Then let's look at Dubya, ranked 37th worse in a tie with Richard M. Nixon. Yes, he did mishandle the occupation of Iraq for a time. But in the end, he prevailed, just like Lincoln did. Yes, homeland security is still not what it should be, but at the same time, he kept us safe from terrorist attacks by keeping the terrorists busy going down to defeat in Iraq, which is now emerging as a new democracy, the first positive change in the Middle East since 1967 (heh). And what's up with those quotes around the "war on terror"? Would they work to downplay "World War II," which their number 3 best president used to justify the massive internment of US citizens of Japanese descent? Finally, they bizzarely mention Dubya's approval rating at the end of his term. But their number 8 best president, Ronald Reagan, also left office with low approval ratings over Iran-Contra! Since when are approval ratings even a factor in determining the historical worth of a president?
These "experts," I suspect, are a bunch of left-leaning, ivory tower-skulking academics without an ounce of integrity between the lot of them. Dubya is in the spot more appropriate for Jimmy Carter. As for his ultimate place in history, let's wait ten years or more to find out. Such judgments are best made posthumously.
Definitely left wing, ivory tower types.
W’s main problem was his inability to communicate forcefully, and effectively. However, even then, these types wouldn’t have liked him. Perhaps they might have hated him a little less.
It’s ridiculous to judge so early, but O’Bama is certainly looking good for worst right now. What a horrible first month.
Worst 10: 1. Buchanan
2. Pierce
3. Van Buren
4. William Henry Harrison
5. (tie) Nixon
5. (tie) George W. Bush
7. Hoover
8. Harding
9. (tie) Garfield
10. (tie) Filmore
Of interesting note: Wilson established the Federal Reserve in his first term and led America into World War I in his second term. I would have put him in the worse 10 for those very same reasons.
Lincoln would be nothing had not Thomas Jefferson come before him. Just sayin.
These lefty “experts” write the history books. Dubya will stay in the toilet on these lists.
That's all one needs to see to know whoever ranked the presidents were idiots. Carter was the worst US president of the modern era and quite possibly of all time.
Half of their Top Ten should be in the Bottom Ten.
He is my "favorite" WORST prez.
These ‘expert’ lists. Silly. Any list that doesn’t put Washington in the No. 1 spot is unrealistic in my opinion, but it’s downhill from there FDR at #3? Woodrow Wilson in the top 10???????
No way George Washington wasn't #1. There wouldn't have been anymore if he hadn't held it together.
Yawn another trite ranking of presidents. You did a good job criticizing it. There are really too many inconsistencies to even list them all.
My rankings (for them all!):
1. Washington
2. Lincoln
3. Reagan
4. Jefferson
5. T. Roosevelt
6. Eisenhower
7. Monroe
8. Polk
9. McKinley
10. Arthur
11. Truman
12. J.Q. Adams
13. Jackson
14. Madison
15. J. Adams
16. Bush II
17. Grant
18. Hayes
19. Tyler
20. Bush I
21. Van Buren
22. Coolidge
23. Taylor
24. Kennedy
25. Garfield
26. W.H. Harrison
27. Nixon
28. Cleveland
29. Hoover
30. Taft
31. Ford
32. B. Harrison
33. A. Johnson
34. Harding
35. Fillmore
36. Pierce
37. Buchanan
38. Wilson
39. FDR
40. LBJ
41. Clinton
42. Carter
43. Obama
As a general question, did George Washington really do anything spectacular as President, other than setting a precedent for serving only two terms?
I’d certainly agree that in fighting and winning the Revolutionary War, he deserves the title “Greatest American”.
I think the most overrated are Kennedy and FDR
The most underrated are Polk and Coolidge
These experts can’t get simple facts right. FDR was not reelected 4 times. He was elected, then reelected.
They blame Hoover for the Great Depression. The rest of the world only had a depression. FDR made the Depression great.
Nixon didn’t cover up the burgulary. Rather, John Dean sent the plumbers in to get paperwork that implicated his wife as a prostitute. The plumbers were a national asset that legally gathered intelligence, on the authority of the President. John Dean then had the gall to blame Nixon for the burgularly that Dean ordered. ‘Silent Coup’....
Uh, yes it is. I rank him right "up" there with FDR. "Federalism??? We don't need no steenkin' federalism!"
95% of americans cannot name 10 american presidents, much less 20, unless they cheat and use the new dollar coins and various bills to name them. Presumnably Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton will be named some. I guess not many will name Samuel Chase erroneously.
I suspect not 5% of freepers (or less) have the knowledge base to make intelligent, detailed comments about 20 different presidents. I know I don’t (I may have had the useful knowledge at some point, but the memory hole is organic and grows each year).
Obama seems to be the president who will blow the nation apart when it is on the brink of collapse.
Best, worst, I don't really know, but Obama could be the Anti-Lincoln soon.