Countdown:
42-33:
the ten worst presidents
21-11:
the nearly-greats
10-1:
the greatest presidents
The
panel and how it works
With Nixon and Bush Jr. out of the running nice and early, we can continue our
comprehensive countdown to the greatest ever Commander-in-Chief in The
Times US presidential rankings.
Eight of our US and foreign policy experts have considered, compared, debated
and finally ranked all 42 presidents in order of greatness to give us a
complete list of the best and worst.
Yesterday we published the ten
worst and today it is time for numbers 32 to 22:
32. Jimmy Carter
1977-81 (Democratic)
Many of the comment posters on yesterday's worst
ten presidents could not believe Carter missed the roll of shame. Well
our panel only just left him out - making him their 11th worst President.
The Carter administration was dominated by a series of foreign policy
disappointments including the
surrender of the Panama Canal, the Iranian hostage crisis and the Soviet
Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.
In Washington, Carter instituted major civil service reform and restructured
the health and education departments but he failed to excite the voting
population and, with the economy struggling, he was comfortably voted out of
office after a single term.
"Carter got just about everything wrong." Chris Ayres, Los
Angeles correspondent
31. John Tyler
1841-45 (Whig)
Tyler assumed the presidency after a brief constitutional crisis following the
sudden death of William Harrison. He had been the Vice President and from
this moment, all VPs were a heartbeat away from the White House.
He struggled to assert his authority and his presidency was often referred to
as “his accidency”. He managed to survive the first
ever attempt to impeach a President after an unpopular veto and went on
to annex Texas and then bring Florida into the Union.
29= William H. Taft
1909-13 (Republican)
Taft’s Presidency was overshadowed by the imposing figure of Theodore
Roosevelt. Teddy had anointed his friend as his successor before changing
his mind after Taft’s first term and making an acrimonious but failed
challenge to his Republican nomination.
The President sits low on our list after managing
to alienate all sides of the political spectrum with unpopular
anti-trust and tariff legislation during his term in office. His bid for
re-election was the least successful ever as he secured just eight electoral
votes and finished third behind Woodrow Wilson and Roosevelt, who was
standing for the Progressive Party.
29= Benjamin Harrison
1889-93 (Republican)
Harrison implemented an
unpopular, high tariff on goods imported into the US, raising prices
while the American economy was suffering. At the same time, the President
was signing substantial appropriation bills to increase spending on the
navy, subsidised shipping and federal improvements. For the first time
outside of war, Congress was allowed to spend a billion dollars, which was
not welcomed by the impoverished electorate.
28. Zachary Taylor
1849-50 (Whig)
Taylor is another man to languish in the rankings due, at least in part, to a
brief presidency.
A military man with no prior experience in public office, Taylor died
after 16 months in the White House. Much of that short period in power
was spent debating the future of slavery in the newly expanded United
States. He was a Southern slave-owner but argued that slavery should not be
allowed to spread.
27. Rutherford B. Hayes
1877-81 (Republican)
Hayes’ election was the most controversial of all. He comfortably lost the
popular vote but after
months of bitter wrangling, he secured the electoral college by a single
vote.
Once he had been sworn in during a secret ceremony, he finally brought an end
to the period of post-civil war Reconstruction by abruptly withdrawing
federal troops from the southern states and allowing the former Confederate
states to rule themselves.
26. Calvin Coolidge
1923-29 (Republican)
Coolidge was seen as a caretaker when he stepped up from Vice President after
Warren Harding’s death, but his laissez-faire economic policies were popular
as the economy boomed.
He was re-elected with 54 per cent of the popular vote but support
faltered as he refused to intervene on behalf of struggling farmers and
was slow to react to the Great Mississippi Flood. In foreign affairs, he
passed the largely ineffectual Kellogg-Briand Pact, which called for
signatories to renounce war.
"Probably the most modest man ever to hold the office. Disliked for
his small-minded isolationist tendencies but on balance, it's a shame there
were not more like him." Camilla Cavendish, columnist.
25. Gerald Ford
1974-77 (Republican)
Ford became President after Nixon’s post-Watergate resignation and his
best-known executive act was to grant
his predecessor a full pardon.
