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This Is the Worst President of All Time, According to Historians

Each leader from George Washington to Donald Trump was ranked based on a broad set of criteria.

The south lawn of the White House
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Being elected to the highest office in the land is a job that comes with immense responsibility. Whether it was guiding the U.S. through its earliest days of independence, attempting to reunite a nation torn apart by the Civil War, weathering financial crises, or avoiding escalating conflict during the Cold War, every commander in chief has tackled obstacles and made decisions that form their legacy. But just like any job—and in many ways, more than any other job—how they handle their time in office is open to analysis and criticism, including the former presidents who performed poorly enough to be considered among the worst to ever sit in the Oval Office.


A recent survey of 142 presidential historians conducted by C-SPAN continued the tradition of ranking former executives based on a wide range of criteria. Each respondent issued a score from 1 (meaning "not effective") to 10 (meaning "very effective") in 10 categories that encompass presidential leadership: crisis leadership, public persuasion, economic management, moral authority, international relations, administrative skills, pursuing equal justice for all, relations with congress, vision or setting an agenda, and their performance within the context of the times. The average of each president's responses was then added to rank them overall, with each category given equal weighting.

New questionnaires are issued at the beginning of every new administration so that only former presidents are included in the rankings, meaning you won't see current President Joe Biden on this list. The latest survey also invited dozens more respondents to participate so as to create “new diversity in race, gender, age and philosophy" in the results, C-SPAN said. (Here is a full list of the historians surveyed.)

Each time the survey is conducted, presidents rise and fall among the ranks, and this year is no different. With everything considered from impeachment to landing on the moon, here is every former president of the United States ranked from best to worst, according to historians.

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1 | Abraham Lincoln

abraham lincoln, amazing coincidencesEverett Historical/Shutterstock

Final score: 897

2 | George Washington

George WashingtonShutterstock

Final score: 851

3 | Franklin D. Roosevelt

fdr bobby kennedyAlamy

Final score: 841

4 | Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore RooseveltShutterstock

Final score: 785

5 | Dwight D. Eisenhower

Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1952 portraitEverett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo

Final score: 734

6 | Harry S. Truman

harry truman success quotesAlamy

Final score: 713

7 | Thomas Jefferson

thomas jefferson, amazing coincidencesShutterstock

Final score: 704

8 | John F. Kennedy

US president John F. Kennedy after his arrival on 26 June 1963 for a four days visit in Germany adressing an enthusiastic crowd in Cologne.dpa Fotografen/picture alliance via Getty Images

Final score: 699

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9 | Ronald Reagan

President Ronald ReaganMark Reinstein / Shutterstock

Final score: 681

10 | Barack Obama

Former President Barack Obama with the US flag in the background as he delivers a speech at a campaign rally for the presumptive democratic nominee in Charlotte.Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock

Final score: 664

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11 | Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson getting sworn in next to Jackie Kennedy Jackie Kennedy Pink Chanel SuitAlamy

Final score: 654

12 | James Monroe

A portrait of President James MonroeEverett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 643

13 | Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow WilsonShutterstock

Final score: 617

14 | William McKinley

A photo portrait of President William McKinleyShutterstock

Final score: 612

15 | John Adams

President John Adams historical factsShutterstock

Final score: 609

16 | James Madison

James MadisonShutterstock

Final score: 604

17 | John Quincy Adams

u.s. president john quincy adamsShutterstock

Final score: 603

18 | James K. Polk

A portrait of president James PolkShutterstock

Final score: 599

19 | William J. Clinton

president bill clinton in the 90sJoseph Sohm/Shutterstock

Final score: 594

20 | Ulysses S. Grant

President Ulysses S. GrantShutterstock

Final score: 590

21 | George H. W. Bush

george h.w. bushShutterstock

Final score: 585

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22 | Andrew Jackson

Andrew Jackson, by Thomas Sully, 1845, American painting, oil on canvas. This 1845 painting is based on a 1824 Thomas Sully a portrait of Andrew Jackson.Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 568

23 | William Howard Taft

President William Howard TaftShutterstock

Final score: 543

24 | Calvin Coolidge

President Calvin Coolidge. Ca. 1923-1928. From 1907 to 1920, Coolidge worked his way up Massachusetts State politics to election as Governor in 1918.Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 535

25 | Grover Cleveland

Former President Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th US President in 1903 photo by Frederick Gutekunst. Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 523

26 | Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter Famous People Who Used to be TeachersShutterstock

Final score: 506

27 | James A. Garfield

President James GarfieldShutterstock

Final score: 506

28 | Gerald R. Ford

Gerald Rudolph Ford, born Leslie John Lynch, Nixon's Vice-President and 38th President of the United States of America (1973-1974) when Nixon resignedPhoto12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Final score: 498

29 | George W. Bush

George W BushShutterstock

Final score: 495

30 | Chester A. Arthur

Chester Arthur, 21st President of the United States, (1881 - 1885).Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 472

31 | Richard M. Nixon

Richard Nixon hottest celebrity the year you were bornNational Archives and Records Administration

Final score: 464

32 | Benjamin Harrison

President Benjamin Harrison sitting for a portraitShutterstock

Final score: 462

33 | Rutherford B. Hayes

President Rutherford B. HayesShutterstock

Final score: 456

34 | Martin Van Buren

President Martin van BurenShutterstock

Final score: 455

35 | Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), U.S. President (1849-1850)Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 449

36 | Herbert Hoover

Herbert HooverLibrary of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Final score: 396

37 | Warren G. Harding

President Warren G HardingShutterstock

Final score: 388

38 | Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), U.s. President (1850-1853)Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 378

39 | John Tyler

President John Tyler 1790-1862 succeeded William Harrison after his death from pneumonia. His landmark accomplishment the 1845 annexation of the Republic of Texas.Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 354

40 | William Henry Harrison

President William Henry HarrisonShutterstock

Final score: 354

41 | Donald J. Trump

Donald Trump at a campaign rally in August 2018Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com

Final score: 312

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42 | Franklin Pierce

President Franklin PierceShutterstock

Final score: 312

43 | Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson, 17th President, ca. 1860s.Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 230

44 | James Buchanan

James Buchanan Everett Collection / Shutterstock

Final score: 227

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