Did you know that the worst-ranked president according to historians wasn't actually elected to the office? Or that the top-ranked president led the country through not one, but two major crises?
▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:18 - The Art of Presidential Ranking
00:50 - Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
01:46 - Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
02:25 - George Washington (1789-1797)
03:24 - Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
04:41 - The Bottom of the Barrel: Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
05:14 - James Buchanan (1857-1861)
05:41 - Donald Trump (2017-2021)
06:47 - Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
08:04 - The Impact of Modern Media
09:04 - The Role of Crisis Management
09:56 - Outro
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In this eye-opening video, we dive deep into the fascinating world of presidential rankings. Drawing from the comprehensive surveys conducted by the Siena College Research Institute, we explore how historians, political scientists, and presidential scholars evaluate our nation's leaders across 20 different categories.
From the towering figures of American history like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington, to the presidents who faced significant challenges during their terms, we unpack what makes a great leader in the eyes of experts. We also examine some of the presidents who didn't fare so well in the rankings, discussing the reasons behind their low scores.
But these rankings aren't just about the past – we also look at how recent presidents stack up, including the controversial presidency of Donald Trump. We delve into the unique challenges in evaluating administrations whose long-term impact is still unfolding, and how factors like crisis management and media relations can shape a president's legacy.
We also explore how these rankings can shift over time, reflecting changing historical perspectives and new information. Whether you're a history buff, a political junkie, or just curious about how our leaders measure up, this video offers an intriguing look at the legacies of America's presidents. Join us for this historical journey and prepare to see the presidency in a whole new light!
Historians Ranked the Presidents from Worst to Best, the Results Are Wild
▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:18 - The Art of Presidential Ranking
00:50 - Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
01:46 - Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
02:25 - George Washington (1789-1797)
03:24 - Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
04:41 - The Bottom of the Barrel: Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
05:14 - James Buchanan (1857-1861)
05:41 - Donald Trump (2017-2021)
06:47 - Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
08:04 - The Impact of Modern Media
09:04 - The Role of Crisis Management
09:56 - Outro
Like this content? Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?sub_confirmation=1
Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSJlJnpP4FgdU0swKbnkNgJj
Become a Facts Verse member and get access to all videos that contain mature content. Use the link below to get access to even more videos, ad-free.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZpQgX1897wYDLtvzmgyIA/join\
In this eye-opening video, we dive deep into the fascinating world of presidential rankings. Drawing from the comprehensive surveys conducted by the Siena College Research Institute, we explore how historians, political scientists, and presidential scholars evaluate our nation's leaders across 20 different categories.
From the towering figures of American history like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington, to the presidents who faced significant challenges during their terms, we unpack what makes a great leader in the eyes of experts. We also examine some of the presidents who didn't fare so well in the rankings, discussing the reasons behind their low scores.
But these rankings aren't just about the past – we also look at how recent presidents stack up, including the controversial presidency of Donald Trump. We delve into the unique challenges in evaluating administrations whose long-term impact is still unfolding, and how factors like crisis management and media relations can shape a president's legacy.
We also explore how these rankings can shift over time, reflecting changing historical perspectives and new information. Whether you're a history buff, a political junkie, or just curious about how our leaders measure up, this video offers an intriguing look at the legacies of America's presidents. Join us for this historical journey and prepare to see the presidency in a whole new light!
Historians Ranked the Presidents from Worst to Best, the Results Are Wild
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NewsTranscript
00:00In the timeless words of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton,
00:03who lives, who dies, who tells your story?
00:06When it comes to US presidents,
00:08it seems historians are the ones telling their stories
00:11and ranking them from worst to best.
00:13Get ready to discover how historians ranked
00:15the presidents from worst to best.
00:18Ranking presidents is no simple task.
00:20It involves careful consideration of various factors,
00:23including leadership qualities, policy decisions,
00:26and historical context.
00:28The Siena College Research Institute
00:30has been conducting these rankings since 1982,
00:33surveying historians, political scientists,
00:36and presidential scholars across 20 different categories.
00:39They range from integrity and executive ability
00:42to economic management and relationship with Congress.
00:45When it comes to the best of the best,
00:47a few names consistently rise to the top.
00:51Franklin D. Roosevelt.
00:52I emphasize to you
00:55that the deep question in this campaign
00:59is one of confidence in leadership,
01:03confidence in leaders.
01:05Topping the list is Franklin D. Roosevelt,
01:07often simply referred to as FDR.
01:10It's not hard to see why he's held in such high regard.
01:13FDR led the country through two of its greatest crises,
01:16the Great Depression and World War II.
01:19His New Deal programs revolutionized
01:21the role of government in American society,
01:24providing relief, recovery, and reform
01:26during the depths of the Depression.