His period in office coincided with a US recession and inflation rates of up
to seven per cent, which left him with a large budgetary deficit and little
room for manoeuvre. He vetoed 39 appropriation bills passed by Congress in
his first 14 months to try and keep the economy afloat but that was not
enough to impress our judges.
24. Andrew Johnson
1865-69 (Democratic, National Union)
In the aftermath of the American Civil War, Johnson refused to implement the
harsh recriminations against the defeated Confederate states that would have
been popular with many Unionists. As a southerner and a Democrat, standing
under the umbrella National Union ticket, he was particularly susceptible to
criticism from the victorious northern states.
His gentle approach to southern leaders and veto of civil rights legislation
lost him the support of the Republican Party in Congress and he spent much
of his presidency battling two attempts
to impeach him.
"Nearly blew Lincoln's success." Gerard Baker, US editor.
23. Bill Clinton
1993-2001 (Democratic)
Clinton was one of the most controversial figures in our list with some of the
panel rating him highly while others buried him at the foot of their
rankings.
Clinton was the first Democrat to be re-elected President since Franklin
Roosevelt. He successfully passed progressive legislation, including the
right to take unpaid leave during pregnancy or illness and an increase in
the minimum wage but he failed with other proposals such as his medical
reforms.
His second term was dominated by the Monica Lewinsky scandal and attempted
impeachment but he still left office with a 65 per cent approval rating.
"Promised so much, delivered so little and embarrassed everyone."
Ben Macintyre, writer-at-large.
22. Chester Arthur
1881-85 (Republican)
A
non-partisan President who attempted to improve the image of Washington
officials by introducing an independent civil service commission,
restricting political influence over official appointments and reducing
tariff rates.
The Republicans repaid his lack of party loyalty by refusing to nominate him
to run for a second term as President.
"His four years in office saw him turn widespread cynicism into
grudging respect - the opposite of the usual Presidential experience."
Camilla Cavendish.
Tomorrow: good ... but not good enough: the men who haven't made the top 10
Coolidge ought to be ranked much, much higher. One of the few modern Presidents who took his Constitutional role seriously.
Wes, Sarasota, Florida, USA
I'm not sure its a good idea to bash Ford, he had to take a job he didn't want and try to clean up after a corrupt president. Bill Clinton also solved the debt and gave us a surplus, the economy was great after a recession president. He also negotiated several peace treaties, more than any other.
Russ N, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Nope, sorry to you, TH from Chicago. Bill Clinton was indeed impeached by the House, the Senate just voted to acquit him of the charges. He was impeached, but not removed from office. The second president this happened to after Andrew Johnson.
Google it if you don't believe me.
TS, South Carolina, USA
Ronald Reagan is probably more at fault for our current crisis than W. He started the moral failure of corperate executives that we are seeing now with his policies. I would put him right there with Nixon and Carter.
Phil, Kannapolis, united states
Sorry Matthew from Manchester, CT, USA but Bill Clinton was NOT impeached. The House submitted articles of impeachment to the Senate but the Senate voted NOT to impeach President Clinton. Had he been impeached, he would have been removed from office.
TH Bosworth, Chicago, Illinois, USA
I just cannot believe Carter only ranked 11th worst. W, for all his faults can't be measured yet and I doubt he will be remembered in the same breath as Nixon. Carter not only botched the Iranian hostage crisis, he left office with high inflation, and outrageous interest rates...and a gas crisis!
Tom F., Philadelphia, PA, USA
In regards to Bill Clinton - you say there was an attempted impeachment - that is inaccurate - Bill Clinton WAS impeached.
Matthew, Manchester, CT, USA
I'm from Michigan. I've lived through Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, et al. Reagan began the total downward slide of this country with his idea that "deficits don't matter." He was a buffoon and should be in the bottom 10 on your list. He was simply a bad actor who was an even worse presiden
Mitch Webster, Oxford,
Clinton was hamstrung by a Republican Congress -- and the Monica Lewinsky event totally disrupted any activities of Clinton and Congress.
lefty, st louis,
Ronald Reagan should certainly be down in the 30s. His trickle-down Voodoo economics created the greatest national debt to that date, while concentrating wealth into the smallest group of the wealthy, to that date. His debt is still with us.
