Is it perhaps in part due to his less-than-impressive physical portrayal (portliness, baldness, eyeglasses)? The homespun diction of "Poor Richard's Almanach?" The bawdiness of some of his less-remembered humorous works?
Regards,
The baby boomer generation was fed a steady diet of founding fathers history and respect for their contributions.
Most unfortunately, subsequent generations and particularly victims of Common Core are taught these 'limited' contributions from "dead white men" was too limiting and a form of racism which were non-inclusive. Go figure.