Who is the Greatest President in American History?
Before I get to the rankings, I hope I am able to speak to the inspiration for this list. Every so often, we see a presidential ranking that judges presidents. It is generally a fun exercise for those involved or those reading it. But there are other lists that make less sense.
Let us take a look at the Siena Rankings wherein they rank the presidents based on twenty different categories. These categories include Background (Family, Education, Experience), Party Leadership, Luck, Imagination, Integrity, Leadership Ability, and Intelligence. The question is why are these categories included? Should the presidents be measured solely on their policies and the state of the nation?
If their policies are successful and influential, the president should be ranked higher; if not, their ranking should be lower. Would intelligence, imagination, party leadership, and leadership ability not impact whether the president makes successful policies or whether they are able to implement those policies? Does the intelligence of a president matter if their policies are unsuccessful? Judging by factors that are inconsequential allows one to alter the rankings based on one’s bias.
This also ignores how a president’s background or “luck” impacts their ranking. In Siena’s ranking, if the president was a Roosevelt or an Adams, then they are in the Top five regarding “background.:
They had a “better” background than the likes of Lincoln, Obama, and Reagan; yet, one could argue those other presidents had a “better” background due to their humble beginnings. Even better, why does a background matter while ranking a president when we should be solely looking at how successful their term was in the White House?
This of course is not nearly as bad as the category of “luck.” For the record, Lincoln was ranked as the 21st luckiest president in their survey. This means 24 presidents were unluckier than the man who took over the country when it was about to rip itself apart…
But, I digress, the analysis below will not be as convoluted as the Siena Rankings. No, it will be judged by two metrics. Influence and success. If a president had no success or no influence, they would not make this list. If the president was influential but the president’s policies were terrible or the policies were successful but had no impact, that president would not make this list.
Their actions as president and the state of the nation due to their actions will decide the quality of each president. All the presidents on this list achieved success and their legacy is integral to the history of the United States. So without further ado… below is the ranking of American presidents.
A- Tier
In this tier, we have presidents that yielded great results either policy-wise or politically. While their influence and success are not as large as the men in the higher tiers, we still can marvel at their achievements.
11 — James Polk (1845–1849)
If one were to describe the Polk Administration within three words, it would be “completing Manifest Destiny.” In the election of 1844, the Oregon Territory and Texas were the big issues.
Polk’s campaign wanted to solve Texas diplomatically with Mexico and annex all of the disputed Oregon territory, even if it led to war with Britain. After the election, Polk (D-Tennessee) compromised over the issue of Oregon with the British Empire and eventually went to war with Mexico.
Not only did this war prove successful for the United States, but led to its greatest territorial expansion since the Louisiana Purchase. The status of Texas was settled and lands that extended from New Mexico and Colorado to California were annexed from Mexico. These lands proved valuable almost right away with gold being discovered in 1849.
When we think of the United States, we think of a land from sea to shining sea. Before the Polk Administration, it was a dream. After the Polk Administration, it was a reality. Except for minor land changes and purchases, the lower 48 states that make up the core of the United States were in place. This is largely due to the presidency of James K. Polk.
10 — James Monroe (1817–1825)
Most presidents in this ranking would be able to point out either a signature domestic or foreign policy success. For example, Polk’s signature achievement was winning the Mexican-American War thus adding the most western regions to the United States.
While Monroe did have an impact on both domestic and foreign policy, such as the American System and Monroe Doctrine respectively, his policies were not the main reason for his greatest success. Instead, James Monroe had perhaps the greatest political achievement that any politician can hope to achieve; ending the two-party system by eliminating the competition at the ballot box. Before James Monroe, there were the Democratic-Republicans and Federalists.
While the Federalists were fading for some time, they were still an oppositional force for both Jefferson and Madison. During Monroe’s reign, the Federalist Party died. In the election of 1820, James Monroe had no opposition and won every electoral vote except for one. Only George Washington could claim a better electoral record than Monroe’s 1820 campaign.
During Monroe’s second term, there was still no opposition party against Monroe. It was truly an Era of Good Feelings. However, this era would not last beyond the 1824 election. Due to the chaotic nature of a unipolar system, there were four candidates in the field running under the Democratic-Republican banner. After this election, the Democratic-Republicans would tear themselves apart. Supporters of Andrew Jackson saw a “corrupt bargain” between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay that robbed Jackson of the presidency.
