Countdown:
32-22:
the also-rans
21-11:
the nearly-greats
10-1:
the greatest presidents
Who
is on the panel?
42. James Buchanan
1857-61 (Democratic)
A poll of American historians recently selected Buchanan’s failure to prevent
the American Civil War as the greatest single mistake made by any president
and our panel agree that he was the worst ever President.
Despite being a northern man, Buchanan had strongly southern principles and he
struggled to maintain the fragile peace as the southern states agitated for
more freedom. He denied the
legal right of states to secede from the Union but at the same time he
insisted that the federal government was not legally able to prevent them.
By the time he left the White House his Democratic Party had split in two,
seven slave states had rebelled and formed the Confederacy and the country
was embroiled in the American Civil War.
“Failed to prevent the near disintegration of the nation.” Gerard
Baker, US editor.
41. Franklin Pierce
1853-57 (Democratic)
Pierce was one of the few presidents to be abandoned by his own party after a
single term. Pierce became hated for signing the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which
was designed as a compromise between northern and southern states but was
seen as kowtowing to slave power. Furious opposition to the act spawned the
Republican Party.
His credibility
was further diminished by the Ostend Manifesto, which advocated the
annexation of Cuba, prompting domestic and international scorn when it was
leaked.
40. Martin Van Buren
1837-41 (Democratic)
Served as Andrew Jackson’s Vice President and made it clear he wanted a
continuation of many of his predecessor’s policies, including the expulsion
of Native Americans from their homelands. The draconian Indian Removal Act
was passed by Jackson but brutally
enforced under Van Buren.
"I found it hard to place high up on the list those who sanctioned the
slaughter of Native Americans." Tom Baldwin, Washington bureau
chief.
39. William Harrison
1841 (Whig)
Harrison only
lasted 32 days as President so our panel struggled to push him very far
up the table. He had unsuccessfully stood as the Whig candidate for the
White House in both of the previous elections and was eventually sworn in,
aged 68, as the oldest President until Ronald Reagan.
37= Richard Nixon
1969-74 (Republican)
Nixon’s dramatic, if controversial, escalation and conclusion of the Vietnam
War and successful diplomatic missions to China and the Soviet Union ensured
that he won a landslide re-election after his first term - carrying 49 of
the 50 states.
Just two years later, he
was forced to resign in disgrace after White House tapes suggested he
had covered up a break-in at the Democratic headquarters in the Watergate
Hotel.
"Cynical manipulation, bringinging the presidency into disrepute and
changing the language to the extent that even a whiff of scandal merits the
suffix '-gate'." Ben Macintyre, writer-at-large.
37= George W. Bush
2001-2009 (Republican)
A dead heat between the unpopular Bush and the dastardly Richard Nixon.
The September 11 attacks, eight months into his presidency, created a central
focus for the Bush administration that lasted into his second term. Bush
responded by declaring a “war on terror” and leading military invasions of
Iraq and Afghanistan as part of his doctrine of pre-emptive military action.
The lengthy operations have plummeted in popularity throughout his time in
office.
Domestically, he implemented tax cuts and the “no child left behind” education
programme but has been criticised for his failure to deal with the impact of
Hurricane Katrina and the collapse of the US financial market.
"Bush Jr. invaded Iraq based on faulty intelligence and then
catastrophically mismanaged the war, dragging America's name through the mud."
Chris Ayres, Los Angeles correspondent.
36 Herbert Hoover
1929-33 (Republican)
Terrible timing or massive mismanagement? Our panel goes for the later. Hoover
came into office at the start of 1929 when the economy was apparently
booming. Within months the Wall Street Crash meant he was doomed to years of
struggling through the Great Depression.
Hoover’s policy proposals included slum clearance, prison reform, pension
increases and tax cuts for low-income families but he failed to enact any of
them and was routed at the next election.
"Unwittingly turned the 1929 crash into a global depression which
weakened democracies and prepared the ground for the Second World War." Camilla
Cavendish, columnist.
34= Warren Harding
1921-23 (Republican)
When Harding died suddenly after two years in office, he was a popular
President. The economy had rebounded after the post-war lull and his low
tax, small government attitude had many admirers as the US roared into the
twenties.
