Of the 43 men who have been president of the United States, there are some truly clear choices of who were the most important and influential presidents. There were also many who would never have made the list. My picks for the top ten influential presidents were based on their historical influence and their actions while in office. This was a tough list to create - especially once we move past the 7th president. If one more could be added it would be Ronald Reagan. He helped bring the Cold War to an end after years of struggle. He definitely gets an honorable mention for this list of influential presidents.
1. Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln saved the Union during the American Civil War. His leadership during the war was one of no compromise but at the same time understanding that he would eventually have to unite the states once the North won the war. His actions eventually led to the abolition of slavery across the United States.
2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Having won four terms as president, FDR was sure to have a huge impact on the United States. His leadership throughout World War II was key to our victory. Further, he worked tirelessly to end the Great Depression including the creation of numerous programs through his New Deal to help Americans get back on their feet.
3. George Washington As the first president, Washington couldn't help but set precedents that were followed by later presidents. His lack of a desire to be seen as a 'monarch' was an extremely important part of creating a citizen president. Also, the fact that he retired after two terms set a precedent only broken by Franklin Roosevelt. After Roosevelt's death, the two-term limit was added as the 22nd amendment to the Constitution.
4. Thomas Jefferson Through Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, the size of the United States doubled overnight. Jefferson was a strong states' rightest who also realized the need for consolidating power in the federal government in certain instances.
5. Andrew Jackson Jackson's election showed the rise of the common man. He was the first president elected from humble beginnings. His popularity was huge. Further, he was a strong nationalist who often made controversial decisions such as the removal of Native Americans east of the Mississippi. He was president during the 'Trail of Tears'. He also fought against the national bank.
6. Theodore Roosevelt TR was an extremely influential president. Not only did he earn the title of 'Trust Buster' as president by fighting against corrupt businesses, but he also was deeply committed to conservation. He established numerous national parks to preserve the wildlife that was quickly being overtaken through industrialization.
7. Woodrow Wilson Wilson piloted the ship that brought America onto the world stage. He made the first steps of leading us out of isolationism, violating Washington's tenet of avoiding foreign entanglements. He led America during World War I. His fervent hope was for the US to join a League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations.
8. Harry S Truman Harry S Truman took over after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He made one of the hardest decisions in American History by deciding to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He presided over the end of World War II and set precedents for leadership during the beginning of the Cold War.
9. James K. Polk After Thomas Jefferson, James K. Polk increased the size of the United States more than any other president through the acquisition of California and New Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. He also claimed Oregon Territory after a treaty with England. He was a key figure in Manifest Destiny. He was also an extremely effective leader during the the Mexican-American War. He is considered to be the best one-term president.
10. Dwight Eisenhower During Eisenhower's time in office, America experienced a great amount of economic prosperity. Eisenhower also provided crucial leadership during the Cold War.
Wasn’t there some fella from CA not on that list that should have been?
The poll did not suggest that the influence exerted by the presidents were beneficial or not.
I have an authenic “I Like Ike” campaign button. I wore it to our tea party this month. It got a lot of attention.
Yeah, where’s Reagan? After reading “Almost a Miracle”, I’d put Washington at the top forever. I don’t think there ever would have been a country to influence without Washington.
To put in Ike over Reagan is equally silly.
I agree that Reagan should be on the list. I would also like to make a puch for Rutherford Hayes. That election was crazy (Tilden probably should have won), but Hayes ended Reconstruction. That’s a big deal.
For example:
The MOST influential and certainly MOST consequential president would have to be George Washington for one reason only and that is certainly because he left office and established the precedent of a two term presidency and the bloodless and civil transfer of power. This is significant because it was so novel that a person would give up power.
Kings, princes, dictators, and potentates throughout history NEVER willingly gave up power. This is a first in history and shows a new movement in governing, one that is granted by the governed to the government. The power of that one thought changed history.
If "influential" is taken to be a neutral term, I would agree. Julius Caesar was influential too, when he destroyed the other greatest republic known to man.
Not a bad list, but a very bad ranking. Surely George W. was more influential than Abe or FDR. Without GW’s influence, we probably would never even have had a USA.
Also, even though I like Eisenhower, it seems to me that at least a few other POTI may have been more “influential” — Monroe, Reagan, Buchanan (in a bad way) and Hoover (again, in a bad way).
Moreover, depending on how our struggle with militant Islamism eventually works itself out, G. W. Bush may eventually be ranked by historians-yet-unborn as among the top ten.
(Regarding the latter, I was around in the early 1950’s and was politically aware. Believe me, NOBODY BUT NOBODY back in those days would have put HST on any kind of “top ten” list.)
What, no Millard Fillmore? I mean, he brought California in as a state, abolished slavery in DC, hated the Republican Party, and married his school teacher. I figured the liberals would hoist him up as a hero. (But then again, he opposed Lincoln for all he was worth...)
Thanks for posting, but this list is HORRIBLE. Washington is far above #1 for his Stellar Greatness. Every Step he took was sealed until the Socialists started getting elected. Even now it is hard to undo what he began and what began at the start.
????? So his big decision was whether to continue thousand plane firebombing attacks on Japanese cities or do essentially the same thing with one big bomb? Did he make the right decision? Yes, I think so, but it was hardly enough to put him in the top 10. I would say the far bigger decision was to support West Berlin with the airlift.
10. Dwight Eisenhower During Eisenhower's time in office, America experienced a great amount of economic prosperity. Eisenhower also provided crucial leadership during the Cold War.
Good job? Yes, but not one of the most influential.
Since influence can be either positive or negative, I would put Lyndon Johnson high up in the list. His great expansion of the dole was what increased our downhill welfare spiral started by Franklin Roosevelt.
Well duuuugh.. the choice was allow for more than a Million(MORE) deaths of U.S. servicemen(invading japan) -OR- drop the BOMB...
Even a cave man could make that choice..
Truman over saw FDR's administration of commies..
THEN made the U.S. look like idiots in the Korean War..
Geez, at least 3 of the ones listed were socialists.
