In addition to honoring the institution, Presidents’ Day is an annual test of historical memory: which presidents are considered “great,” which are mediocre, and which are failures? The so-called historical rankings — the systematic rankings drawn up by historians and political scientists — capture the very evolution of the values of American democracy.
The most recent surveys show that the traditional “pantheon” remains stable, while modern presidencies are evaluated in a climate of intense ideological polarization.
The stable top three: Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt
In nearly every major metric — from C-SPAN’s to ratings published under the auspices of the American Political Science Association — the top of the list shows impressive stability.
Abraham Lincoln consistently takes first place. In a recent university survey with the participation of 154 historians and political scientists, he scored a score of 94/100, confirming that the management of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery constitute the ultimate measure of presidential leadership in American historiography.
They are followed by George Washington, who established the limits and unwritten traditions of executive power, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who redefined the role of the federal government with the New Deal and led the country through World War II. This triangle has remained almost undisputed for decades.
The ranking methodology and evaluation criteria
Modern rankings are not based on general impressions. Participants rate each president on a scale (0–100) based on specific criteria: leadership ability, crisis management, political vision, administrative effectiveness, relationship with Congress, moral integrity, and long-term impact.
The Siena College Research Institute’s survey is considered among the most detailed, while C-SPAN’s repeated surveys capture how the historical crisis changes by decade. Presidents who managed existential crises or left behind structural reforms tend to upgrade over time.
The rise and fall: review examples
Historical distance often favors reappraisal. Harry S. Truman has risen considerably in recent decades, as the postwar security architecture he built — from the Truman Doctrine to the creation of NATO — is now seen as defining the US’s international standing.
By contrast, Richard Nixon remains stuck in the bottom half of the rankings. Despite the opening to China and recession diplomacy, the Watergate scandal serves as a defining negative reference point.
Richard Nixon (AP Photo)
The modern presidencies: Biden in the middle, Trump at the bottom
Of particular interest is the assessment of recent presidents. In the same university survey of 154 experts, Joe Biden ranks 14th with a score of about 62.7/100. His evaluators recognize his handling of the post-pandemic period, major infrastructure investments and the repositioning of the US in multilateral structures, but do not rank him among the highest levels of historical influence.
In contrast, Donald Trump ranks last overall with an average score of about 10.9/100. This is the lowest performance ever attributed to a sitting or former president in similar surveys. Experts cite the institutional conflict, contested electoral procedures and deep political polarization that characterized his tenure.
The divergence between Biden and Trump reflects not only different political choices, but also a different relationship with institutions.
Public opinion and differences from academic judgment
The rankings of the experts do not always coincide with the popular perception. In public opinion surveys conducted by YouGov, Lincoln and John F. Kennedy appear with very high “outstanding” or “above average” ratings.
In contrast, both Trump and Biden score large “below average” or “poor” rates, with around 54% of respondents evaluating Trump’s presidency negatively and a significant portion of public opinion expressing similar reservations about Biden as well.
The difference lies in time depth: historians tend to evaluate in terms of long-term impact, while citizens judge through immediate experience.
Who stay low through time
James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson reappear time and time again in the last positions. The inability to prevent the national rupture before the Civil War and the conflicts during Reconstruction negatively determine their historical evaluation. Failure to manage critical transitions acts as a key low ranking criterion.
The political reading of the rankings
The historical rankings are a field of political debate. Modern rankings show that Democratic presidents, especially those who managed major crises, are often rated higher than recent Republican presidents, with the exception of historical figures such as Lincoln or Theodore Roosevelt.
The interpretation of this trend is linked to the increased importance given today to issues of institutional stability, justice, social rights and state intervention.
An institution under constant re-evaluation
Presidents’ Day in the United States honors the legacy of all of the country’s presidents, with a special emphasis on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Originally established as a celebration of Washington’s birthday on February 22, it eventually expanded into a national holiday honoring all presidents, reflecting recognition of their importance to US history and institutional stability.
The holiday was established at the federal level in 1971 with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the holiday to a Monday to create a long weekend for citizens. Today, Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February and is associated not only with parades and school events, but also with a reminder of the historical importance of the presidency and leadership in the American democracy.
Presidents’ Day 2026 illuminates a basic truth: the American presidency is judged not only by the present, but by the long shadow of history. Lincoln, Washington and Roosevelt constitute the stable axis of the “great leadership”. Modern presidents are evaluated in conditions of unprecedented polarization and digital transparency. And the poor performance of some presidencies serves as a reminder that institutional stability and crisis management are at the core of historical hindsight.
Indicative list of popularity and historical rating of US presidents
(based on recent expert and public opinion surveys)
Based on the most recent academic rankings (C-SPAN, Siena College, etc.) and public opinion polls (YouGov), an indicative ranking emerges that combines historical assessment and public image. The list is not an “official” ranking, but a synthesis of the dominant trends.
Highest Historical Rating (Top Tier)
- Abraham Lincoln
Consistently at the top of almost all surveys, with extremely high scores (close to 94/100 in a recent expert survey). He is recognized for saving the Union and abolishing slavery.
(AP Photo/Alexander Gardner)
- George Washington
Founding personality of the institution. High score for institutional set-up and historical impact.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Key to the New Deal and the management of World War II. Constantly in the top-3.
- Theodore Roosevelt
Upgraded in modern assessments for reforms, regulation of monopolies and international role.
(AP Photo/Robert Clover, File)
Upper-Middle Tier
- Harry S. Truman
Its notoriety has been enhanced over time by the post-war security architecture.
- Dwight Eisenhower
It is often ranked high for stability, economic management, and Cold War balance.
- John F. Kennedy
His public image remains extremely positive in popular memory, although historians usually rank him somewhat lower than his popularity.
(AP Photo/William J. Smith, File)
Modern Presidents – Conflicting Assessments
- Barack Obama
Usually in the upper middle section. Positive assessment for health reform and financial crisis management.
In the recent expert survey it ranks about 14th (about 62.7/100). Public opinion appears more divided.
- Ronald Reagan
Ideologically polarizing figure. For several historians it is higher than in the first post-Cold War surveys.
Low Historical Rating (Lower Tier)
- Richard Nixon
Important foreign policy legacy, but Watergate negatively defines his position.
- Andrew Johnson
Systematic lows due to conflicts in the Reconstruction period.
(A. Gardner/Library of Congress via AP)
- James Buchanan
Almost always in the last places due to inability to prevent the national rupture before the Civil War.
- Donald Trump
According to a recent expert survey, it ranks last with a particularly low score (around 10.9/100). Public opinion appears deeply divided, with a significant percentage of negative evaluations.
What the indicative ranking shows
Presidents who managed existential crises and expanded institutional or social rights dominate the top. Presidents associated with institutional crises or inability to manage national rifts rank consistently low.
The valuation of the backlog remains dynamic. Historical rankings evolve as the distance from the events increases and the evaluation criteria change.
