Top 10 Best Presidents of the United States
The presidency of the United States is a position of great responsibility and power, with the ability to shape the course of the nation and the world. Over the centuries, there have been many presidents who have risen to the challenges of this role, leading the country through difficult times and leaving a lasting impact on history.This is a list of the best presidents of the United States, those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and integrity. From the founding fathers to the modern era, these presidents have guided the country through wars, economic crises, and social upheavals, and have left an enduring legacy that continues to shape American politics and society today.
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War and succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery,... read more Abraham Lincoln was a man who could change his ideas. Initially, he believed that slavery was good. However, he eventually recognized that slavery was wrong. He made tremendous efforts to rectify the state of the country.
No other president had considered that slavery should be abolished or even addressed the issue of segregation. Although Martin Luther King Jr. was not a president, he still fought for what was right. Only Abraham Lincoln believed that slavery was unjust.
He was a man of change who did what was right for all of us. If he had not existed, slavery would still persist, and African Americans would not have been treated equally. Therefore, I believe that Abraham Lincoln should be regarded as the best president in history.
George Washington (February 22, 1732– December 14, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of the Continental Army, Washington led the Patriot... read more George Washington was a much better president than Abe Lincoln. Washington fought a war that was necessary for us to be a free country. Lincoln's war was not really necessary. If he had let the Confederate States stand, they would have wanted to rejoin the union within a short period of time. The North would have invited them back. Both the North and the South needed each other.
Slavery was not an issue in the war until 1863 when Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, which accomplished absolutely nothing. It only applied to the states over which Lincoln had no authority at the time. It didn't apply to the slaves in the states that were under his control. There were slaves in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and a few other states. The purpose, as stated by Lincoln, was to "preserve the Union." It did preserve the Union, but at the expense of several fortunes and over half a million lives.
Theodore Roosevelt was an American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. As a leader of the Republican Party during this time, he became a driving force for the Progressive Era in the United States in the... read more The fact that this man isn't in the Top 3 is ridiculous. None of our presidents in history were perfect. They all had their flaws.
But without a doubt, Theodore Roosevelt was the closest to perfect. He did so much for the environment and national parks. He also led the progressive movement, accomplished Square Deal domestic policies, helped small businesses by breaking up evil trusts, regulated railroads, and ensured pure foods and drugs.
He fought for equal rights, and as far as foreign policy goes, he constructed the Panama Canal. He was one of the very few presidents who were actually honest. If this man were alive today, he would absolutely destroy Trump's foolishness on Twitter.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, commonly known as FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. A Democrat, he won a record four presidential elections and dominated his party for many years as a central figure in world events... read more No one was greater than Roosevelt. He died before I was born, but I can barely look at his picture without crying. My parents were children during the Depression and credited this man for literally saving them from starvation.
My mother said that no one was working, had any food, or money, and lived in daily fear of what would happen to them. They would listen to his fireside chats on the radio, and she said fear would lift at the sound of his voice, bringing calm over the house. He assured them they would be taken care of, not to worry, and government trucks started delivering potted meat and some staples.
I have been told that almost every American home at that time had his picture hanging on their wall. Unless you lived during those times, you cannot fully appreciate what this man did. He saved America, paralyzed, and from a wheelchair. I adore this man.
Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father who was principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and served as the 3rd President of the United States from 1801-1809. He was born on April 13, 1743, and died on July 4, 1826, on the same day 2nd United States President John Adams died. Thomas Jefferson is one of the most underrated presidents ever. The fact that George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were ranked above Jefferson is bad enough, but Lincoln being number two is unbelievable. Lincoln destroyed Jefferson's vision of a free, voluntary union of sovereign states.
If people understood history, Bush, Clinton, Lincoln, and all other imperialist presidents would be ranked as some of the worst presidents in the history of the country. Reading Jefferson's Declaration of Independence will make it clear that every president who was ranked above Jefferson (with the exception of Washington) supported policies counter to the Founders' vision.
Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004) was an American politician and actor who was 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 . Prior to his presidency, he was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, following a career as a Hollywood actor and union leader until his death in 2004 Number 40. (Republican) He was able to fix the economy, create twenty million new jobs, lower inflation rates, exempt low-income Americans, create economic stability for small businesses, lower taxes, and bring an end to the Cold War with his concise and effective foreign policy skills.
He also survived a gunshot and returned to his duties only three weeks later. A true American who believed in this country and a true father to conservatism! Even the Democrats loved him. God bless Reagan.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29th, 1917 - November 22, 1963) commonly referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination. The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Nuclear Test Ban... read more Seriously? George W. Bush is number one? All he did was start the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, not to mention he barely helped at all when Hurricane Katrina came through.
