US Presidents Study Historical Rankings

Since 1982, the SCRI Survey of U.S. Presidents has been conducted during the second year of the first term of a new president. Previous SCRI surveys of U.S. Presidents have been reported in Presidential Studies Quarterly, The New York Times, Washington Post, recent scholarly reviews of the presidents, and national news networks.



PresidentYearOverall RankBackground (Family, Education, Experience)Party LeadershipCommunication Ability (Speak, Write)Relationship with CongressCourt AppointmentsHandlingof U.S. EconomyLuckAbility to CompromiseWilling to take RisksExecutive AppointmentsOverall AbilityImaginationDomestic AccomplishmentsIntegrityExecutive AbilityForeign Policy AccomplishmentsLeadership AbilityIntelligenceAvoid Crucial MistakesPresent Overall View
Franklin D. Roosevelt202211122216222222142111042
Franklin D. Roosevelt201826123225433333163131243
Franklin D. Roosevelt201015112215233243163131042
Franklin D. Roosevelt20021511111412212216311832
Franklin D. Roosevelt19941111211212212116111932
Franklin D. Roosevelt19901411111311223216212833
Franklin D. Roosevelt19821411111312244117111952
Abraham Lincoln202222921432211131111142121
Abraham Lincoln201832821434181121112162221
Abraham Lincoln201032862645131221211152321
Abraham Lincoln200222962665142131112143521
Abraham Lincoln199423252694122132122262221
Abraham Lincoln199023142674132241212133321
Abraham Lincoln1982335527109112132223333421
George Washington2022361811314135136433231213
George Washington2018171811111126127212211012
George Washington2010471812334134149422311213
George Washington2002472112323239139311211313
George Washington19944918124423691314413331413
George Washington1990481611422238149313211212
George Washington198247151266224131310312221314
Theodore Roosevelt202243747632183543510454654
Theodore Roosevelt20184575793215255448434654
Theodore Roosevelt20102673512212143126444634
Theodore Roosevelt20023673544110354448434744
Theodore Roosevelt199436745634123654512444755
Theodore Roosevelt199056545434123554612464755
Theodore Roosevelt1982567455441434523611594765
Thomas Jefferson202257455112051487546207106287
Thomas Jefferson2018525457208145442614696175
Thomas Jefferson2010514646166118553614576165
Thomas Jefferson200252344914697453615586175
Thomas Jefferson1994533331011776443695106164
Thomas Jefferson1990313338894533143555144
Thomas Jefferson19822123271083751174455133
Dwight Eisenhower2022611918656451812720745751636
Dwight Eisenhower20186111520956752111718855751736
Dwight Eisenhower2010101217211091185201711201397971957
Dwight Eisenhower20021014192185994201313201499971869
Dwight Eisenhower19948162024728642111122111118681849
Dwight Eisenhower199012152024757752112151912101012102069
Dwight Eisenhower1982111919259476627151720121413101121410
Harry Truman20227281214151271113991013888381975
Harry Truman2018931141415178121281010167984102197
Harry Truman2010935151420156111567715788691786
Harry Truman2002733141418127131558714877581796
Harry Truman1994728913161561010477138872101796
Harry Truman1990730913169612136981181174919107
Harry Truman19827241111161351016581298128491897
Lyndon Johnson202281631614818666610331639918359
Lyndon Johnson20181615317281225910891153494013223517
Lyndon Johnson2010161531615102891212912534124315213716
Lyndon Johnson20021516413210182681091215538114114193416
Lyndon Johnson19941314218181429679810339104111163814
Lyndon Johnson1990151662121017251110111213538114012183416
Lyndon Johnson19821413316311302151012111253773910123414
John Kennedy202291216312139278104125142714127121510
John Kennedy201810141731312731896115153112178111812
John Kennedy20101113194131272761061471535131711111614
John Kennedy20021411165161182211117166153615179111915
John Kennedy1994101013517128248125126183512167121914
John Kennedy199010111451812921711611615341214891814
John Kennedy198289146189620787106143214148101713
James Madison2022104108101419131115119713912201831111
James Madison20187491010614166157661171319173118
James Madison20106310119712177159681251420172108
James Madison200294991281516714119713614211621712
James Madison1994951381312171910161210813613201541311
James Madison199085117141115231013109713613211441710
James Madison19829510713122119101797711517231451812
Barack Obama2022111819627910141021887106111915798
Barack Obama20181724239311410151623131511131318201691011
Barack Obama2010153221718131716101314186161216221682118
James Monroe2022121317159151287141316159161361421612
James Monroe201889121581196716917141011105121869
James Monroe20107912158149981781616810112131579
James Monroe20028915167131086166171610111261314513
James Monroe1994151216151017129122010181812141781419716
James Monroe19901112171481710106158161511131471614713
