Angus Greig

Where does Donald Trump rank on the list of American presidents?

We surveyed presidential politics experts to sketch out a first draft of Trump’s place in presidential history.

Since our previous survey in 2014, some presidential legacies have soared (Barack Obama’s stock has climbed into the Top 10), while others have fallen (Andrew Jackson toppled to 15, out of the Top 10).

And President Trump? Let’s say that, according to the 170 members of the American Political Science Association’s Presidents and Executive Politics section who filled out our survey, he has at least three years to improve on an ignominious debut.

Presidential Greatness Rankings

James Buchanan, who was at the helm as the United States careened into civil war, was dislodged from his position as our nation’s worst president by our current president, Trump.

His Oval Office predecessor, Barack Obama, shot into the Top 10, up from 18th in the previous survey. Ulysses S. Grant also got a bump, up seven places from 2014, perhaps owing to a strong assist from Ron Chernow’s recent masterpiece.

The biggest declines were for Bill Clinton, arguably the result of contemporary scorn for his treatment of women, and Andrew Jackson, for evolving attitudes on his treatment of Native Americans.

Overall rankings. Presidents since World War II in boldface. Presidents whose rank changed since last survey TOP 10 IN 2018 2014 RANK 0 = FAILURE 50 = AVG. 100 = GREAT 1. Lincoln 95 2. Washington 93 3. F.D. Roosevelt 89 CHANGE IN RANKING UP OR DOWN 4. T. Roosevelt 81 5. Jefferson 80 6. Truman 75 7. Eisenhower 74 8. Obama 71 8. Clinton –5 9. Reagan 69 9. Jackson –6 10. L.B. Johnson 69 10. Wilson –1 11. Wilson 67 11. Reagan +2 12. Madison 64 12. L.B.J. +2 13. Clinton 64 13. Madison +1 14. J. Adams 63 14. Kennedy –2 15. Jackson 62 15. J. Adams +1 16. Kennedy 62 16. Monroe –2 17. G.H.W. Bush 61 18. Monroe 61 18. Obama +10 19. McKinley 55 19. Polk –1 20. Polk 54 20. Taft –2 21. Grant 53 21. McKinley +2 22. Taft 52 22. J.Q. Adams –1 23. J.Q. Adams 52 23. Cleveland –1 24. Cleveland 51 24. Ford –1 25. Ford 47 25. Van Buren –2 26. Carter 45 27. Van Buren 44 27. Coolidge –1 28. Coolidge 42 28. Grant +7 29. Hayes 42 29. B. Harrison –3 30. G.W. Bush 40 30. Hayes +1 31. Arthur 40 31. Garfield –3 32. B. Harrison 38 32. Arthur +1 33. Nixon 37 33. Taylor –2 34. Garfield 37 34. Nixon +1 BOTTOM 10 35. Taylor 33 35. G.W. Bush +5 36. Hoover 33 36. Tyler –1 37. Tyler 31 37. Fillmore –1 38. Fillmore 28 38. Hoover +2 39. Harding 25 39. W.H. Harr. –3 40. A. Johnson 25 40. Pierce –1 41. Pierce 23 41. A. Johnson +1 42. W.H. Harr. 19 42. Harding +3 43. Buchanan 15 44. Trump 12 Overall rankings. Presidents since World War II in boldface. Presidents whose rank changed since last survey 0 = FAILURE 50 = AVERAGE 100 = GREAT 2014 RANK CHANGE IN RANKING UP OR DOWN TOP 10 IN 2018 1. Lincoln 95 2. Washington 93 3. F.D. Roosevelt 89 4. T. Roosevelt 81 5. Jefferson 80 6. Truman 75 7. Eisenhower 74 8. Obama 71 8. Clinton –5 9. Reagan 69 9. Jackson –6 10. L.B. Johnson 69 10. Wilson –1 11. Wilson 67 11. Reagan +2 12. Madison 64 12. L.B. Johnson +2 13. Clinton 64 13. Madison +1 14. J. Adams 63 14. Kennedy –2 15. Jackson 62 15. J. Adams +1 16. Kennedy 62 16. Monroe –2 17. G.H.W. Bush 61 18. Monroe 61 18. Obama +10 19. McKinley 55 19. Polk –1 20. Polk 54 20. Taft –2 21. Grant 53 21. McKinley +2 22. Taft 52 22. J.Q. Adams –1 23. J.Q. Adams 52 23. Cleveland –1 24. Cleveland 51 24. Ford –1 25. Ford 47 25. Van Buren –2 26. Carter 45 27. Van Buren 44 27. Coolidge –1 28. Coolidge 42 28. Grant +7 29. Hayes 42 29. B. Harrison –3 30. G.W. Bush 40 30. Hayes +1 31. Arthur 40 31. Garfield –3 32. B. Harrison 38 32. Arthur +1 33. Nixon 37 33. Taylor –2 34. Garfield 37 34. Nixon +1 BOTTOM 10 35. Taylor 33 35. G.W. Bush +5 36. Hoover 33 36. Tyler –1 37. Tyler 31 37. Fillmore –1 38. Fillmore 28 38. Hoover +2 39. Harding 25 39. W.H. Harrison –3 40. A. Johnson 25 40. Pierce –1 41. Pierce 23 41. A. Johnson +1 42. W.H. Harrison 19 42. Harding +3 43. Buchanan 15 44. Trump 12 Methodology: Each expert was invited to rate each president on a 0-100 scale, with 0 = failure, 50 = average, and 100 = great. Scores were then averaged for each president, with presidents then ranked in order of highest average to lowest.

