Sunday, July 12, 2009

History

Worst Presidents: A Survey of Major Polls

Posted February 16, 2007

Ten points awarded to the lowest president on any list; nine to the second-lowest and so on

President C-SPAN, 1999 Wall Street Journal, 2005 Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., 1996 Siena Poll, 2002 Ridings-McIver Poll, 1996 Total Points Place
James Buchanan 10 10 9 9 9 47 1
Warren G. Harding 7 9 10 8 10 44 2
Andrew Johnson 9 7 8 10 8 42 3
Franklin Pierce 8 8 4 7 6 31 4
Millard Fillmore 4 6 2 6 5 23 5
John Tyler 5 5 3 5 3 21 6
Ulysses S. Grant 2 0 5 3 7 17 7
William Harrison 6 0 0 4 4 14 8
Herbert Hoover 3 1 6 0 0 10 T-9
Richard Nixon 0 2 7 0 1 10 T-9
Zachary Taylor 0 3 0 2 0 5 10
Jimmy Carter 0 4 0 0 0 4 11
Calvin Coolidge 0 0 1 0 2 3 12
James Garfield 0 0 0 1 0 1 T-13
Chester Arthur 1 0 0 0 0 1 T-13

Reader Comments

The top three worst presidents

1) Obama has to be the worst president ever. He has spent more of America's money than all the other Presidents combined, committed treason and is a traitor against the people of United States of America, and most importantly his agenda is for his own self-interest or self-gain to be THE world ruler. A very power hungery and evil person.

2) F.D.Roosevelt is the person whom obama has modeled his presidency after. Destroying the constitution of the United States of America for personal gain.

3) A three way tie between L.B.Johnson, J.Carter, and B.Clinton. Pick your own reason. But, before you do, research with an open mind and you might see the truth.

God, family, and then country is the proper order that our forefathers set so we would not have the chaos we have today. We are now a nation with out honor and integrity, void of intelligence and wisdom, looking for a hand-out and waiting for someone else to assume our own responsibilities. This is what these worst presidents have promoted, to bring out the worst in people.

Nixon not among the worst

Polls are just that, opinions, and it's difficult with even the most thoughtful process to average five different polls, all with a different constituency and methodology. This, in addition to the total unreliability of "rating" presidents within our lifetime, makes the Nixon result unreliable at best. Fifty years from now, Nixon will be considered average or better.

Another observer noted that Jimmy Carter should have made the top 10; I would agree based on what I know now (but, again, he is too recent a president to dispassionately evaluate). He failed in Iran, he was a failure as a communicator, he allowed the country to get into a "malaise" in part through lack of leadership, he accomplished little and the voters rejected him after only one term. While Nixon made serious mistakes, was paranoid, and was impeached, he was a serious student of foreign policy and helped confront the Soviet threat (beginning the line that allowed Reagan to declare victory over them) and opened the door to our most important trading partner, China, and as another writer noted, he got us out of Viet Nam that Kennedy and Johnson got us into. Further, Nixon has been called the greatest school desegregator in history and did much to promote racial equality and healing during his presidency.

Energy cost going up Thank you Obama

Here we go again an energy bill is coming America get ready for gasoline and cooling and heating of your home to double under the Obama White House ! you wanted it you are going to get it !

right where you deserve it In the aSSSSSSSSSS . another good screwing from the Liberal Democrats who are supposed to be looking out for the Little guy.

Add your thoughts

Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

advertisement

U.S. News Weekly

Subscribe Today

Order the new U.S. News Weekly digital magazine at a special low introductory price!

advertisement

Barack Obama

Obama's Inner Circle

Get to know close advisers, cabinet officials, and more.

Your Photos

President Barack Obama speaks about combat troop level reductions in Iraq as he addresses military personnel at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Obama in Your Town

Has the president visited your town? Send your photos to obamaphotos@usnews.com, and we'll post our favorites online.

Courtesy Greg Meinert

Thousands cheer as Obama becomes the 44th president.

Your Inauguration Photos

Thanks for sending us such great shots from this historic event.


A baby kissing an Obama poster for Washington Whispers.

Your Campaign Photos

We asked to see your personal election pictures and you delivered.

Public Poll

Do you fear losing your job in this market?

View Results

Washington Whispers

Washington Whispers

Senate Braces for Sotomayor

Senate staffers are warned that the upcoming hearings for Sotomayor are going to cause a mess.

advertisement

Put U.S. News on Your Site

Keep up with the latest headlines by adding our news widget to your website.
Get this widget ยป


NEWSLETTER

Sign up today for the latest headlines from U.S. News & World Report delivered to you free.

RSS FEEDS

Personalize your U.S. News with our feeds of blogs and breaking news headlines.

U.S. NEWS MOBILE

U.S. News daily briefings are also available on your mobile device.

WIDGETS

Embed exclusive U.S. News headlines, rankings, columns, and blog postings to your Web site, blog, or social network.

Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy.
Make USNews.com your home page.