Supporters of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay celebrated the victory that was procured in the House of Representatives. The rematch of 1829 would solidify this divide. Jacksonian supporters would be the foundation for the Democratic Party. Supporters of Adams and Clay would form the Anti-Jacksonian Party which evolved into the Whig Party. This party system would last until the election of 1856.
Explanation of this tier:
When one compares an apple to an orange, how should one judge? One of the presidencies expanded America and completed the dream of Manifest Destiny. The other presidency created political bliss wherein the country was united. So to judge which president should be ranked better, we asked ourselves what is harder; ending the two-party system or defeating Mexico in war. As of 2024, we believe the former is harder than the latter.
A Tier
In this tier, we have presidents who were among the most influential in the United States. The nation would be fundamentally altered during their terms and for generations to come. While their policies were not always successful, their influence cannot be denied. In simple terms, these men achieved greatness that just fell short of a spot on Mount Rushmore.
9 — Andrew Jackson (1829–1837)
The first president of the Democratic Party, Andrew Jackson proved to be an influential president. In an era between the Founding Fathers and the Civil War, Andrew Jackson proved to be the man who defined an era.
His “Jacksonian Democracy” expanded the rights of the average man by allowing them to participate in the democratic process. While detractors will point out that those rights were only given to white men. Regardless, an expansion of democracy is an expansion of democracy.
He would also give his supporters another benefit, the patronage system. Government jobs would now be given to his supporters instead of career bureaucrats. This system would dominate for the next half of a century wherein to the victor belonged the spoils.
He also fundamentally altered the economic system of America created by Hamilton. Before Andrew Jackson, the Bank of the United States was an instrumental financial institution. Jackson saw this bank as a corrupt institution that favored the wealthy and elite.
So during Jackson’s watch, the national bank’s charter would lapse which led to its ultimate demise. Lastly, during his administration, he passed legislation that pushed the Native Americans out of the South and stopped any secession movement after tariffs were raised.
In fact, to point out all of his accomplishments or his policies would be a herculean task that would require more than a recap to cover. With a strong executive, he remade America in an image more to his liking. However, the question is whether or not the policies he proposed were ultimately successful.
Some of his policies, such as expanding suffrage were successful. Some of his policies were successful in their task but incredibly controversial now and then, such as the fprced relocation of the Native Americans; (which is a subject that deserves its own article).
Some of his policies were successful within his administration but had negative consequences in his successor’s term, such as the economic consequences of abandoning the Bank of the United States. Even the most controversial movement of Native Americans, the Trail of Tears, took place after Jackson left office. This makes it even harder to judge his presidency. If we judged Jackson solely on his eight years in office, we would have a much more favorable view than if we took into account the four years that followed him.
If we were to judge him based on his successes and failures, we may rank him higher than most presidents but not nearly this high. If we were to rank this list solely on influence, we would rank Jackson even higher. After all, he was arguably the second most influential president in the 19th century. He was also the only man between the end of the Founding Fathers era and the Civil War to be reelected.
Jackson’s successes, or what we are willing to define as his successes, were great; his failures, or what we are willing to define as his failures, left wounds in this nation. He was a powerful man who reshaped an era, a nation, and its future.
8 — Harry S. Turman (1945–1953)
When Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-New York) passed away in his fourth term, “the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen” on his successor. That successor was no other than Harry S. Truman (D-Missouri).
One could easily see how the immense nature of the pressure above the new president’s head as the world was still fighting World War II. But under his watch, that war would ultimately be concluded and the reshaping of the post-war world started. S
o it is with good reason that his presidency is mostly linked with foreign policy, which (mostly) was successful. The Marshall Plan helped rebuild Western Europe. NATO ensured the protection of this rebuilt Europe. The Policy of Containment was a combination of a pragmatic policy to ensure the Soviet Union and Communism would be kept at bay and to keep American allies close.
This policy would define American foreign policy until the walls crumbled in Berlin. While foreign policy was not perfect, such as China becoming Communist and the stalemate in the Korean War, it is hard to be critical of a few aspects when the main policy design served the United States well.
Domestically, he had more challenges. His Fair Deal was less impactful than his predecessor’s New Deal and his administration had to deal with labor strikes. It is easy to say that historians today had a better view of Truman than his contemporaries as his 1948 victory was a shock and he ultimately decided not to run in 1952 due to his unpopularity.
