He couldn't seem to grasp the enormity of America's divisions over slavery, ignoring the strife and letting the issue fester in the years leading up to the Civil War. Donald Trump has the dubious honor of being the only U. In the Siena survey, Trump received the lowest rank — 44th out of 44 — in the categories of integrity, intelligence, and overall ability.
Harding's presidency benefited from an economic boost, fed in part by the growing mass production of "motor cars. But scandals plagued Harding's time in office, particularly the infamous Teapot Dome scandal in which cronies profited from secret oil deals, keep him low in the rankings. History has judged Pierce unfavorably for policies that helped put the nation on the path to civil war. He signed into law the Kansas-Nebraska act, which allowed residents of new territories to decide on the legality of slavery for themselves.
Harrison's presidency was marked by organizational chaos. At the time, it was common for job seekers to simply show up at the White House and ask for a meeting with the chief executive — and they did. In one letter, Harrison complained, "I am so much harassed by the multitude that calls upon me that I can give no proper attention to any business of my own. Overall, historians have little to judge Harrison on, given that he died on his 32nd day in office.
Fillmore ascended to the presidency in July after the death of President Zachary Taylor. Historians fault Fillmore for signing the Fugitive Slave Act, which required that escaped slaves be returned to their enslavers, and Harrison was not his party's nominee for re-election. Tyler, the first vice president ever elevated to the presidency when his predecessor died, was a strong advocate of states' rights. Months after his election, the stock market crashed and the U.
Historians have faulted Harrison for poor communication skills and lackluster leadership ability. Among some historians, Arthur gets low ratings for his failure to ensure equal justice for all. His administration enacted the first immigration law, which excluded Chinese people as well as "paupers, criminals, and lunatics. In the Siena survey, Bush got his lowest ranking — 41st out of 44 — in the category of intelligence.
But his overall standing has inched upwards in recent years. His most controversial decision was the invasion of Iraq based on the mistaken belief that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
In the years since he left office at the height of an economic crisis, historians surveyed by C-SPAN have reevaluated his record and he's moved up in the rankings, from 36th place in to 33rd place today. Historians have criticized Hayes' record on equal justice as he oversaw the end of Reconstruction.
Hayes pledged to protect the rights of African Americans in the South but then withdrew federal troops, preferring what he hoped would be "wise, honest, and peaceful local self-government.
Coolidge is rated poorly for crisis leadership, lack of imagination, and failing to work for equal justice for all Americans. He refused to use the country's economic boom to help struggling farmers and workers in other flailing industries. Trump, who debuted at a dismal 41st place. Trump was not ranked worst overall, though some historians, such as survey participant and NYU historian Tim Naftali, argued he should be.
All three men have been widely condemned by historians for severely mishandling the beginnings and aftermath of the Civil War, the worst crisis in national history, as Jeremy Stahl writes for Slate. As journalist Robert W. Updegrove points out in a New York Times op-ed. With regards to recent presidents, George W. Thomas Jefferson finished a solid seventh. For every high there is a low, and this is certainly true in the history of American presidents. Things hardly get better from there for the bottom finishers.
While greatness in presidential leadership is not confined to any single era, the distribution between the top and the bottom of U. Presidents is notable. Over the year period between and , America witnessed 5 of its top 11 presidents.
By contrast, over the year-period from to , the nation suffered 8 of our 11 worst presidents. What accounts for this asymmetric pattern of greatness and failure? Certainly, the long shadow of Abraham Lincoln cannot be overstated. By immortalizing Lincoln, the presidents who came before and immediately afterwards have held comparatively less luster among historians.
The list left out current President Joe Biden who is only six months into his term. Mr Trump was ranked the lowest of all presidents who were in office during the last years and the fourth worst overall. The list is the fourth iteration of the rankings by C-SPAN and is based on judgements by historians and professional observers.
Mr Trump is considered the worst president since just after the Civil War , according to the group. But he still continues to hold a vice-like grip on the Republican Party and would be the overwhelming favourite if he chooses to enter the race for the GOP nomination. At the other end of the list, Barack Obama jumped two spots in the rankings, going from 12th best to 10th.
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