The survey was of political scientists and not of historians (though the results probably wouldn't be much different).
When it comes to which president should join Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt on Mt. Rushmore, Franklin Delano Roosevelt again comes in first, by a wide margin (65.4%). Barack Obama came in second (11%), followed by a three-way tie between Dwight Eisenhower, James Madison, and John F. Kennedy (4% each)
Idiots.
They also asked the "experts" to say who they thought was "most overrated" and "most underrated."
Jimmy Carter is the most under-rated president, selected by 64 respondents and earning a 2.2 average (1 is a “most under-rated” ranking). Ulysses Grant is the second-most under-rated (56, 2.4), followed by George H.W. Bush (47, 2.9), Eisenhower (45, 2.8), Lyndon Johnson (43 (2.3), and Biden (42, 2.9). Conversely, John F. Kennedy is considered the most over-rated president, selected by 84 respondents and earning a 2.4 average (1 is a “most over-rated” ranking), followed very closely by Ronald Reagan (83, 2.1), then Jackson (70, 2.3), Wilson (60, 2.9), Jefferson (37, 3.3), and Teddy Roosevelt (40, 2.5).
Kennedy is indeed overrated, but it took them 50 years to realize it. Maybe in another 50 years they'll realize they overrated Obama.
And Reagan overrated? Not if Biden, Kennedy, and Obama are judged better than he is.
The "overrateds" indicate the folly of the question. By the time "experts" decide someone is "overrated" they've already downgraded and underrated him.
Reagan was originally low in the polls and rose as respondents realized their mistake. Now he's falling again and they think he is overrated.
But Jimmy Carter as most underrated? Ridiculous. The "experts" forget more than they ever manage to learn.
These sorts of rankings all depend on the criteria used to evaluate the presidents.
Why is Biden considered to be in the top one third of all presidents? Because of the Inflation Reduction Act? It would be interesting to know all of the precise criteria they use. Do they measure economic conditions during a president’s term? Do they give bonus points for a president who was president during a depression or a World War? Are they considering margins of election victory? Are they considering the long-term historic impact of a president and his policies?