After his death, however, the
scandals emerged. Harding may not have profited directly but he seemed
to have known that many of the friends he had appointed to the
administration were up to no good. Court cases, suicide, bribes, fraud and
lengthy jail sentences clouded his reputation in the years after his death.
"Headed one of the most corrupt administrations." Gerard
Baker, US editor.
34= James Garfield
1881 (Republican)
The second shortest Presidency after William Harrison’s 32 days but the panel
still prefers him to Nixon. Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a
disgruntled office-seeker who had been overlooked by the President just four
months after his inauguration. He died two months after the shooting.
33. Millard Fillmore
1850-53 (Whig)
Fillmore crept into the bottom ten because of his abject failure in solving
the slavery crisis.
His short Presidency began after the death of Zachary Taylor during intense
negotiations over the future of the slave trade. The Compromise of 1850
eventually resulted in a complicated
and contradictory approach to slavery. The trade was abolished in the
District of Columbia and in California while, at the same time, the
remaining slave holders’ powers were strengthened. Both sides of the
debate were left frustrated.
"Created a compromise on extending slavery that laid the ground for
the US Civil War." Camilla Cavendish, columnist.
Today at 1pm: numbers 32-22
Certainly Buchanan, Hoover, and George W Bush belong at the top of the Worst Listings - I suspect George W may endup leading it in the long term. But, I don't understand why William Harrison is here - he didn't live long enough to do anything good or bad, maybe he should be the Most inconsequential.
PaulCA, Central Valley, Ca, US
You seriously need to read something other than Yankee History if you think Lincoln was the best president.
Ik, Death Valley, USA
While I agree with Lincoln being the best, he was followed by two of the worst, and yet neither appear on this list. Andrew Johnson derailed Lincoln's post-war reunification plans, and U.S. Grant's presidency was almost certainly the most corrupt in history.
Brian, San Angelo, US
Buchy was the best. Stop hatin', y'all
gary busey, clio, usa
To say Bush is one of the worst President is a bit unfair. He was handed a mess when taking the office. 8 months into his first term 9/11 happened. An act the could have been prevented during the Clinton years (proven fact). I'm not a Bush fan either, but I believe in honesty and being fair.
Veronica , Jefferson City, United States
my one comment is this. Should not among the worst presidents be those who were impeached? Also, shouldn't President Clinton and President Carter be on this list, as they are to blame for the housing and economic distress on wall street?
Tim, Coventry,
Woodrow Wilson should rank towards the bottom. Had he kept the US out of the Great War, it would have ended sooner as a stalemate. Perhaps no breakup of Austria-Hungary with resulting problems evident to this day in the Balkans, and no one-sided Versailles Treaty with disastrous consequences.
Kenneth Kleefeld, Montclair, USA
How could you put any president ahead of GW Bush for the worst president ever?
I don't know how you figured this out, but I (and I'm sure plenty of others) would agree that GW Bush was the worst of all time. Many even of dictators.
tom jones, US, USA
Camellia Cavendish, I disagree with most of your remarks at Herbert Hoover.
Germany's economy had been in the toilet since the end of WW1 in 1918 which gave rise to Hitler and ultimatly WW2 and
Dec. 7, 1941 is what got us out of the depression and certainly NOT FDR like some people claim!
G. Rider, LA, USA
Reagan & Bush Snr massively increased national debt but Bush Jnr has doubled ($5.6 to $10.5T & perhaps tripled it (Wall St bailout $3.4T). As recession hits debt levels are at post WW II levels. Include the raided social security fund and Dubya may well be for posterity the Pres that broke the dollar.
Sebastian, Nebraska,
FDR is president for 9 years when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor; 4 days later the US is in another European war-- 400,000 US dead, Europe and Japan in ruins, 100,000 Japanese Americans in camps. Bush sends a couple hundred enemy combatants to Guantanamo Bay, and he's the "worst president ever".
BillyBob, Ohio, USA
Abe Lincoln as #1?! Don't make the common mistake of confusing leadership ability and the presidency. The US president is sworn to "protect and defend the Constitution" which ole "honest Abe" trashed with vigor. He was our WORST president. Yes, even worse that Nixon or Bush!
