Doc's subjective presidential ranking and very brief explanation (Using C-Span's method)

1. Washington – no surprises here, the virtuous standard is set
2. Reagan – morning in American again, end of Cold War, economic boom
3. McKinley – hugely popular, war president, economic boom, clear agenda
4. Eisenhower – economic recovery, steady hand in early Cold War
5. Lincoln – remember how many people voted against him in ’60 & ’64? – should it matter?

6. Jackson – his name fits an entire era – every Democrat follows his lead until 20th century
7. TR – like him or not (not), he did what he set out to do – and they loved him for it
8. Monroe – steady hand in postwar America – success at home and abroad – unheralded
9. Coolidge – weathered Harding’s death, massively popular, boom times on his watch
10. Polk – has a one-termer ever had this much success? – but for his illness…

11. Harding – real accomplishments at home and abroad – worked himself to death
12. Jefferson – but for that embargo, and the depression, he’d be higher
13. Arthur – stunningly honest, rebuilt the navy, economic success, respected man
14. Fillmore – no respect but success – only Ike did more for American transportation network
15. John Adams – held firm against war hawks who wanted war with France

16. FDR – New Deal flop, real leadership in WW2 – pre-'41 mediocrity, but good war president
17. Cleveland (2) – honest man in a dishonest time – hard worker with principles
18. Pierce – one of the most honest presidents and most honest administration
19. Truman – courageous in Cold War, disaster with economy – what about those scandals?
20. LBJ – clear, aggressive agenda, but the country revolted against him by '68

21. Hayes – another honest man who carried himself well – country emerges from depression
22. Tyler – clear, aggressive agenda – Texas – but Congress hates him, as do Whigs
23. Van Buren – depression president, but courage to hold fast against war with Britain
24. B. Harrison – cold fish, but booming economy, and steady hand in White House
25. Nixon – ok, sure, Watergate – but brilliant if controversial foreign policy

26. GHW Bush – looks better by the year – clear agenda abroad, none at home
27. GW Bush – really too soon – methinks history will think him better, not great, but better
28. JFK – little record here, mixed bag on foreign affairs – Congress didn’t listen to him
29. Buchanan – peacemaking instincts in war-like time, swept aside by events – deserves better
30. Wilson – disastrous foreign policy, few successes at home – rejected by Congress, country

31. Ford – steady hand after Watergate, but nightmarish economy, yet more détente
32. Clinton – can’t recall much success – was the economy his claim to fame? What else?
33. Grant – little leadership from the top – economic collapse – “Grantism” byword for scandal
34. Taft – didn’t even want to be president – did his best, but not good enough – rising methinks
35. Andrew Johnson – but for Congress hating him and, well, the public too … he’d be higher

36. John Quincy Adams – totally unsuited for president – fuel for the fire of Jacksonian Democrats
37. Zachary Taylor – nearly a civil war on this watch – uncompromising – scandal in Cabinet
38. Hoover – smart guy, but economic policies made the depression worse
39. Madison – stalemate war, DC invaded and burned on his watch – need I say more?
40. Carter – economic collapse, Soviets on the march, the years of malaise – ugh

41. Garfield – 6 months is not enough -- probably deserves better – would have been a reformer
42. Harrison – one month and already Whigs in Congress were getting mad at him