With that being said, one aspect of his domestic policy that was successful was concerning Civil Rights. While he could not do much to aid the Civil Rights Movement, he was the president who desegregated the Armed Forces. While the Civil Rights Movement picked up strength in his successor’s term, the first step took place under Truman.
Overall, his presidency was a solid presidency that is sometimes overlooked compared to presidencies of a similar era. Similar to his successor.
7 — Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)
After twenty years of Democratic rule, the Republicans took back the White House under the Eisenhower administration. A moderate in nature, he took over time when America was being rebuilt, largely in aid to Eisenhower and his administration.
His notable achievement was the Interstate Highway System which connected America through a series of road networks. With this new road system, the suburbs and the American dream of the white picket fence were born. Economic prosperity defined the Eisenhower era and with it the American Dream.
During this period, we also saw great progress regarding Civil Rights; in which Eisenhower (R-Kansas)again played a significant part. While the Civil Rights Act of 1957 is regarded as limited, due to the work of then-Senator (and future President) Lyndon B. Johnson (D-Texas), it was the first major Civil Rights legislation that passed since Reconstruction.
He also ensured that desegregation was enforced when he sent troops down in Little Rock. His foreign policy was more of a mixed bag with successes and failures. The U-2 spy incident was embarrassing for the United States but he did manage to end the fighting in the Korean War, which his predecessor was unable to do.
With pragmatism and practicality, his eight years in office were very successful. He balanced the books, expanded popular programs, and created NASA. As a former general, he warned the American people about the “military-industrial complex.:
When he could act, Ike acted. When he could not act, Ike worked behind the scenes until he could act. Overall, the American people “liked Ike”; it is not hard to see why.
Explanation of this Tier:
On one hand, picking who is better between Truman and Eisenhower is akin to splitting hairs. Truman’s foreign policy was the foundation of American foreign policy for half a century. Eisenhower’s domestic policy redefined success in America. Both had positives with Civil Rights and took actions when they were possible. However, when the results are so close; we look to the Americans of their era to break the deadlock. It is clear in this regard that Eisenhower should be ranked slightly ahead of Truman. But both men should be ranked above Jackson.
If we go by influence, Jackson would win. If we go by policy success, Eisenhower and Truman win. When considering both criteria, we went with the latter presidents.
A+ Tier
The presidents in this tier start the pantheon of truly exceptional presidents. With a combination of success and influence, these men altered the nation for the better. They have earned their place on Mount Rushmore.
6 — Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809)
If we were to define Jefferson’s Presidency, it would be a tale of two halves. The first half of Jefferson’s time in office was perhaps among the four best years anyone had in the Oval Office.
The second half would be considered a disappointment, especially after Jefferson’s successful first term. Each of these terms could be defined by their signature policy. Jefferson’s first term would be the Louisiana Purchase; Jefferson’s second term would be the embargo of Europe.
The Louisiana Purchase fundamentally altered the United States and, eventually, global politics. What started as an inquiry into buying New Orleans, Jefferson managed to get the whole Mississippi River System for a discount. With a swipe of a pen, the United States doubled its size and now controlled one of the most favorable river systems in the world.
The benefits yielded from the newly added land to the country could not be overstated. This purchase would lay the foundation for the eventual superpower the United States would eventually turn into. Manifest Destiny may have been completed with Polk, but it started with Jefferson.
The Embargo Act that Jefferson put in place backfired spectacularly. With the Napoleonic Wars occurring in Europe, Jefferson wisely continued the practice of neutrality. Unfortunately, his solution was not to trade with Europe. The economic impact of this act was an economic calamity, particularly for the merchants in the North. Within two years, this bill would be repealed. But the damage has already been done.
Despite the latter policy, this should not detract too much from Jefferson’s success. But when comparing the best against each other, there is always something that would stand out.
5 — Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909)
What many historians consider the start of the modern presidency, Roosevelt would define an era within American politics.
Before Theodore Roosevelt (R-New York), the Gilded Age led to unprecedented economic growth concentrated within a few trusts or monopolies. No president took on these businesses… until Roosevelt.