Now JFK, he was amazing. He started the Peace Corps, initiated the Space Race, ensured African Americans had equal rights in housing (and would've done more for Civil Rights if he had served longer), made sure steel industries couldn't raise their prices over and over, and stopped the Cuban Missile Crisis. And he didn't even serve a full term! So JFK deserves first or second for sure.
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was an American politician and general who served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army during World War II and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. The last good Republican President. Plain and simple. Nixon was smart but corrupt as hell. Ford was a forgettable non-entity. Reagan was dumb AND corrupt. Bush 41 was mediocre at best. Bush 43 was a disaster in both economic and foreign policy.
As for Trump, we are experiencing a narcissistic egomaniac who befriends dictators because he wishes he were one, has alienated our allies, and has totally mishandled the most widespread medical crisis in my lifetime, and I'm 58.
Yes, Eisenhower was the last good Republican Chief Executive. He was moderate, thoughtful, and terrific on infrastructure development. He was cautious in foreign policy because he experienced war firsthand.
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 - December 26, 1972) was the 33rd President of the United States and an American politician from the Democratic Party. I used to think Truman was heartless for what he did to Hiroshima and Nagasaki (and I still do), but now I see how much he has done for this country. He helped stop the spread of the Soviet Union and communism in Eastern Europe. He helped found NATO, the UN, and also helped create the NSC and the CIA.
He wasn't afraid to fire General MacArthur when he proposed to nuke Korea, even though Truman knew he was unsupported and would be hated for this. He implemented the Marshall Plan to give aid to European nations after World War II. He did a lot in the origins of the Cold War, making sure the Soviet Union was contained. Although I still disapprove of what he did by dropping nukes on Japan, the things he did for his country are huge.
James Madison, Jr. was a political theorist, American statesman, and served as the fourth President of the United States. He was a very well-informed person, and many admired this about him. Because he knew so much and contributed a lot to the debates, Madison was called "Father of the Constitution." Also, Madison took notes, published in The Federalist Papers, which are today our best record of what happened during the Constitutional Convention.
Madison argued for federalism (power being divided between the states and the national government), which eventually won over antifederalism (states having more power than the national government). Madison helped convince Virginia, which as a whole was opposed to a stronger central government, to ratify the Constitution.
Madison was Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson (some even commented that he controlled the President!) and then became President himself. While he was President, the U.S. faced the War of 1812. Personally, James Madison is my favorite President.
The Newcomers
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under Barack Obama and represented Delaware in the United States Senate from... read more This decent, intelligent, compassionate, and thoughtful human being has already begun to restore those very same qualities to this country.
He is head and shoulders above the buffoon that caused immeasurable destruction and division, whose incompetence and egotistical, nonsensical behavior should have prevented him from ever occupying a position that affected so many others.
So grateful Biden replaced that canker sore on humanity!
I think Joe Biden will be known as the president who tried to heal a nation in great distress. Despite Trump's attempts to sabotage him, he has managed to take a lot of great steps forward that will hopefully make America respected again globally.
- Signed both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the American Rescue Plan, which have helped the economy.
- Administered over 200 million vaccine doses to Americans, saving many lives from COVID-19. He has also distributed vaccines to poorer regions of the world that struggle to access them.
- Ended the war in Afghanistan, which was an utter nightmare for the United States in foreign policy.
- Rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and pledged to reduce the US's carbon emissions.
Aside from that, he's very qualified to lead. He was a very accomplished senator from Delaware for over 30 years, serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he oversaw the confirmation of many nominees to the court, such as Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Antonin Scalia. (Don't ask about Robert Bork.) Other accomplishments include the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, which has given many women a voice and raised the importance of issues such as sexual harassment and violence.
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American businessman, television personality, politician, and the 45th President of the United States.Born and raised in Queens, New York City, Donald J. Trump received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania... read more
I'm not saying that Donald Trump is the best president ever, but he is one of the best. And yes, I am a Republican, and proud of it. I don't see why some people don't like him. Why don't people want a border wall? Like he said, you don't put a wall around a house because you hate the people outside, but because you love the people inside. Trump has helped our economy a lot.
If you think people should not be deported because of illegal immigration, just think: you wouldn't let someone you know nothing about into your house, they could be a murderer. And as for the children being separated from their families, if the parents knew their children could be separated, why did they take the risk? Trump is trying to keep criminals from coming into our country, and I support him. Good luck arguing with me, Trump haters. Make America Great Again!
John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 in Quincy, Massachusetts, United States. Adams served as the president of the United States from March 4, 1797 to March 4, 1801. He died on July 4, 1826 at the age of 90. With few exceptions, John Adams is unmatched in character, morals, and honor. Among those in the 'top 10,' only Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson come close to matching Adams.