James Monroe19821511171312191512122110151417151661617716
Woodrow Wilson20221398101316111537111513911219131783015
Woodrow Wilson20181188714131114351114148141914111472515
Woodrow Wilson20108889168815379108591110101242910
Woodrow Wilson20026886137615408106571069114287
Woodrow Wilson199467861435154088657891193297
Woodrow Wilson199067861265163997657881072286
Woodrow Wilson1982686583313376663466872296
Bill Clinton20221419139187510417141112124016181693313
Bill Clinton20181521138181051131712131293916181583014
Bill Clinton201013221182511310418111010104115181493415
Bill Clinton200218311382915212517191411124118221593820
Bill Clinton1994161817915891331332167143821391783217
James Polk2022152614171132189227211414152810912231017
James Polk20181219101611221591871612101223781123813
James Polk2010121791312211572371617141124981020911
James Polk20021125101792312722515151010191071222811
James Polk1994142215161022148181016151310231191322810
James Polk1990132112159231381871614101025981121811
James Polk198212231217102711719917161310221171320811
John Adams202216531123381526352017151618523172342014
John Adams20181432813174132431141581319421132141610
John Adams2010174291826101323321615131722319122071512
John Adams2002123311021311303513148121931312186169
John Adams199412429102451028361513131620417121951212
John Adams19901432992431128331413101418416111751512
John Adams1982103299242827341816911192912173168
John Q. Adams2022172291335171325281918171120724152151318
John Q. Adams201818129122915172924191816921622152351418
John Q. Adams2010192342035161430292313151118421162652021
John Q. Adams200217134113414153134171210821420162232317
John Q. Adams1994172311136181632351814151121619142562419
John Q. Adams1990162301035181633342015131220522152262417
John Q. Adams19821723310351614323316138824718132462517
Ronald Reagan202218366782121317132821182124191610351719
Ronald Reagan20181327466181831013201817162415127311216
Ronald Reagan20101834557312131411311918232620138361317
Ronald Reagan20021637579252031515282319172317149361014
Ronald Reagan1994203967104033117143930282737361712401821
Ronald Reagan1990223778133430121163731282237331813391229
Ronald Reagan198216318841529523113420221821193812301420
Joseph Biden202219152530311014349241023221912212125271620
George H. W. Bush20222082428173626241227201927271717822221222
George H. W. Bush2018211021282029282013271921272618201022191721
George H. W. Bush2010221127332334322616292727312820221422241822
George H. W. Bush2002221023282231362113252124252719211321232221
George H. W. Bush199431826373741402621302829383730261326243129
George H. W. Bush199018918231526246929242227302317171922920
Ulysses Grant2022213122191620231916163820231718222213243116
Ulysses Grant2018242024261924262617183826242425272418243124
Ulysses Grant2010262628242225292122224028262627342421293131
Ulysses Grant2002353830272728392425314236313534382925273536
Ulysses Grant1994383835342936362122314137363634403330283538
Ulysses Grant1990373838352831382025284039373636393232333539
Ulysses Grant1982363936343032352825313938373528382934363337
William McKinley2022222311221424163326251918262326151119281421
William McKinley2018202911221223163221221720202020171419261320
William McKinley2010212114191123182420212021231922181518271120
William McKinley2002192112221127122014222221231824191519251317
William McKinley1994182011221328151714231721221520181518261118
William McKinley1990191913201121121815221421211624191318251418
William McKinley198219171623112312141120202351623211518251018
Andrew Jackson2022233852021353064142622172237182911322726
Andrew Jackson201819376181630254384251915172911239282019
Andrew Jackson20101430210142728438519121314236195231213
Andrew Jackson200213352151418215384171112922819521128
Andrew Jackson1994113741481923538515910919618520108
Andrew Jackson199093621210192153541778918616617118
Andrew Jackson1982132641419203113642613159201016619129
Jimmy Carter202224213724371834402426162619252312329113223
Jimmy Carter201826253724361938382927222819283322532153426
Jimmy Carter201032313927392040383125212921297362935133630
Jimmy Carter200225283624361717372822232617255322531103224
Jimmy Carter199425233727401439393317212415313291932113424
Jimmy Carter199024283727381536362719222416237292033113222
Jimmy Carter1982332238363818383429242426213213312233143130
William Taft2022251034252419173019382528302411272833142625
William Taft2018221230212116192719312123281812232226141923
William Taft2010241436293018203224362223302118252331182823
William Taft2002211229222216192529351620241614232328142623
William Taft1994211129212813182728361922271614222429152720
William Taft1990201027182513142624321918221414212223132319
William Taft19822010271917813292733112228159201827112419