Bob D, Morristown, USA
Jim Wells, Gramm-Leach-Bliley passed Congress with 84% of Senate Democrats, 75% of House Democrats, and was enthusiastically signed with great fanfare by Clinton! Their only concern in this matter was The CRA be amended to forbid red-lining by banks. The result was ACORN, and FANNIE MAE.
Al Foust, Winslow, USA
Bill Clinton was a very popular President, but a very bad one. W is a very unpopular President, but a very good one and everyone should thank God that it was W in the White House on 9/11 and not Gore. It's east to criticize what he has done with little thought to the shape we'd be in if he hadn't
james lee, carlsbad CA, USA
Why doesn't Missy, Missouri Natvie (sic) USA note that the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act was promulgated by no other than Phil Gramm, the Texas Republican? And, pushed by Alan Greenspan, another Republican. Even Al admits his error re: greed. Bill signed it after a Repub. CONGRESS passed it.
Jim Wells, Seattle, USA
Learn your Constitution. Impeachment only occurs in the House. It is basically an indictment. Conviction and removal from office occurs in the Senate.
Brian Mann, Wetumpka, Alabama, USA
Wow, such ignorance on the other side of the "pond" about Clinton, He will go down as one of the worst indeed. We are paying dearly today with his push to put every everyone who could not afford it into their own home. He started this in 1998 and the time bomb just went off. Want a Cigar?
Don Dapral, Jacksonvile, USA
Bill Clinton repealled the Glass -Steagall Act --the depression era law that regulated the banking industry.
It's one of the primary reasons the world is in a global financial crisis.
He also signed away the last semblance of a social system the u.s. had. There is a 5 year lifetime cap on benefits
Missy, Missouri Natvie, USA
Anyone who endured the Carter years, knows what a terrible leader he was, and still is today. He was sent to N. Korea, came back and said they have no nuclear ambitions! Remember Operation Eagle Claw? How about the Mariel boat lift? Ugh---terrible terrible terrible man.
McCann, Hope , USA
Rudy,
Clinton did non "reign in public spending". 1990 total federal spending was 1,253 billion dollars, 2000 total federal spending was 1,788 billion dollars. I got those figures from the 2003 Statistical Abstract of the United States, which I just happen to have on my desk.
Doug, New Orleans,
How about the Reagan father of neo-cons and religious right?Without him, things might be different between the US and mid-east today.
Elaine Watts, Anchorage, USA
Clinton Positives - Nafta, Welfare Reform
Clinton Dumb Luck - Surplus, Economy due to internet & Housing Bubble
Clinton Negatives - Somalia, ignored al Queda, impeached, FNMA/ FHLMC subprime started, Health care reform failed
Jeff Miller, NYC,
Too those who wish to put Clinton higher on the list, first the great growth we had in Clintons term were from Reagan's economic plan Clinton increased taxes higher than any other in history and resulted in the reccession we had in late 90's if you remember Bill Gates lost half his fortune.
Richard, Great Falls, USA
Actually, another correction to the correction. Clinton was impeached but he was found not guilty in the Senate. The Senate does not hold impeachment votes, only the House does.
And to be fair, Clinton's economic success has to be tempered with the fact that his term had good timing.
Captain Constitution, Charlotte,
I am really surprised that US Grant was not in the top 10 worst. He ran a corrupt filled administration, and he was unable to prevent the southern extremism of Jim Crow laws. Clinton at 23 is a surprise. Love or hate him, the US and world economy had unprecedented growth during the 90.
J. Pritchard, Va Beach, Va , USA
I've read the cvomments about President Clinton being so popular, but still being so low on the list. Clinton has the ability to schmooze and run for office, but not the ability to get things done once he was elected. You've probably been kind to him.
Mike, Baltimore, MD, USA
<I can still remember the moment on national TV when Bill Clinton declared "I never had sexual intercourse with that woman.">
What he actually said was 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman'. had he said 'intercourse' instead he would not have been lying.
Deb, Manchester, UK
Brian in Mesa.....correction.....Clinton was impeached by the House. The Senate was not tasked with impeachment. They were tasked with finding guilt. The failed to convict.
Tony C, Carmel, USA
As an American I can rightly say Clinton belongs on the mediocre list. He sailed by on the economic good times of the Internet and the dot.com boom, and took credit for anything he could.
His fans remember him for his personality, but what he really stood for was political divisiveness.