He is one of the original founding fathers. As a lawyer, he defended the British soldiers in the Boston Massacre (and got them acquitted in a Boston courtroom full of people who wanted to hang them). He consistently voted for what he believed was right (including voting for Indian rights) even when it was not popular. What president in the last 50 years would do that?
John Calvin Coolidge Jr. was an American politician and the 30th President of the United States. A Republican lawyer from New England, born in Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor. The greatest president of the 20th century. His demeanor brought the country together: blacks, whites, upper class, and lower class.
Under his presidency, the United States experienced the greatest economic expansion in its history, which was evenly spread throughout all classes. Not only that, but he restored the integrity of the national government, avoided war with Mexico, normalized relations with Cuba, passed the Young and Dawes Acts, which postponed World War II, limited the growth of government, and reduced taxes so that the middle and lower classes were paying close to zero percent rates.
Despite all these successes, the most profound aspect of Calvin Coolidge was his adept understanding of the executive branch. Presidents do not create laws. They enforce them.
William Jefferson Clinton (Born August 19th 1946) is an American politician who was the 42nd President of the United States. He previously served as governor of Arkansas. He became president after unseating incumbent president George H.W. Bush in 1992. He was re-elected in 1996 after defeating Senator... read more I've lost all faith in this list and in the people who have voted Bush as the second-best president, though I'm not surprised if you get your information from Fox News or even MSNBC.
The economy was booming fantastically during this man's terms, and he knew how to work with both the Democratic and Republican parties. Gas was cheaper than it ever was under George W. Bush (and Barack Obama's first term). Another thing is that Bush did not inherit a recession from Clinton. He inherited a surplus and drove it into the ground, and yet the man is second place on this list?
Andrew Jackson was an American statesman who served as the seventh President of the United States from 1829 to 1837 . He was born near the end of the colonial era, somewhere near the then-unmarked border between North and South Carolina, into a recently immigrated Scots-Irish farming family of relatively... read more Jackson had many flaws that came with his "My Way or the Highway" personality. But he was also one of the greatest leaders. Jackson was the purest form of what a Democrat should be: He looked out for the common people (yes, only whites, but his whole generation was racist, so I don't blame him too much).
Jackson had been a militant fighter since he was 13 years old. Jackson single-handedly removed the U.S. debt, took down South Carolina when they tried to nullify laws, and even showed that the Supreme Court (which had often been criticized for granting far too much power to the government) had literally no way of enforcing their jurisdiction.
Lyndon Baines Johnson, often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969. Domestically, he did more for average middle-class Americans of all races than any President other than Franklin D. Roosevelt, and especially more for African Americans than any President outside of Abraham Lincoln.
His great tragedy was allowing military generals' advice to direct his policies on the Vietnam War without questioning their opinions. JFK, had he lived, wouldn't have done that.
But based on domestic social policy achievements alone, he has to be rated as one of the best Presidents. It's amazing that a Southern politician was that progressive. And probably no President handled Congress more effectively!
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African-American president of the United States... read more Obama is probably the most underrated president since Lincoln. Right-wing propaganda shows like Fox News make him out to be some sort of Antichrist, but any logical person who really looks back on what this man has done for our country so far can say that he has done pretty well.
First and foremost, he is the first African American president in a country infamous for racism and segregation, especially against Blacks. He's erased the ultimate stereotype by reaching the nation's highest office despite his skin color. He ended the pointless oil-grabbing war in Iraq and cut off the head of Al-Qaeda by killing Bin Laden, thus avenging all those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.
He has put millions of Americans back to work, though America has not yet reached pre-Bush economic prosperity. He supports same-sex marriage, facing extreme opposition from homophobic right-wingers and ultraconservative religious organizations. He has done more to help the ailing environment than any president since Teddy Roosevelt by stopping the BP oil spill, working to make America dependent on homemade green energy, and condemning the XL doomsday device pipeline.
He brought diplomacy back to the Muslim world and is trying to keep America out of outside intervention in places like Africa whenever necessary, thus avoiding another Iraq. He was raised in Indonesia, meaning that his childhood friends were mostly Muslim, and he respects Islamic beliefs and culture at a time when most Americans don't.
And finally, although it is highly controversial, Obamacare (or at least some aspects of it) seems to be working now, though it has left many Americans still on food stamps and is undoubtedly flawed.
Is he the best president? No. Does he deserve to be in the top 5? No. But he is one of the great ones and probably one of the best that this country will see in a while.
James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. He previously was Speaker of the House of Representatives and governor of Tennessee. James Knox Polk was the best example of a leader with efficiency, promise, and consistency. He was really a major unsung hero.