Grover Cleveland2022263420232325322227292327282623202420262424
Grover Cleveland2018232620192720211922272322232326192120271522
Grover Cleveland2010201916171517222019241820221719172119251419
Grover Cleveland2002202317191920291924191818222017162017241419
Grover Cleveland1994192019191920291827221820201717152116231615
Grover Cleveland1990171815162114201723171817181717151915231615
Grover Cleveland1982181813151522201830141414171310151715231315
James Garfield2022272526211931244125302924252922263024202127
James Garfield2018282227232634294125302724253421253424202725
James Garfield2010272022222432234127312925282525263123262227
James Garfield2002332524252631313926343627253428303828263030
James Garfield1994262523252129213723302625242626282824252026
James Garfield1990302323252933293826302727243128263524242927
James Garfield1982252821202226163720292224192234242620222323
Richard Nixon2022281723263226223621123025211644251427174136
Richard Nixon2018291622273432233630122825212243241628164238
Richard Nixon2010301820263638253433143722192443241129164337
Richard Nixon2002261720193529213431113419182242241126164134
Richard Nixon199423151420353420333211361817234121720134134
Richard Nixon199025171922313519323212301917244018920164031
Richard Nixon1982281518213439273326123721182739221121163935
Martin Van Buren2022292215273027363720282729243030292526252529
Martin Van Buren2018252316252325313420282627222927282727252428
Martin Van Buren2010231613231924383313322524242729232527222724
Martin Van Buren2002241511182026413620292524212530252623202525
Martin Van Buren1994221710181924363515252123192425232622212224
Martin Van Buren1990211410172225353416242623202521232421152621
Martin Van Buren19822114918212537308232719163031232419152821
Gerald Ford2022302428352023383215322230333313302630302928
Gerald Ford2018271825332521333011292430323110312830302127
Gerald Ford2010282725351722363117352331333015322730342625
Gerald Ford2002281927372421382717322431323113282833332426
Gerald Ford1994322122392326342313332333373315323534382831
Gerald Ford199027222132172026248312129332615272731352225
Gerald Ford198223162035141728179302528332818273630382024
Rutherford Hayes2022312930312622282023372331313232323332291930
Rutherford Hayes2018323533303027222323353031303532333133292829
Rutherford Hayes2010312933302929261918333333323328303032302429
Rutherford Hayes2002272926283123231712333129292426283332292128
Rutherford Hayes1994242724262124251516333126292621243023271624
Rutherford Hayes1990232624262322181414272325232122242925261923
Rutherford Hayes1982222922242528171613251825262525293326261926
Calvin Coolidge2022323327412529251230423535403819333638311833
Calvin Coolidge2018313226372431241327393233363317323538332232
Calvin Coolidge2010292524382126301228413032373117283233281928
Calvin Coolidge2002293225361722251130412933373017313236281431
Calvin Coolidge1994363129382127381129403436403518353638331836
Calvin Coolidge1990312526372024371128393335393319343736372034
Calvin Coolidge198230272337202934921393134383316333536371133
Chester Arthur2022333935342832271629343336342836343436372234
Chester Arthur2018344134363333301722333135312537303234362331
Chester Arthur2010254131322728191421272630252032272628321726
Chester Arthur2002304031332733261818283130252335273630321827
Chester Arthur1994273527282634241620272527252032263128291422
Chester Arthur1990263428282629221519262526251932253026281324
Chester Arthur1982243625282621181517261927252333262723291522
Benjamin Harrison2022342736322928332933353134323533363234332831
Benjamin Harrison2018353331352835322833363434343230352935352933
Benjamin Harrison2010343932342830352930393636343231352834352332
Benjamin Harrison2002322028312533332327373032362928342734302031
Benjamin Harrison1994302525292732302026342931322930302531312228
Benjamin Harrison1990292025291927321922342828292830282529292126
Benjamin Harrison1982312026302733322524343232312629343031352728
George W. Bush2022352021372234392332223737353434374135413835
George W. Bush2018331719382228362128202938293033343831413634
George W. Bush2010393623423241421842194140403839394238423839
George W. Bush2002231818301538341021212028302827251820401122
Zachary Taylor2022364039393637293833303433293125353528382332
Zachary Taylor2018303035323237273726243332262722263025322630
Zachary Taylor2010333735283737243634282834273721313425372533
Zachary Taylor2002343437353730243437263534343319333027342633
Zachary Taylor1994333332353926233034242732272824313228342532
Zachary Taylor1990343535383430233137253133323227303428322730
Zachary Taylor1982293430293331192632222930272926302525282631
Herbert Hoover2022371433293830454440443232364215283137154238
Herbert Hoover2018361332293326444336373529353915293336134035
