchanan Grant Harding Best and Worst Presidents Top Ten Best 1. Lincoln (best) Top Ten Worst 1. Buchanan (worst) 2. F. Roosevelt 2. A. Johnson 3. Washington 3. Pierce 4. T. Roosevelt 4. Harding 5. Truman 5. W. Harrison 6. Wilson 6. Tyler 7. Jefferson 7. Filmore 8. Kennedy 8. Hoover 9. Eisenhower 9. Grant 10. L. Johnson (10th best) 10. Arthur (10th worst) Pearson Education, Inc. @ 2006