Polk entered the presidency with clearly laid-out goals, promised to accomplish them, and ended up completing everything he wanted to do, which was incredibly significant and crucial. He then left and never returned. What a badass.
This guy never receives enough credit and is a true success among US presidents. Polk is my favorite of all time, and he should definitely be a Top 10 staple. He should never be overlooked.
James Monroe was an American statesman and Founding Father who served as the fifth President of the United States from 1817 to 1825. He was one of the great Presidents. What made him more special than all others was that he was a leader as well as a great President. Washington was a leader but a poor President, as were Jefferson and Madison.
He held two cabinet posts at one time under Madison: Secretary of State and Secretary of War (Defense) during the War of 1812. He was one of the most well-loved and admired Presidents in history. He admitted five states to the Union, purchased the Florida Territory, which included land ceded by Spain in Texas and the Southwest US, and claimed part of the Oregon Territory.
He stabilized the Panic of 1819, which lasted two years. He was the last of the Founding Fathers. His accomplishments included the Monroe Doctrine, the Rush-Bagot Treaty with England, the Treaty of 1818 with Britain, and the Russo-American Treaty of 1824. He was the last president not photographed, died poor, and was the Governor of Virginia. His accomplishments go on and on.
Stephen Grover Cleveland was an American politician and lawyer who was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office. Only president to have served two non-consecutive terms. He was the 24th president from 1893 to 1897 and also the 22nd from 1885 to 1889.
The only truly fiscally conservative president since Jefferson.
His name was Grover, and he served two separate terms, the only one to do it. Pretty epic if you ask me.
Ulysses S. Grant was an American soldier and statesman who served as Commanding General of the Army and the 18th President of the United States, the highest positions in the military and the government of the United States. I love this guy. He is probably the best president. I mean, he led the Civil War and is the most underrated U.S. president. He was also a great advocate for civil rights.
Similar to Eisenhower, Grant quelled hatred in the South during Reconstruction and secured the lives of many Black Americans. He was probably the finest American general, and without him, the war might have been very different. Although he was president during corrupt times, the entire late 19th century was corrupt, so don't let that overshadow his presidency.
George Herbert Walker Bush (June 12, 1924 - November 30, 2018) was an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Prior to assuming the presidency, Bush served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States under Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989. #41. (Republican) A great leader economically, he improved the quality of the economy after taking over from Reagan. The fiscal success from the '80s continued strongly into his presidency, and his foreign policy skills were also very sharp and effective. He succeeded in driving Iraq out of Kuwait and resolving conflicts in the Middle East with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The stock market did great under him. We also had economic recessions during Vietnam and World War I. He secured Middle Eastern oil. Recessions are beyond a president's control, so Clinton was lucky. Yes, unemployment occurred under him, and he added new taxes. For some of you, though, he was not president when 9/11 happened. His son was.
James Abram Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881, until his assassination later that year. Garfield didn't have a chance to accomplish much because he was shot. Why was he shot? Because someone wanted a job in the government but didn't get one, even though he was a big Garfield supporter. This happened because Garfield didn't just give jobs to his biggest fans.
Garfield was a supporter of Black rights. If he hadn't been murdered in 199 days, he would have been pretty good. Garfield was unlucky because he was elected in 1880, the third year of Tecumseh's curse.
Had he not died in his first year, he could have been among the greatest presidents.
John Quincy Adams was an American statesman who served as the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829 at the peak of a political career during which he served in various capacities. John Q. Adams was hampered by Jackson after a deal with another foe for the presidency gave Adams the votes he needed to win. Jackson formed an alliance with others to keep Adams from doing anything of substance. John Quincy was the brains behind the Constitution and worked tirelessly for the success of the Madison presidency.
He was constantly prevented from governing during his administration, but his platform would have been good for America. This includes strong economic policies and rights for Native Americans, among other things. Also, after his presidency, he continued fighting for America in the House of Representatives.
William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1897 until his assassination in September 1901, six months into his second term. Most underrated president of all time. Annexed Hawaii, won the Spanish-American War, and paved the way for Teddy Roosevelt and the American empire as it is today. Finally taken by an assassin's bullet.
He is usually ranked in the 20s but deserves much more credit.
America would never have become a superpower if he didn't exist.
He is definitely an underrated president.
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician and author who served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the Carter Center. One of the most underrated presidents of all time. People call him a coward without knowing the valor he displayed in the military or how he went on a solo mission into a nuclear reactor meltdown to mitigate the damage. He is still suffering the consequences of radiation exposure to this day.
While Carter took the moral approach in the campaign against Reagan, Reagan used misleading talking points to blame America's economic and other problems on Carter, instead of acknowledging that a lack of congressional cohesiveness and the influence of corporate America deserved most of the blame.