Herbert Hoover2010361026313319434340423226384113293637144038
Herbert Hoover2002311322263318424238382722283912223035123929
Herbert Hoover1994291321243017414139372319303811142733103728
Herbert Hoover199028132219301640403636202030379202630103728
Herbert Hoover19822712242232143939383823183239812282983627
Millard Fillmore2022384241383939312831363639383735393739393440
Millard Fillmore2018384040403939373532383739373736373739383337
Millard Fillmore2010384041403835332525373538363536383339393035
Millard Fillmore2002383938403236262818363737383233363338382937
Millard Fillmore1994353633363134262224353335333033333436362636
Millard Fillmore1990323334343232282220353234312729323334312533
Millard Fillmore1982323334263134252418323333302130323232322229
John Tyler2022393543334340373142333940373639402740363637
John Tyler2018373441344038342237263636333635362637343236
John Tyler2010373342394239312239263435293433373536333236
John Tyler2002372441374140302841243135333530372437313135
John Tyler1994342639313430272537283134313227342235323133
John Tyler1990332939313936252738232930262926312335273032
John Tyler1982342537323735242235192829293124281928243032
William Harrison2022403238364142424538404138394129384231343739
William Harrison2018392236313742414441324037384228384429373739
William Harrison2010352430253133274235302437353630333924313334
William Harrison2002362233323838354033302637343824353924353338
William Harrison1994283040312621193825272329232228272421312330
William Harrison1990352732363639343729333432353431353927303135
William Harrison1982263028312330223622282131242027252122272125
Franklin Pierce2022414142404041403939414041414038413841403941
Franklin Pierce2018403839413841403939383940394138393940403840
Franklin Pierce2010403837374140343536383839393938404040383540
Franklin Pierce2002393639393937323332403839404037394040363539
Franklin Pierce1994373434333338283130383540353432373737373337
Franklin Pierce1990363233333337272931373638363533363637383337
Franklin Pierce1982353232272936232328353035343435353435333234
Warren Harding2022424340423438353536434342423943424042434042
Warren Harding2018413938393536353334404141413842403641433941
Warren Harding2010414338363436393726404343434042433741433941
Warren Harding2002404135343033283223394142413740423539423741
Warren Harding1994414038413232373419394041414140414041413941
Warren Harding1990403936392728393017383940404039403140403840
Warren Harding1982393731382824363115363839393638393139393739
Donald Trump2022434432434242411643234443424345444543444344
Donald Trump2018434532434243411744234543434345444543454344
James Buchanan2022443744444444434343454245454541434444424545
James Buchanan2018433642424143424240414343434440424344394444
James Buchanan2010422340414042414041433942424340424143404143
James Buchanan2002412740414041403836424041424239414242394042
James Buchanan1994392936333839313631413840394036383939363640
James Buchanan1990382431303738313530403837383835383838343638
James Buchanan1982372135333637333531373636363836363737313538
Andrew Johnson2022454445454545444245394444444442454345444443
Andrew Johnson2018444244444344434043344242424341434143424343
Andrew Johnson2010434243434343373943344241414237413842414242
Andrew Johnson2002424242424242364042273940394132403641414140
Andrew Johnson1994404141404138324041193738343922393040394039
Andrew Johnson1990394040404040333940183536343920372839363936
Andrew Johnson1982383839393938263839153537353919372038343836

2022 Rankings

The 2022 study found that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the top president based on the survey responses of historians and experts.

2018 Rankings

The 2018 study found that George Washington was rated as the top president based on the survey responses of historians and experts.

2010 Rankings

The 2010 study found that Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt were the top two presidents ranked by historians and experts.

2002 Rankings

At the start of George W. Bush’s presidency, the SCRI US Presidents Study found that Bill Clinton ranked 18th among presidents and ranked 2nd only to FDR in his handling of the economy.

1994 Rankings

Bill Clinton was ranked favorably in the early days of his presidency while George H.W. Bush did poorly. Bush fell from 18th to 31ist overall.

1990 Rankings

The second iteration of the US Presidents study found that FDR was still ranked number one by experts and historians while Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt rounded out the top five.

1982 Rankings

The very first US Presidents study found Lincoln to be ranked first and FDR was ranked second. One of the original stated goals of this study was to find how expert rankings of presidents change over time.