With new legislation behind him and a drive to fix the issues of the day, a new Progressive Era was born. An era that would last until the Roaring Twenties. Trusts that were not in the national interest were broken. Trusts that were important to the national interest remained but were subdued under the power of the government. The most powerful and richest men had the right to fear the man who was “as strong as a Bull Moose.”
But not only did he “speak softly and carry a big stick” domestically but in foreign policy as well. He earned the first Nobel Peace Prize for any American by helping to end the Russo-Japanese War. He also forged a canal through the heart of the Americas. With some “convincing”, he secured Panama’s independence and started work on the Panama Canal.
With the “Roosevelt Corollary”, he reinforced the Monroe Doctrine preventing outside powers from interfering within the western hemisphere. This did not stop America from acting within this region.
In simple terms, he was the first modern president which put started to put into place the modern America that we know.
Explanation of this Tier:
If Jefferson managed to continue his success from the first term, he could have been ranked even higher on this list. But with a significant flaw in his presidency, it was harder to rank him even higher than where he was now. With Roosevelt being more consistent, this gave him the advantage. However, against the men who are in the Top 4 of our ranking, Theodore Roosevelt did not have as much success or influence to be ranked higher.
S- Tier
The presidents in this tier faced some of the hardest challenges and achieved results that simply exceeded expectations. Due to this, their accomplishments are almost unrivaled compared to the rest of the presidents.
4 — Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) (1933–1945)
The longest-serving president in American history, FDR (D-New York) certainly enjoyed success in some of America’s roughest times.
Taking over during the Great Depression, FDR launched the New Deal, one of the most transformative set of policies that America has undertaken; some may say the most transformative policies America has ever experienced. To combat the Great Depression, FDR launched policies directed at Recovery, Relief, and Reform.
Recovery would turn America’s economy around, Relief would help the average American, and Reform would prevent future Great Depressions. The Great Depression would be the defining issue of the FDR administration until World War II.
While FDR’s policies, in reaction to the start of the war, were isolationist and aligned with most Americans, he eventually started to prepare the nation for war. When the “day of infamy” happened, he would become the leader of the most important nation within the Allies.
Waging a two-front war in Europe and the Pacific, Allied forces turned back the tide of the Axis and went forward in liberating the peoples under despotism. While FDR died before the end of World War II, it is safe to say he was a key political leader in winning the war.
If the 22nd Amendment had been in place before 1933, both history and FDR’s presidency would have been very different. While FDR is remembered for both the New Deal and World War II, without his third term he would have not been president when Pearl Harbor happened.
For those who disparage the New Deal, they would point out that World War II saved and enhanced the president’s legacy. Is it fair to question the success of the New Deal? Yes and no. Looking at Recovery, America did not recover from the Great Depression until the nation entered World War II; but, the country did improve compared to before.
The criticism of Recovery is generally fair. With Reform, the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression occurred in the 21st Century after some of FDR’s reforms (such as Glass-Steagall) were repealed. In this sense, Reform was very successful. Regarding Relief, clearly the people supported FDR and his policies. So overall, the New Deal was successful but not overwhelmingly successful.
3 — Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)
Similar to FDR, Reagan (R-California) had challenges both domestically and globally. Saddled with Carter’s economy and malaise, Reagan had to fix the American economy from an economic contradiction.
Stagflation. In macroeconomics, the solution to fix rampant inflation is to reduce the money supply; the solution to fix a recession is to increase the money supply. Stagflation is when there is a recession and rampant inflation. Regarding foreign policy, America was shrinking from the world stage.
Communism was expanding in new lands and confidence in America was at an all-time low. So what happened during the eight years of the Reagan administration?
Not only Reagan was able to solve the issue of stagflation but managed an economic renaissance. The recovery that started under Reagan would have Americans forgetting about malaise and dreaming of a brighter future. His policies would lay the ground for a successful American future for a generation.
Regarding foreign policy, he perhaps had even greater success. With his investment in the military, he soon brought the Soviet Union to its knees, without firing one bullet. With his policies, he managed to broker the start of the largest disarmament of nuclear weapons.
With his policies, the Berlin Wall came crashing down and the Cold War came to an end. While some may point out this happened during George H.W. Bush’s term, it was the policies of Reagan that caused the end of the “evil empire.”
While many in the media and academia give credit to Gorbachev for ending the Cold War, it is important to remind them that Gorbachev was not trying to end the Cold War but trying to save his nation from dissolution, in which he was unsuccessful, and that the policies of Reagan forced his hand.