Scott, Jefferson City, MO-USA
How on earth has LBJohnson not appeared yet amongst the worst or mediocre? "His " Civil Rights Bill was foistered upon him ,so he can take no credit for it. His prosecution of the war in South East Asia was costly economically , militarially and socially.
Philip Roberts, Llanrug, Wales
I can still remember the moment on national TV when Bill Clinton declared "I never had sexual intercourse with that woman." The most embarrassing and cringe-worthy moment of any presidency I have ever lived through. He degraded himself and his nation. He deserves his ranking. Thank you.
Ana A., Phoenix, Az, USA
I have to agree with a previous comment, how did Grant manage to escape this list so far? His presidency practically eliminated any progress made during Reconstruction. Also, what about Jackson? Trail of Tears, Tariff of Abominations, spoils system, Nullification Crisis, etc....
Suzanne, Anchorage, USA
"How did Ulysses S. Grant escape the bottom 20?"
I was wondering the same. Every history course I have taken from primary school through college has named him the worst president in our history (my school years having preceded the current administration), yet he somehow managed to make the top 20?
Alina, Miami, Florida, USA
Strange that the assessment of Clinton concentrates on the purile. The American people showed an adolelescent attitude to sex between consenting adults. In the great scheme of things, did it really matter? The Republicans used it to halt the countries progress. It was a calculated act.
Bob Gibson, New York, USA
Congratulations for understanding Clinton. So much promise, so little achieved. He was handed two other main gifts, the demographics of baby boomers earning peak incomes and few people entering retirement age, and the "peace dividend" with the first peaceful period in 53 years.
Eric Rathmann, Seattle, USA
Bill Klinton embarrased the nation by staining the dress of a young girl with his semen in the oval office, while his wife was mere yards away. He then lied, habitually, about this and nearly everything else. He caused the death of US servicemen in Somalia on an ill advised mission.
Edwin D Gill, Fort Worth, USA
I look forward to your Top 10 choice. Theodore Roosevelt should rank very far up - from my point of view. TR - a many sided man and a steam-engine in trousers.
Andreas Gauf, Frankfurt, Germany
How can you undertake to rank the U.S. Presidents when you get the most basic of facts wrong? Bill Clinton was impeached - it wasnot an attempt to impeach him. He was found not guilty, but still retains the disctinction of being only the second president in history to have been impeached.
Patrick, Westford, USA
Having lived through both Carter and George W. Bush's presidencies, you really should exchange their positions. With Carter inflation was high, we sat in long gas lines, and his foreign policy was a joke.
When his 4 years were up he lost in one of the worst landslides in US history for good reason
Shannon, Texas, USA
We all know Bill Clinton may have been a poor moral character but he was a good president as far as the economy and the deficit reduction.
Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter and George W Bush are tied for #1 Worst President in USA in my opinion and if Obama is elected he will follow in Jimmy Carter's
Jerry Reynolds, Santa Barbara, Cal USA
Clinton's ranking is fair. Not only was his "best economy in 50 years" a sham built upon the swamp of the tech bubble, his expansion of the community reinvestment act helped to create the housing bubble that has led to so much damage in global markets. He wasted his popularity playing small ball.
Chris, New York and Chicago, USA
Because a president is or was "popular" is NO measure of greatness. Witness Harry Truman and Richard Nixon, presidents who had abysmal popularity ratings while in office. Today, historians have been reexamining their terms without the emotionalism. Both are now receiving far higher marks!
Bob Evans, Lowestoft, Suffolk, Back home in Blighty
The Clinton Presidency's good economic numbers have to do with the tech boom that occurred in the 90s as well as a great deal of new markets opening up following the final collapse of the Soviet bloc states and their new liberal trade policies. His only contribution to that was to not get in the way
Jim R, Madison, WI, USA
During the last year of George Bush Senior the economy was already getting great --- Why ???? Prime rate set by the Federal reserve board of governors was set at its lowest point during the last year of Bush Senior and the Cinton years. During Clintons last year the economy was getting bad.
Tom Mclean, Omaha, USA
Can't believe Clinton made it so high. Every economic gain during his two terms was the result of the Internet boom, and he was a disgrace in foreign policy - responding to aggression with his tail between his legs and failing to take out Bin Laden when he had the chance. Plus Monica...nuff said.