Greatness Rankings by Party

On partisan-votes lines, Democrats ranked Ronald Reagan nine places lower than Republicans, while Democrats place Obama 10 places higher.

Counting only Republican votes, William McKinley — best known for winning the Spanish-American war, for defeating William Jennings Bryan twice in contests for the White House and for being assassinated by the anarchist Leon Czolgosz — holds a spot in the Top 10.

Independents admire George H.W. Bush, ranking him higher than Obama.

Trump doesn't get much of a lift from Republican-only vote: Even in their eyes, he’s a bottom-five president.

Democratic scholars Presidents since World War II in boldface. TOP 10 0 AVG. 100 1. Lincoln 96 2. F.D. Roosevelt 94 3. Washington 93 4. T. Roosevelt 83 5. Jefferson 82 6. Obama 78 7. Truman 78 8. L.B. Johnson 75 9. Eisenhower 74 10. Wilson 72 11. Madison 67 12. Kennedy 67 13. Clinton 66 14. Reagan 65 15. J. Adams 64 16. Monroe 62 17. Jackson 62 18. G.H.W. Bush 59 19. Grant 53 20. J.Q. Adams 53 21. Polk 52 22. McKinley 50 23. Cleveland 49 24. Carter 48 25. Taft 48 26. Ford 46 27. Van Buren 44 28. Hayes 39 29. Arthur 39 30. G.W. Bush 37 31. Nixon 37 32. B. Harrison 36 33. Coolidge 36 34. Garfield 34 Lighter circles = below average BOTTOM 10 35. Taylor 31 36. Tyler 31 37. Hoover 29 38. A. Johnson 27 39. Fillmore 26 40. Pierce 24 41. Harding 23 42. W.H. Harrison 19 43. Buchanan 16 44. Trump 8 Independents/other These scholars skew somewhat to the right. TOP 10 0 AVG. 100 1. Lincoln 94 2. Washington 91 3. F.D. Roosevelt 83 4. T. Roosevelt 79 5. Jefferson 79 6. Eisenhower 77 7. Reagan 75 8. Truman 74 9. Madison 65 10. J. Adams 64 11. G.H.W. Bush 64 12. Obama 63 13. L.B. Johnson 63 14. Clinton 62 15. Wilson 62 16. McKinley 61 17. Jackson 61 18. Monroe 60 19. Kennedy 58 20. Taft 56 21. Polk 56 22. Grant 54 23. Cleveland 54 24. J.Q. Adams 52 25. Coolidge 50 26. Ford 49 27. Van Buren 47 28. Hayes 45 29. Arthur 44 30. Garfield 42 31. G.W. Bush 42 32. Carter 41 33. B. Harrison 40 34. Taylor 37 BOTTOM 10 35. Hoover 37 36. Nixon 36 37. Tyler 32 38. Fillmore 30 39. Harding 26 40. Pierce 25 41. A. Johnson 23 42. W.H. Harrison 19 43. Trump 16 44. Buchanan 14 Republican scholars TOP 10 0 AVG. 100 1. Washington 94 2. Lincoln 94 3. F.D. Roosevelt 83 4. T. Roosevelt 77 5. Reagan 76 6. Jefferson 70 7. Eisenhower 68 8. Truman 67 9. McKinley 64 10. Jackson 64 11. G.H.W. Bush 63 12. Wilson 61 13. Polk 60 14. Taft 60 15. Clinton 59 16. Obama 57 17. J. Adams 57 18. Monroe 56 19. L.B. Johnson 56 20. Cleveland 55 21. Coolidge 52 22. Madison 52 23. G.W. Bush 52 24. Kennedy 50 25. Grant 49 26. Ford 49 27. J.Q. Adams 49 28. Hayes 44 29. Nixon 42 30. Hoover 41 31. B. Harrison 39 32. Carter 39 33. Van Buren 38 34. Arthur 36 BOTTOM 10 35. Garfield 36 36. Taylor 34 37. Tyler 33 38. Harding 32 39. Fillmore 29 40. Trump 25 41. A. Johnson 21 42. Pierce 19 43. W.H. Harrison 19 44. Buchanan 14 Democratic scholars Independents/other Republican scholars Presidents since World War II in boldface These scholars skew somewhat to the right. TOP 10 0 AVG. 100 0 AVG. 100 0 AVG. 100 1. Washington 94 1. Lincoln 96 1. Lincoln 94 2. Lincoln 94 2. F.D. Roosevelt 94 2. Washington 91 3. F.D. Roosevelt 83 3. Washington 93 3. F.D. Roosevelt 83 4. T. Roosevelt 77 4. T. Roosevelt 83 4. T. Roosevelt 79 5. Reagan 76 5. Jefferson 82 5. Jefferson 79 6. Jefferson 70 6. Obama 78 6. Eisenhower 77 7. Eisenhower 68 7. Truman 78 7. Reagan 75 8. Truman 67 8. L.B. Johnson 75 8. Truman 74 9. McKinley 64 9. Eisenhower 74 9. Madison 65 10. Jackson 64 10. Wilson 72 10. J. Adams 64 11. G.H.W. Bush 63 11. Madison 67 11. G.H.W. Bush 64 12. Wilson 61 12. Kennedy 67 12. Obama 63 13. Polk 60 13. Clinton 66 13. L.B. Johnson 63 14. Taft 60 14. Reagan 65 14. Clinton 62 15. Clinton 59 15. J. Adams 64 15. Wilson 62 16. Obama 57 16. Monroe 