Scott, Warner Robins, USA
Nah-- People tend to overlook Millard Fillmore sent the Perry expedition that opened up Japan (it took so long for them to get to the other side of the world, the next President got the credit). And the President who started an unnecessary war that could have destroyed the US was--James Madison.
Jock Yellott, Charlottesville, VA
Carter wrecked the economy??? I think it was done before he came into office. Remember the Ford's Win(whip inflation now) buttons, remember the Nixonian price freeze(egad!).
kate545, auckland, new zealand
It's hard to compare GWB with James Buchanan. They are such different times. But Bush is the worst modern President by a country mile. Nixon, for all his many faults, had vision and real achievements, including the opening to China and sending George H. W. Bush there as the first head of Delegation.
William, Guildford, UK
Carter was in my opinion equal with Nixon as the WORST President. I lived through both of them. God I hope I don't have to endure Obama too..., if so, we might as well turn the electric lights off now and get used to candle light while we eat our tuna and peanut butter. Brother can you spare a dime?
Roger Feldman, Los Angeles, USA
At least Nixon could point to one or two foreign policy successes (e.g. the opening to China). I think he rates better than W.
Mark Crawford, Edmonton , Canada
The best presidents were great communicators. Lincoln's speeches and FDR's radio fireside chats prove this. Bush's failure in this area is prime cause for his low approval. Based on campaign performance, Obama shold be great!
Elliot Fein, Trabuco Canyon, CA , YSA
Utterly incredible that Nixon and G.W. Bush did not wind up in the bottom three for having done the most to undermine the country. One did resign and the other should have having presided over the erosion of the integrity of the constitution,
the country. Where was that independent counsel?
ted, Plano,TX, USA
these so called experts are full of garbage. As a black american, I agree with lincoln being mumber one. but from there, these so called experts are wrong. fdr should be number 2 , truman 3,and clinton 4. didn't regean allow crack cocaine in the inner cities? didn't 300 marines die in lebandon .
clifford bowen, los angeles, america
So you say Lincoln was the best but how many generals did he go through before he found Grant? Bush found Petraeus and the job will be done in Iraq. Sucks that we went to war for faulty intelligence but the buck stops with Bush; fairly or unfairly: we put him in charge.
Robert Bradley, Houston, United States
there is just something wrong about a British panel listing the best and worst American presidents. Then again, the whole list is itself a futile exercise. Few would say Washington was the worst and few would say Nixon was the best. But each president had there strenghts and weaknesses,
Bob, Louisville, USA
Ranking presidents is such a simplistic and false picture of history. Presidents' actions are functions of their philosophies and the historical problems to which they are applied. Bush's reaction was to fight the interlinked hate organizations that sent suicide bombers. A very difficult project.
Bill, Tacoma, USA
Comparing presidents is a disingenuous exercise, since times and problems are different, and so are men. Lincoln led the nation into America's most horrific and mortal war to this date, whereas Buchanan and Pierce (his predecessor, both Democrats), held off that war to the best of their ability.
Bill, Tacoma, USA
Buchanan insisted that the "federal government was not legally able to prevent" the states from seceding. He was right. And Lincoln couldn't prevent them legally either. He was forced to resort to war. That war made it inadvisable to this day, although, perhaps still not illegal.
Bill, Tacoma, USA
Carter inherited the legacy of Milhous which was systemic inflation and gas lines [first ones were in 1973] and wage/price controls. Carter gave us the solution to all of those.
Danglen Chad, NY, USA
Carter, Carter, Carter. Doesn't anyone remember gas lines, 18% (I think) home mortgage rates, double digit inflation leading to stagflation, GAVE AWAY THE PANAMA CANAL, The Misery Index, ... What a joke. He should be number one and two on the worst presidents ever list.
Alan Fraser, Jacksonville, USA
Couldn't agree more about Carter. He also pulled the rug out from under the Shah of Iran, leaving us with the current mess, as well as having instituted the Community Reinvestment Act, which sowed the seeds for the current financial meltdown by requiring mortgages to be given to the unqualified.
Joseph Meyer, Denver, USA
I didn't Mr. Jimmy Carter on the list. He was the worst!! Too early to judge Bush.
karen watson, bluffton,
Steve in Oregon, Only 42 individuals have been president of your country but one, Grover Cleveland, counts twice because he uniquely served non-consecutive terms.........so there have 43 presidencies but only 42 presidents. Hope you don't mind taking a history lesson from an Englishman abroad :-).
