How Political Experts Rank the Best and Worst US Presidents

Over the course of American history, presidents have varied in popularity, with many falling along a spectrum from widely admired to deeply criticized. However, with the passage of time, public perception of these leaders often shifts. Historians and political scientists regularly evaluate presidents, focusing not on their popularity but on how effectively they carried out their presidential duties and the lasting impact of their legacies.

To determine the worst (and best) U.S. presidents, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the latest such assessment, a ranking called the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, conducted by Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston, and Justin S. Vaughn, an associate professor of political science at Coastal Carolina University. Respondents were asked to rate each president on a scale of 1 to 100, with the maximum score (which no one achieved) indicating true greatness.

The survey also asked respondents who the next president to join Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt on Mt. Rushmore should be. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first choice by far, winning 65.4% of the votes. But where did the other presidents land? Let's find out!

This post was updated June 13th, 2025, to reflect additional information.

• Rating (2024): 10.92

• Rating (2024): 16.71

• Rating (2024): 21.56

• Rating (2024): 24.6

• Rating (2024): 26.01

• Rating (2024): 27.76

• Rating (2024): 30.33

• Rating (2024): 32.97

• Rating (2024): 32.99

• Rating (2024): 34.08

• Rating (2024): 36.41

• Rating (2024): 39.38

• Rating (2024): 39.61

• Rating (2024): 40.43

• Rating (2024): 40.64

• Rating (2024): 40.98

• Rating (2024): 41.15

• Rating (2024): 45.46

• Rating (2024): 46.09

• Rating (2024): 48.31

• Rating (2024): 49.83

• Rating (2024): 51.23

• Rating (2024): 51.67

• Rating (2024): 54.26

• Rating (2024): 54.7

• Rating (2024): 55.41

• Rating (2024): 58.54

• Rating (2024): 60.15

• Rating (2024): 60.93

• Rating (2024): 61.62

• Rating (2024): 61.8

• Rating (2024): 62.66 (tie)

• Rating (2024): 62.66 (tie)

• Rating (2024): 66.42

• Rating (2024): 67.16

• Rating (2024): 68.37

• Rating (2024): 72.86

• Rating (2024): 73.73

• Rating (2024): 73.8

• Rating (2024): 75.34

• Rating (2024): 77.53

• Rating (2024): 78.58

• Rating (2024): 90.32

• Rating (2024): 90.32

• Rating (2024): 93.87