62 16. McKinley 61 17. J. Adams 57 17. Jackson 62 17. Jackson 61 18. Monroe 56 18. G.H.W. Bush 59 18. Monroe 60 19. L.B. Johnson 56 19. Grant 53 19. Kennedy 58 20. Cleveland 55 20. J.Q. Adams 53 20. Taft 56 21. Coolidge 52 21. Polk 52 21. Polk 56 22. Madison 52 22. McKinley 50 22. Grant 54 23. G.W. Bush 52 23. Cleveland 49 23. Cleveland 54 24. Kennedy 50 24. Carter 48 24. J.Q. Adams 52 25. Grant 49 25. Taft 48 25. Coolidge 50 26. Ford 49 26. Ford 46 26. Ford 49 27. J.Q. Adams 49 27. Van Buren 44 27. Van Buren 47 28. Hayes 44 28. Hayes 39 28. Hayes 45 29. Nixon 42 29. Arthur 39 29. Arthur 44 30. Hoover 41 30. G.W. Bush 37 30. Garfield 42 31. B. Harrison 39 31. Nixon 37 31. G.W. Bush 42 32. Carter 39 32. B. Harrison 36 32. Carter 41 33. Van Buren 38 33. Coolidge 36 33. B. Harrison 40 34. Arthur 36 34. Garfield 34 34. Taylor 37 Lighter circles = below average BOTTOM 10 35. Garfield 36 35. Taylor 31 35. Hoover 37 36. Taylor 34 36. Tyler 31 36. Nixon 36 37. Tyler 33 37. Hoover 29 37. Tyler 32 38. Harding 32 38. A. Johnson 27 38. Fillmore 30 39. Fillmore 29 39. Fillmore 26 39. Harding 26 40. Trump 25 40. Pierce 24 40. Pierce 25 41. A. Johns. 21 41. Harding 23 41. A. Johnson 23 42. Pierce 19 42. W. Harr. 19 42. W. Harr. 19 43. W. Harr. 19 43. Buch. 16 43. Trump 16 44. Buch. 14 44. Trump 8 44. Buch. 14 Democratic scholars Independents/other Republican scholars Presidents since World War II in boldface. These scholars skew somewhat to the right. TOP 10 0 AVG. 100 0 AVG. 100 0 AVG. 100 1. Washington 94 1. Lincoln 96 1. Lincoln 94 2. Lincoln 94 2. F.D. Roosevelt 94 2. Washington 91 3. F.D. Roosevelt 83 3. Washington 93 3. F.D. Roosevelt 83 4. T. Roosevelt 77 4. T. Roosevelt 83 4. T. Roosevelt 79 5. Reagan 76 5. Jefferson 82 5. Jefferson 79 6. Jefferson 70 6. Obama 78 6. Eisenhower 77 7. Eisenhower 68 7. Truman 78 7. Reagan 75 8. Truman 67 8. L.B. Johnson 75 8. Truman 74 9. McKinley 64 9. Eisenhower 74 9. Madison 65 10. Jackson 64 10. Wilson 72 10. J. Adams 64 11. G.H.W. Bush 63 11. Madison 67 11. G.H.W. Bush 64 12. Wilson 61 12. Kennedy 67 12. Obama 63 13. Polk 60 13. Clinton 66 13. L.B. Johnson 63 14. Taft 60 14. Reagan 65 14. Clinton 62 15. Clinton 59 15. J. Adams 64 15. Wilson 62 16. Obama 57 16. Monroe 62 16. McKinley 61 17. J. Adams 57 17. Jackson 62 17. Jackson 61 18. Monroe 56 18. G.H.W. Bush 59 18. Monroe 60 19. L.B. Johnson 56 19. Grant 53 19. Kennedy 58 20. Cleveland 55 20. J.Q. Adams 53 20. Taft 56 21. Coolidge 52 21. Polk 52 21. Polk 56 22. Madison 52 22. McKinley 50 22. Grant 54 23. G.W. Bush 52 23. Cleveland 49 23. Cleveland 54 24. Kennedy 50 24. Carter 48 24. J.Q. Adams 52 25. Grant 49 25. Taft 48 25. Coolidge 50 26. Ford 49 26. Ford 46 26. Ford 49 27. J.Q. Adams 49 27. Van Buren 44 27. Van Buren 47 28. Hayes 44 28. Hayes 39 28. Hayes 45 29. Nixon 42 29. Arthur 39 29. Arthur 44 30. Hoover 41 30. G.W. Bush 37 30. Garfield 42 31. B. Harrison 39 31. Nixon 37 31. G.W. Bush 42 32. Carter 39 32. B. Harrison 36 32. Carter 41 33. Van Buren 38 33. Coolidge 36 33. B. Harrison 40 34. Arthur 36 34. Garfield 34 34. Taylor 37 Lighter circles = below average BOTTOM 10 35. Garfield 36 35. Taylor 31 35. Hoover 37 36. Taylor 34 36. Tyler 31 36. Nixon 36 37. Tyler 33 37. Hoover 29 37. Tyler 32 38. Harding 32 38. A. Johnson 27 38. Fillmore 30 39. Fillmore 29 39. Fillmore 26 39. Harding 26 40. Trump 25 40. Pierce 24 40. Pierce 25 41. A. Johnson 21 41. Harding 23 41. A. Johnson 23 42. Pierce 19 42. W.H. Harrison 19 42. W.H. Harrison 19 43. W.H. Harrison 19 43. Buchanan 16 43. Trump 16 44. Buchanan 14 44. Trump 8 44. Buchanan 14 Methodology: Each expert was allowed to self-identify as either Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Other. The results of those who self-identified were later analyzed independently to allow comparisons across partisan groups.