Chris Russon, Davao, Philippines
So, according to these august judges, the more liberal a president the better, the more conservative, the worse. Why pretend it's a ranking of best and worst when there is such an obvious ideological sorting? It's almost incredible that even a liberal would leave Jimmy Carter out of the ten worst.
Shrewsbury, New York, New York,
I don' t think that "we may not survive bush" is a valid argument. It's not like Bush is mass murdering millions of Americans. Yes, the economy is falling through the floor, yes there is a quagmire in Iraq, and yes the world looks down upon the US, but he isn't directly killing Americans.
Jon Chen, Windsor, US
Whoever that compiled this list hate President G.w Bush. Right now if Bush should run for re election( not possible) he will win. He is one of the greatest presidents America has ever prduced - mark my words. History will vindicate him from the the "angry left". I am so proud of him
Okeke, League City TX, USA
Why rampant corruption in office doesn't place Grant, Harding, and Nixon at the bottom of the list of shame is beyond me! Jackson deserves to be on the bottom with Van Buren for his brutal anti-native American policies. And Polk, who presided over the cynical Mexican-American war, should be here.
Bob, San Francisco, USA
Abe had a 25% "popularity" during the Civil War. So what?! "W" has persevered through a complex war. If Iraq/Afghanistan are free and democratic 20 years from now, "W" look like a genius. 6 year's of low inflation/unemployment, steady growth, high employment/home ownership count for nothing today.
edward waibel, Potomac, MD, USA
Those persons that are voting for Senator Obama based solely on his race completely fits the definition of the word racist.
walter , Severna Park, USA
Why would anyone rank William Henry Harrison lower than Bush. Harrison had 32 days in office and did not screw up or acieve anything so he has to be judged neutral as it was not his choice to die.
ray, Ridgefield, USA
You are completely unjustified to call President Bush one of the worst. If such experts ranked the presidents, where is Jimmy Carter in this list .In my opinion Jimmy Carter will go down in history as the worst president, unless of course Obama is elected.
GERALD GENTRY, VAN BUREN, usa
Ten years from now, be ready to revise that list, and put George W. in the top 10. It took 20 years to rehabilitate Truman, 10 for Carter. By that standard, and in the face of Obama, Bush, who, at one point, had the all-time high approval rating (88%), ought to be "back" in 3 months.
David Fuith, St. Paul, Minnesota,
George W. Bush is the worst - by a country mile. Can America, as we know it, survive George W. Bush? 2 wars for the next president. Unprecidented global economic problems - undermining Capitalism. American Intl. Goodwill down the drain. Global Climate crisis. American Optimism down the drain. Etc.
Jerry Wilson, Copenhagen, Denmark
Does the name Jimmy Carter ring a bell ?
john Gillon, Springfield, pa, USA
They wanted to bash W, but wanted it to look legit. Most of W's policies made it through the House and Senate, including the war. He has the least amount of vetoes than any other president because he stated that if Congress passes it, he would sign it. No more 9/11s does not = worst president.
Patrick, Killinghall, UK
Ummmm...the current Bush is the worst...the rest doesn't matter, we were able to survive them, but we may not survive Bush...
Joe Corrao, Brooklyn, USA
Do not worry, the world will be in better hands with Obama as our President. Those who oppose him are just racists and religious chauvinists.
Ahmed, Ipoh, Malaysia
I think it is a little early to judge Bush. In reality we won the War, he had to do it as Saddam was a nutjob. The economy was great till the end. Bush will rank in the 2nd tier in the future. Carter-- special catagory for him he was so bad. Well him and Bucannan tie
Bri, Los Angeles, USA
Carter's deliberate dismantling of the CIA's ability to maintain effective spies in foreign countries is probably responsible for the Iraq war. It caused the US to rely on other intelligence services, all of whom (including England's) declared Hussein's WMD program to be viable.
alex, ny,
Carter raised taxes in a recession for programs similar to Obama's. The result was the worse recession since the great depression with home loans at 13%, gas lines, double digit unemployment. Many praise JFK, but , he took us into Vietnam with 59,000+ US killed in action.
Renee, Winton Salem, USA
What about Jimmy Carter?No awards will change the facts.
Milvan, Toronto,On, Canada
What about Andrew Jackson? Forced movement of Native Americans. Why isn't he on the list!
Lane Kiefling, Nashville, America
Jimmy Carter, in spite of having a democratic senate and democratic house was the absolute worst president ever! "The left despises Bush and will do anything they can to dillute his presidency." Has Bush made mistakes? Yes. Am I thankful we have not been attacked on American soil since 9/11.
rich, Bellemont, USA
Absurd to say that JFK wasn't one of the greats and was merely glamorous.Notable accomplishments:
* formed the Peace Corp
* funded the Space program
* Stopped a nuclear war
* won the Pulitzer Prize
..in 3 years
and, while not in office, received a Purple Heart for his leadership and valor.
Patrick, Denver,
JFK-is a good for nothing president. who nearly started the WW3 during Cuban crisis.
Theodore, NY,
A sitting president cannot be judged until time has passed; therefore, this is biased.
DJ, Birmingham,
The fact that Bush is even on this list is a joke. The mark of a president is the mark he leaves on history, not his popularity while currently in office. Other than the war on terror, Bush will likely get little mention in the history books. Pop culture informing "history" is bad science.
Brad, Chicago,
Of course, the left leaning survey will put George Bush. Why do we get surprised? Whatever Bush would have accomplished, the leftist liberals would have hated him from day one. Bush is anti-abortionist.
John, anchorage, usa
Carter was by far the worst... and Obama will be following in his footsteps if he gets in. GOD help America if Obama is elected!!!!! Our constitution is at stake!!!
Martha , Woburn, USA
The unquestioned best President among U.S. historians--and as a lay person so far as history is concerned, I share that view--was Abraham Lincoln.
FDR was not among the best. He had nothing to do with getting us out of the Great Depression.
one of worst: Jimmy Carter--self-righteous egotist
Tom Derby, Newtown Square, PA , USA
42. Hoover
41. Buchanan
40. Carter
39. Harding
10. Nixon
9. Monroe
8. Truman
7. FDR
6. Jefferson
5. Jackson
4. Teddy Roosevelt
3. Reagan
2. Lincoln
1. Washington
James Savage, Germantown, MD, USA
How can you possibly place James Garfield on this list? It's hardly his fault he was assassinated. For those that don't know James A. Garfield was a Union officer of some note in the Civil War and a very intelligent created one of the most clever and novel proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem.
james lee, carlsbad CA, USA
W is the only president in the bottom ten who will have served a full 2 terms. He was not impeached, not forced to resign, and did not commit perjury and obstruction of justice. He has given more aid to foreign countries than any other president and was able to remove a murderous dictator in Saddam.
Adam, Ypsilanti, USA
Nixon >> George Bush. Ending Vietnam and opening China are the two greatest of other personal accomplishments, such as floating the currency and bombing Cambodia without any political fallout. Bush only has Iraq and a 1in100 year catastrophe as his legacy. Personal Failure >> World policy failure
Zach, NYC, USA
Jimy Carter advocated tolerance & peace, so should be ranked in the best top ten.
malarky, ledbury, england
Jimmy Carter was the worst President, and still today, remains the worst President!!
wj glueck, san jose, america
How funny you don't have Jimmy Carter in the top 10 worst Presidents. 9 out of 10 Americans would list him as the worst even some Democrats will admit as much! George W Bush can not be included in this as his history as not been written yet!
Lisa, Virginia, USA
Jimmy Carter is by far the worst president ever. We are still trying to clean up the mess he made in the Mideast. & to this day he still meddles in affairs of state while bad mouthing his own country.
Steven Ball, Culver City, California, USA
J. Carter and B. Clinton belong in the 5 worst Presidents. History will show George Bush an excellent President especially after 4 disastrous years od Obama.
Dick Woolley, Durham, USA
First of all in response to the comment below, Reagan is one of our best Presidents. He won the Cold War without firing a shot and created the prosperity we enjoyed in the 90's with a cut in the capital gains tax. Carter is the worst President ever and he continues to embarass America.
