“Presidents Day survey results.”
President Biden’s standing in a survey of historians on presidential greatness is notable, especially as he faces a close election battle with former President Donald Trump, who is currently ranked at the bottom. The latest polls indicate that President Biden is in a fierce competition to prevent former President Trump from returning to the White House. However, the perspective of 154 historians and presidential experts differs significantly. They place Biden in the upper tier of U.S. presidents, while Trump is positioned at the very bottom.
### Evaluating Presidential Greatness: A Closer Look at the Survey Results
The 2024 edition of the Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey places President Biden in the 14th spot, just ahead of Woodrow Wilson and Ronald Reagan. In contrast, Trump ranks 45th, trailing behind figures like Andrew Johnson and James Buchanan. Political scientists Brandon Rottinghaus of the University of Houston and Justin S. Vaughn of Coastal Carolina University, who initiated this greatness survey in 2015, emphasize that while partisanship and ideology do not typically sway the overall results significantly, there are some noteworthy distinctions.
Conservative experts who participated in the survey ranked Biden at No. 30, while liberals positioned him at 13th and moderates at 20th. Interestingly, all three groups placed Trump, known for disregarding historical norms during his presidency, in the bottom five.
The survey employs a 0-100 scale to gauge “overall greatness,” where a score of 50 signifies an average president, while zero indicates a failure. Only the top three presidents—Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and George Washington—achieved scores exceeding 90. The ratings sharply declined beyond this point, with no other president surpassing an 80 rating. Approximately half of the presidents received ratings below 50. Trump’s overall rating stands at 10.92, the lowest in the survey, while Biden’s 62.66 ties him with John Adams.
The survey’s findings shed light on the contrasting perceptions of Biden and Trump as they gear up for the 2024 presidential race. While historians lean towards Biden, public opinion polls reveal skepticism regarding his policy decisions and age-related concerns. On the other hand, Trump appears to be securing another Republican nomination despite facing legal challenges and lingering disapproval from his previous term.
### Partisan Perspectives on Presidential Greatness
The survey highlights a partisan divide in how different groups view past presidents. Republicans and Conservatives regard George Washington as the greatest president, whereas Democrats, moderates, and independents place him in second or third place. The authors of the survey note that partisan polarization is evident in rankings of presidents like Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Obama, and Biden, but surprisingly not for Bill Clinton.
The assessment of presidential greatness remains subjective and influenced by personal viewpoints. Historians continuously reassess leaders’ legacies, which can vary significantly based on the observer’s perspective. Defining criteria for presidential greatness beyond leading the nation during critical junctures in history can be challenging. The survey aims to provide a platform for historians and presidential experts to express their opinions on the current leaders within a broader historical context. Rottinghaus and Vaughn reached out to members of the Presidents and Executive Politics section of the American Political Science Association to gather insights for this survey.
For more information on Presidents Day survey results, please visit our site [60time.com](https://60time.com). And don’t forget to follow us on social media at [email protected] for the latest updates.