Tim, Arlington, TX
acclaimed historians? Clinton impeached in the house, not removed from office in the senate.
re carter, no choice on the canal, nothing to do with russia invading afghanistan; decimated military
ford, right person for time; ended viet nam
zach, nyc, us
Clinton had the advantages because he followed Bush and Reagan. Reagan ended the cold war by outspending the Russians, and G.H.W. Bush ensured low oil costs by pushing Iraq out of Kuwait. Two years later the new congress fought back the tax and spend liberals to a draw. If only Bush2 was frugal ...
LarryD, Bellport, USA
I wonder how the UK comes up with their list. It's bizarre. Clinton was one of the best presidents we had in recent history. He gave us a surplus before Bush 43 went and spent it on Iraq, he balanced the budget and he enjoyed high approval ratings.
Jo, Los Angeles, USA
"His second term was dominated by the Monica Lewinsky scandal and attempted impeachment but he still left office with a 65 per cent approval rating. "
Clinton was impeached, by the House but not the Senate.
Bryan, Mesa, AZ, USA
I find this British ranking of American presidents interesting but like any project of this nature, it is subjective.
My equally subjective observation: How did Ulysses S. Grant escape the bottom 20?
D. Sean Rowley, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Grossly unfair to put Clinton 22nd - During the eight years of his presidency, the economy expanded by 50% in real terms, the unemployment rate dropped by half, to 4%, a 40-year-low, while the economy created 15 million jobs. He reigned in government spending & greatly reduced the public deficit.
Rudy Parker, Cambridge, USA
Anyone who places Bill Clinton on this list is clueless about American politics. Imagine Gordon Brown having to work with a Conservative majority in the House of Commons. Clinton got more done with less cooperation than any President. The longest prosperity in American history was his legacy.
Joseph Marshall, ColumbusOH, USA
The British love to hate America and all things American. I call that envy. As simple as that.
Fabio C, London, UK
Tell you what: if you re-do the list in four year's time you'll have the next president on it - no matter who wins.
Chris, London,
Bill Clinton was a fantastic president, look at the economy and the surplus! How many other presidents can boast such an accomplishment?
Jay, London,
Have to agree with yesterday's poster's: Carter was the worst. Terrible domestically and astonishingly bad in foreign policy, combining cowardice and incompetence. All credit to Reagan for being able to fix Carter's mess.
Ben, Phoenix, USA
Here is an idea: Why the Times doesn't list the worst kings/queens of England and the worst prime ministers? And after doing that, list possible solutions to the abysmal quality of housing in the England in general and London in particular that have been much agravated by the housing bubble?
Fabio C, London, UK
re: Clinton ... popularity is not the same as greatness. I agree with Will and David, that he ought to be ranked higher, but not because he was popular. His two greatest achievement were working with Republicans to pass welfare reform and getting NAFTA passed over union objections.
Bob, St Louis,
Just because he was populare with you, does not mean he was one of the most populare of all time.H would have faired a lot better had he not embarrased the office. He did a fair job, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw an elephant.
A. Adams, Biloxi,
Clinton in 1993 pushed the reconciliation package through Congress, with no Republican votes at all. It combined a modest tax increase for the highest incomes with budget restraint. He left office with a surplus. Since then, the debt went from 4 to 10 trillion. You did not mention this.
Vince Treacy, Washington, DC USA
just because Clinton was possible, doesn't make him a great president. I think your probably failed to realise his clear lack of incompetence is still showing in the world today?
Kati, Huntingdon, UK
Where is JFK?
Hopefully he will be in the next list published tomorrow. He definately cannot bo in the top 5. Tragic as his end was it does not mean he was a good President. Glamour does not beat the Bay of Pigs fiasco and putting the first military advisors in Vietnam.
tomatki, york, uk
Poor old Bill! He did his best to stop Americans murdering each other, but I suppose its still necessary to carry a gun in this day and age! I wonder if that has anything to do with the US's extremely high murder rate? And what about Kosovo...if I recall he and Tony did some pretty good work there.
Will Neal, Leicester, England
How ridiculous to have Bill Clinton, one of the most popular presidents of all time, so low. Makes a bit of a mockery of the whole list I'm afraid
David Robinson, London,