Phil Bartholin, Arligton, VA, USA
Jimmy Carter is the WORST President ever. He mismanaged the economy in a horrible way. His weakness encouraged Iran to take our embassy hostage. His lack of intellect, candor and honesty embarrased our nation.
Edwin D Gill, Fort Worth, USA
I can't believe Reagan isn't among the 10 worst. He started us down the ugly path of militarism and rampant deregulation that have wrecked our nation. He accomplished little while in office and was practically a vegetable during his second term. Please spare me the "he won the Cold War nonsense"
Joe MIlner, Minneapolis, USA
Carter should be on this list.
Mary, Oklahoma, USA
Nobel peace prize winner Jimmy Carter brokered the camp David accord which led to a long-term albeit tenuous peace in the Mid-East. Sure, the economy was in the tank and we had the Iran hostage crisis, but he did not start any wars. The deficit was under control. Worst president? Surely you jest
Will Tong, San Francisco, USA
Jimmy Carter deserves his place among 5 the worst US Presidents
Arik Shmukler, Frisco, USA
Everyone knows Jimmy Carter was the worst President we've had in a hundred years or more.
Mike, NY, US
The 1850s really weren't a good decade for American politics...
Andrew Gallagher, Galway,
Suggestion: Read the US Constitution, the Oath of Office part. Nixon and G.W. Bush both modern history's supreme violators of the Oath, and the supreme law of the USA, the Constitution. Frankly, I'd rank Wilson rather low using that criteria, too; I'll be curious to see where he ends up.
Jane, Portales,
JFK, as JK Galbraith noted, wanted out of Vietnam and was planning withdrawal after his reelection. JFK, if anything, is underrated. Across the planet people believed he symbolized hopeThat cannot be said of any president since.
Johnny Kehoe, Vancouver, BC, Canada
How can Nixon be so low on the list?
He engineered the end of the Vietnam War, broke the diplomatic ice with China and introduced green policies decades before climate change became a popular cause.
He made a mistake in trying to cover up Watergate, but his policies were substantial and effective.
G Butler, Bath, UK
All these assessments have fallen into the trap of judging historical figures by today's standards and not by the standards of their own time .
I don't recall any of the historical figures actually being impeached by the House of Representatives for lying to a Congessional Inquiry as Clinton was.
Marcus J. Tyson , London , United Kingdom
As usual we have the usual rant against GW Bush. Just stop and reflect - Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, Kennedy initiated and Johnson expanded a war that killed many more than Iraq. Nixon subverted the constitution. Truman was deeply unpopular.But you still choose Bush - its almost pathological.
Mark, Berkhamsted,
Where is Jimmy Carter on your list?? Are you kidding me?? The sub-prime mess started under him. The failure to deal with Iran. The giving away of American interests. 21% interest rates and 14% unemployment. You put Nixon and GWB before him?? Why? We are still dealing with his imcompetence.
Claude, Richmond, VA, USA
Bush43 is by far the worst President ever. He has absolutely no pluses, whereas most of the other 'nine worst' had some redeeming quality.
The faux redneck gunslinger needs to emigrate after he leaves office. But who would have him? Maybe Israel?
B Hucks, Columbia SC, USA
History will say that more than anyone G W Bush renewed democracy in the US, renewed the Republican Party, focused Americans on the value of taking care of their own society, began the reform of capitalism and re-engagement with the world with minimal intelligence, lots of arrogance. Brilliant!
David Hall, Bangkok, Thailand
The children will choose George W Bush, the adults with a grasp of history might consider Woodrow Wilson or Warren Harding. The war saved FDR while the New Deal prolonged the misery.
r. burns, St Pete, USA
I think you are being particularly harsh on the pre-Civil War presidents, and not looking at their time in office through the correct historical perspective. Presidents in the 19th century weren't expected to solve every problem and were considered head of the executive branch, equal to the others.
Joseph Rohrer, Fort Myers, United States
G. W. Bush has sent more money to fight extreme poverty in Africa then anyone in the history of the world!
The United States has not been attacked again since 9-11
The Bush tax cuts were great for the economy, he DID fail to try hard enough to reign in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Marainne , Cincinnati, OH, USA
This list is very short sighted. I bet that you have Mr. Truman down as one of the best presidents and yet he was so unpopular in his own time that he wasn't allowed to run for a second term by his own party. It's too early to tell how the actions of today will reflect on tomorrow.
