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Presidential surveys on the web

Over the years various surveys have tried to determine the best and the worst of the American presidents. It all began in 1948 when the eminent historian Arthur Schlesinger, Sr., asked 55 of his fellow historians to rate each president according to one of five categories: great, near great, average, below average, or failure. Not surprisingly, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Franklin D. Roosevelt scored as great presidents, while Ulysses S. Grant and Warren G. Harding fell into the failure category.

Five Best Presidents

  • Abraham Lincoln Franklin Delano RooseveltGeorge WashingtonTheodore RooseveltHarry S. Truman

Five Worst Presidents

  • James BuchananAndrew JohnsonFranklin PierceWarren G. HardingWilliam Henry Harrison

Courtesy:C-SPAN

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Rankings Over Time

In recent years surveys of presidential greatness have become more common and more complex. Nevertheless, the top- and bottom-ranked presidents have remained a fairly stable group, with the rest moving up or down in rank in the middle. Presidents who appear to have moved up include Eisenhower and Reagan, while Kennedy has moved down in some surveys.

Do Surveys Reflect the Truth?

Critics of the surveys are quick to note that such rankings are biased, depending on who is doing the ranking. And how exactly is greatness defined? Presidents who served during a time of war or acute economic crisis would have a certain advantage over those whose terms were relatively peaceful and prosperous. Also, the passage of time can have an effect on how a president is ranked, given that new information or analysis can change the way we view a particular chief executive.

Still, the survey results can be a fun and interesting departure point for learning more about the relative strengths and weaknesses of the presidents. Here is a sampling of some surveys that can be viewed on the web.

  • C-SPAN Survey of Presidential LeadershipC-SPAN is a private, non-profit information service, providing televised coverage of the proceedings of the U.S. Congress and other public affairs programming 24 hours a day. The survey, however, just covers past presidents, not the current one. The Roper Center’s Presidential Job Approval RatingsLocated at the University of Connecticut, the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research is a major repository of public opinion data. This survey includes the current president, George W. Bush. Federalist Society—Wall Street Journal Survey on PresidentsThe Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is an organization of conservatives and libertarians seeking to promote the ideals of individual liberty, limited government, and rule of law within the legal system. The Siena Research Institute of Siena College, Loudonville, NY, conducts regional, statewide, and national surveys on a variety of issues. The surveys include expert and public opinion polls. Zogby International Presidential Greatness PollZogby Analytics conducts public opinion polls and marketing research worldwide.

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TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales