[MadIvan]

There are various ways of calculating "best". In terms of achievement of stated objectives, one would have to put James Polk at the head of the class. In terms of personal character, I would put John Quincy Adams at the top (he suffered from what would be called clinical depression, but always managed to function in spite of it). In terms of lasting impact, Washington and Lincoln score well.

It depends on what you value. Certainly, there are Presidents who are truly awful by any measure - Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan spring to mind.

Regards, Ivan

[mak5]

That is why I have always put Polk at the top of my list. He kept every campaign promise, including one not to run again. (He hoped to be drafted by his party and wouldn't have lived into a second term, but he didn't run.)

Kennedy has recently begun to show up in the "most overrated" category in these surveys, and they are ranking Clinton as about equal to Coolidge, in other words, as not important, leaving problems for his successor to deal with.

[graf008]

Through in Harding as well...he was very bad.

[presidio9]

In terms of personal character, I would put John Quincy Adams at the top (he suffered from what would be called clinical depression, but always managed to function in spite of it).

In that case, you still have to go with Lincoln, who was bi-polar.

[AdvisorB]

The leftist historians will never recognize the greatness of James Polk, despite the fact that he successfully accomplished everything he set out to achieve. I think there are a number of reasons for this, one being Polk's Whig opponent. The left has a soft spot for Henry Clay, Polk's opponent in the 1844 presidential race. Clay was opposed to Texas annexation (anti-imperialism in the eye's of the left) and opposed any war with Mexico (anti-war). Polk's support for free trade (tariff reduction aka tax cut) was another major irritant for the leftist faithful.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Noone's character can be rated above Washington. No way.

[pgkdan]

It depends on what you value. Certainly, there are Presidents who are truly awful by any measure - Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan spring to mind.

How could you not mention Carter and Clinton?