John Corkery, Calgary, Canada
G W Bush is the 43rd POTUS. Where did you come up with a count of 42?
Steve, Oregon, US
Nixon isn't in the bottom ten, even by the rankings of the most liberal Americna histroians - the openings to China, Russia were brilliant. Jimmy Carter was not only in the bottom ten, he was certainly in the wrost five: hyperinflation, high unemployment, interminable gas lines, loony interest rates
Robin Grover, Alexandria, USA
In regards to entry to Vietnam lets not forget the amount of bad information that men like Kennedy and McNamara had to work through in order to decide whether or not to assist S. Vietnam, in particular the Gulf of Tonkin incident. Kennedy could be described as naive for listening to these men.
Andrew, Fort Collins, Colorado/Ipswich, USA/UK
I think you are far too harsh on "Tricky Dicky". He didn't commission the Watergate break-in - he just tried to protect his staff who did. Balance that one bad judgment against his achievements of ending the Vietnam war, opening China to the West, and defusing nuclear war with Russians.
Mat Ballard, Melbourne, Australia
Not a great fan of GW, but how many Presidents had to face a 9-11 within 8 months of taking office - let us just stop and reflect on the immensity and horror of 9-11 and how it changed EVERYTHING - and remember the seeds of 9-11 and the present financial turmoil were well and truly sown by Clinton.
GT, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Millard Fillmore was a finer president than Abraham Lincoln.
He deferred the Civil war for ten years - had others done likewise a great effusion of blood and treasure would have been spared.
Those who brought about disaster are to be denigrated - not one who temporarily saved the nation!
P.G. Alistair Cammidge, Charlotte, USA
II know that GB has reduced the quality of life for MOST Americans, and a lot more Under GB, the US, once the most admired, copied, nation on Earth, Is now THE most hated, All the while, Americans are loosing their health cover, Jobs, while the super rich, ger richer. Bush = Neo Cons = Wars. Ugh.
Once a US Fan, Perth,
nixon was a crook and tried for the same violations of civil liberties as bush--BUT he also had one of the most progressive domestic health,education and welfare policies; basically, his administration made Johnson's Great Society programs permanent legislation. See tom wicker & vinc burke's books
william copeland, tucson, United States
Not a bad list. Some of your readers may miss the cogent point though. Both Richard Nixon and W have suborned, or attempted to suborn, our Constitution. For that reason alone, I would move both of them to the top of the list.
Lyn Pearson, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA
Poor Richard of Cali. I lived the hell made by your beloved Carter. My family as many others had to fled from El Salvador to Costa Rica. After nearly 30 years you show the same ignorance of the Carter admin, their ignorance and ingenuity destroyed Honduras,El Salvador,Guatemala,Nicaragua
Jose, Valencia,
Nixon cast a shadow on the office of the US president. He was clearly guilty of crimes related to Watergate (as well as war crimes) but was pardoned. Following Watergate many in the US became disillusioned. Had it not been for Nixon's legacy, Bush would never been able to steal the 2000 election.
Megan, San Francisco, CA
As a native of Georgia and a worker in Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign, I have to say that he belongs in the bottom 10. He was not ready to be president as it turned out (on the job training doesn't work). He simply benefited from good timing - a truly honest man following the scandal of Watergate.
Mark, Millington, Tenn., USA
Andrew Johnson was horrible. He was guilty of cementing Jim Crow in the South for years to come.
David, California,
Surprised that Ulysses S. Grant did not make the list. Grant and Harding are generally considered the worst presidents, because they weakly allowed their friends to corrupt and ruin the presidency. George W. Bush is in their company, in my mind. Nixon had achievements that rank him above Bush.
Ellen Morrison, Frederick, Maryland, USA
Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are in the bottom 10. Period. I am ashamed I actually voted for the former........
Jerry, Macon, US
W is not the worst president in the world. Robert Mugabe is.
He makes W look okay, if that is possible.
Gawd, how do these ninnies ever get elected? Could it be something to do with the people who elect them???
Su, Dallas, USA
A school boys list. Be mature in your juidgment. Nixon achieved great things for the US( eg opening China). Watergate was nothing.He had an He had anawkward personality, not liked by the media as was their darling JFK.