Next on Mt. Rushmore

Which president deserves to have his likeness carved next into Mt. Rushmore’s granite cliff? Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the overwhelming favorite, selected by two-thirds of our respondents.

James Madison Franklin Roosevelt Barack Obama Lyndon Johnson 2 66% 7 5 4 4 10 Others Ronald Reagan Dwight Eisenhower William McKinley 2 Franklin Roosevelt Barack Obama James Madison Lyndon Johnson 66% 7 5 4 4 2 2 10 Others Ronald Reagan Dwight Eisenhower William McKinley Methodology: Respondents were asked if they were to add one president to those currently represented on Mt. Rushmore, who would it be, and then allowed to select any past or current president. The number and percentage of times each president was selected was then calculated.

Mt. Rushmore by Party

It wasn’t just Democratic support that would carve F.D.R. on Mt. Rushmore: All groups, including Republicans, named him as most deserving of that honor.

Roosevelt, the godfather of presidential liberalism, received more than twice as many votes from Republicans as Ronald Reagan, his conservative counterpart.

Lyndon Johnson Democratic scholars’ vote: J. Mad- ison Barack Obama Franklin Roosevelt 75% 11 3 3 8 Others Independent/others’ vote: Ronald Reagan William McKinley Franklin Roosevelt 57% 9 9 6 19 Others Dwight Eisenhower Republicans’ vote: Ronald Reagan James Madison Franklin Roosevelt 43% 19 10 29 Others Democratic scholars’ vote: Barack Obama Lyndon Johnson James Madison Franklin Roosevelt 75% 11 3 3 8 Others Independent/others’ vote: Ronald Reagan Dwight Eisenhower William McKinley Franklin Roosevelt 57% 9 9 6 19 Others Republicans’ vote: Ronald Reagan James Madison Franklin Roosevelt 43% 19 10 29 Others Methodology: Using the previously discussed self-identified partisanship breakdowns, the number and percentage of times each partisan group selected each president was calculated in the same way as the overall results.

Trump’s initial rating places him in an ignominious category, but dozens of presidents have had slow starts and have course corrected to improve their public esteem. Beyond his reputation or ranking, Donald Trump’s very presidency may alter perceptions of presidential legacies as his unique approach to the office continues to surprise.