This is not to say there were no controversies in the Reagan administration, such as the Iran-Contra affair. But comparing the United States and the world between 1980 and 1989 is similar to comparing night and day. With Reagan’s term, it was again “morning in America” where the American people could once again be proud of the “City Upon a Hill.”
Explanation of this tier:
It is difficult to separate these two men as the differences are so finite. Both had domestic successes. Both had successes across the globe. If there was an update to Mount Rushmore, both men deserve to be added. With that being said, we must nitpick the man who makes the podium. For example, what’s more impressive, leading the United States in a 2-front war wherein America became the superpower or ending the other superpower without firing a bullet?
The simple truth is Reagan met every significant challenge during his presidency and exceeded expectations. FDR met every significant challenge during his presidency and (mostly) exceeded expectations. Reagan had economic challenges and turned around the American economy. FDR had economic challenges and improved the situation but did not turn around the American economy. This along with FDR ignoring the 2-term precedent gives credence to the fact that Reagan should be ranked a bit better.
S Tier
These men faced the hardest challenges and succeeded. They have accomplished more than any other president. With their legacies secured, these men are an inspiration to any other man who strives for greatness.
2 — Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865)
With the emergence of the Republican Party, Lincoln would soon become the leader of the future Grand Old Party (GOP) and the nation.
In simple terms, Lincoln is here because he saved the nation and ended slavery. While every other president could point out his successes, none of them could say they prevented the nation from literally ripping itself in half and then ended the issue that caused the nation to rip itself in half. Lincoln’s legacy rests solely on the Civil War and Emancipation.
This does not mean his handling of the Civil War was perfect. His choices for the Army of the Potomac did not facilitate success on the battlefield. But over time, the men he chose eventually ended the rebels and their cause.
In the most delicate of times, implementing the right policy at the wrong time could mean losing the war and the nation itself. If the war became about emancipation too soon, Lincoln risked losing additional border states.
If emancipation had come too late, international actors could have aided the Confederates. To negotiate the worst political climate in America’s history, he had to navigate a field of swamps and deserts while not forgetting the direction of true north. To do so and accomplish America’s greatest feats is certainly awe-inspiring.
1 — George Washington (1789–1797)
Perhaps no other man has defined the presidency as much as him. If Washington wanted to be king, perhaps all he needed to do was reach for a crown.
Like his hero Cincinnatus, he deferred and the republic was born. In his eight years in office would define the presidency for all of American history and would create traditions where some were not broken until the 20th century. These traditions were, but not limited to, serving only two terms in office and American neutrality in foreign policy.
Both of these traditions aided the United States. Neutrality allowed America to grow and expand westward. The two-term precedent limited the ambitions of later man, for any man who challenged this precedent would be challenging the quintessential American himself.
While Washington’s legacy is largely influenced by the precedents he set, he was able to achieve other policy objectives as well. These include the creation of the nation’s capital on the potamic, having Hamilton create financial institutions for the new nation, and the John Jay treaty.
While this last item was controversial at the time, the treaty overall benefited the United States. With perhaps one of the best cabinets in American history, highlighted with Jefferson as Secretary of State and Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury, Washington ruled well for eight years wherein he was unanimously elected to the White House each time.
Many men achieved greatness during their presidency, Washington achieved greatness by making the presidency.
Explanation of this tier:
Like so many other tiers, it is impossible to separate these men. However, there is one significant difference between their presidencies. When Washington left, he gave the country to John Adams and Jefferson. While the Adams presidency was not successful, the man himself was worthy of such a position. On the other hand, Jefferson proved to be a fine successor (see above). But the man Lincoln chose to be his running mate in 1864, Andrew Johnson, failed to meet even the minimum standards of other presidents. Consistently ranked as one of the worst presidents, one dreams of the possibilities if there was a competent man as Lincoln’s vice president. Reconstruction would likely have been more successful if Johnson was not in the presidency. After all, the four years after the Civil War were the most important years in this process and it would have been much better to have a competent man fixing the nation’s ills instead of a man who spent his time fighting Congress and sabotaging their policies. So by leaving the nation in better hands, we give a slight edge to Washington.
Conclusion:
If you agree or disagree, please leave a comment. Thank you for reading.