Gene, Sydney,
Jose in Valecia knows little or no history.
Regans oil buddies ensured that the hostages would not be released, thereby putting Carter out of office and stopping Carters drive to start seeking alternatives to fossil fuels. Keeping Oil in the prominant position it has today.
Regan broke middleclass
Richard irvine, Santa Barbara, United States
I'm a Democrat who voted for Reagan because Carter was a horrible president, gave away Panama, emboldened the Soviets to go into Afghanistan. JFK was NOT most responsible for Vietnam, it was LBJ, who the used Tonkin Gulf "big lie" to escalate to a full scale war. W Bush, worst of all.
Tom James, Los Angeles, USA
Bush2 has to rate as the worst. All of the others have a least some accomplishments to offset their failures. Bush is 100% failures. Ad to that, he had years to do something right and still could not! World class failure. You'd be hard pressed to find another elected leader that was worse, anywhere.
William Bergmann, Hollywood, USA
John:
Nixon and GW share the 37'th spot.
i still think that is unfair, Nixon was very good at international politics, China, Salt 1 treaty limiting ballistic nuclear weapons etc..
GW Bush is a total disaster.
Martin, Brussels, Belgium
Nixon worse that W? How many innocent people died ar Watergate?
John, Stromeferry, UK
So you put a President on the list because he didn't stop the Civil War, yet don't add the President that was most responsible for the US getting into the Vietnam conflict. JFK, while thought of fondly because he died young was without a doubt horrible.. And dare you speak of his affairs..worst one
Yirmin Snipe, boston,
The creator of all the pro communist governments and guerrillas in Central America, failure to resolve the US hostages in Iran, the king of inflation and economical crisis (that Reagan had to overturn) is not included? How can they miss Carter... only W. Bush compares with him. I see political bias
Jose, Valencia, Spain
George W. Bush is the worst president. You are insulting anyone that you put ahead of him for that title. He belongs on a list of worst world leaders.
Jeff, Sacramento, California, USA
Kennedy not great ? One has to take into account that most of the bills passed by Johnson were actually bills created and worded by JFK who was just not able anymore to get them through. Beside that he inspired a generation to look forward rather than back. This combination makes a great leader.
NeK, London, UK
Someone is forgetting the recent past or has such strong political views that he/she cannot be objective. I am not a GW fan but President Carter's administration was the worst since Hoover and Coolidge. I do think Nixon belongs in the worst 5, l
bill, Harrisonburg, USA
Jimmy Carter did more to damage the US and the western world than the rest of the those forementioned.
Has enough time passed to recognise that?
Howard Abroms, Palm Beach Gardens, US
@ Germaine
"Let's not confuse glamour with substance"
Modern politics appears to have nothing to do with substance.
Nigel Smith, Munich, Germany
"He did very little, getting killed early as he did.
OK, the Cuban missle crisis--that's it, that's all. "
Averting a potential nuclear world war... that's all. An interesting perspective. Most people would see that as substance, not glamour.
James Donevan, Manchester,
Dying (Harrison and Garfield) doesn''t not make one a bad president! I'm sure it wasn't a conscious choice. In fact, one might say dying makes a good president. Those who died very early couldn't completely mess anything up like some who survived the full 4 years.
Julie, Woodside, USA
Bush equal to Nixon? At least Nixon had some positives - "Nixon’s dramatic, if controversial, escalation & conclusion of the Vietnam War & successful diplomatic missions to China and the Soviet Union".
What positives for Bush, who has nearly lost / will lose 1 city, 2 wars & the entire economy?
Jake, London, UK
How did you leave off Jimmy Carter???
mike , toms river, USA
Do not try to tell us that Kennedy was great.
He did very little, getting killed early as he did.
OK, the Cuban missle crisis--that's it, that's all.
He is remembered fondly for his wonderful speeches and the glamour appeal to the left.
But let's not confuse glamour with substance
Germaine Botterell, London,
I can't believe you ranked Nixon and Bush lower than Jimmy Carter. Carter wrecked the economy, lost Iran and the Panama Canal and set the foundation for the Islamic issues of today.
Jim, Memphis, US