01:28Despite facing enormous challenges,
01:31FDR's unwavering optimism and strong leadership
01:34helped guide the nation through turbulent times.
01:37His famous quote,
01:38the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,
01:41encapsulates the spirit of resilience
01:43he instilled in the American people.
01:46Abraham Lincoln.
01:48Coming in at a close second is Abraham Lincoln,
01:50often considered the epitome of presidential leadership.
01:54Lincoln's presidency was defined by the Civil War
01:57during which he fought to preserve the Union
01:59and end slavery.
02:00His Emancipation Proclamation
02:02and support for the 13th Amendment,
02:05which officially abolished slavery,
02:07cemented his legacy as a champion of equal rights.
02:10Despite serving only one full term before his assassination,
02:14Lincoln's impact on American history is immeasurable.
02:18His eloquence, demonstrated in speeches
02:20like the Gettysburg Address,
02:21continues to inspire people around the world.
02:25George Washington.
02:28George Washington.
02:33And I will faithfully execute
02:36the office of President of the United States.
02:41Faithfully execute the office of the United States.
02:47The father of our nation,
02:49George Washington rounds out the top three.
02:52As the first U.S. President,
02:53Washington set numerous precedents
02:55that have shaped the office ever since.
02:58He established the cabinet system,
03:00delivered the first inaugural address,
03:02and chose to step down after two terms,
03:05setting a tradition that lasted until FDR.
03:07Washington's leadership during the Revolutionary War
03:10and his role in forming the new nation
03:13have earned him enduring respect among historians.
03:16His farewell address,
03:18warning against political parties and foreign alliances,
03:21is still studied and referenced today.
03:24Theodore Roosevelt.
03:27Political bodies exist to secure responsible government
03:31and to execute the will of the people.
03:33From these great paths,
03:35both of the old bodies have ganged aside.
03:38Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare,
03:41they have become the tools of corrupt interests
03:43which use them in partially to serve their selfish purposes.
03:47Behind the ostensible government
03:49sits enthroned an invisible government
03:51owing no allegiance
03:53and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.
03:56To destroy this invisible government,
03:58to dissolve the unholy alliance
04:00between corrupt business and corrupt politics
04:03is the first task of the statesmanship of the nation.
04:06Theodore Roosevelt,
04:07often affectionately known as Teddy,
04:09takes the fourth spot.
04:10Roosevelt brought a new energy to the White House,
04:13championing progressive reforms
04:14and a muscular foreign policy.
04:16His Square Deal domestic program
04:19focused on conservation of natural resources,
04:21control of corporations,
04:23and consumer protection.
04:25On the international stage,
04:26his speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick approach to diplomacy
04:30increased America's global influence.
04:32His larger-than-life personality
04:35and efforts to make government more responsive
04:37to the needs of the people
04:39have secured his place among the greats.
04:42The Bottom of the Barrel
04:43Andrew Johnson
04:45Andrew Johnson,
04:46who assumed the presidency after Lincoln's assassination,
04:49is consistently ranked as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history.
04:52Johnson's lenient approach to Reconstruction
04:55allowed many Confederate leaders to return to power,
04:58undermining efforts to secure rights for freed slaves.
05:02His frequent clashes with Congress
05:04led to his impeachment,
05:05though he was acquitted by one vote.
05:07His presidency is often seen
05:09as a missed opportunity
05:11to heal the nation's wounds after the Civil War.
05:14James Buchanan
05:16James Buchanan's presidency is often criticized
05:19for its failure to address the growing divide over slavery
05:23that eventually led to the Civil War.
05:25Buchanan's belief that states had a constitutional right to slavery
05:29and his inability to find a compromise
05:31between North and South exacerbated tensions.
05:34His inaction in the face of looming conflict
05:37has led many historians to view his presidency as a failure.
05:42Donald Trump
05:43And look at what's happening to the towns all over the United States.
05:47And a lot of towns don't want to talk.
05:48It's not going to be Aurora or Springfield.
05:50A lot of towns don't want to talk about it
05:52because they're so embarrassed by it.
05:54In Springfield,
05:55they're eating the dogs,
05:57the people that came in.
05:58They're eating the cats.
06:00They're eating
06:01they're eating the pets of the people that live there.
06:05A more recent addition to the bottom of the list
06:08is Donald Trump.
06:09While it's often difficult to assess recent presidencies,
06:12Trump's term was marked by significant controversy.
06:15His unconventional approach to governance,
06:18frequent use of executive orders,
06:20and polarizing rhetoric
06:21have led many historians to rank him poorly.
06:24His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic
06:27and the events leading up to the January 6th Capitol riot
06:30have been particularly criticized.
06:33Supporters do point to his economic policies
06:35and conservative judicial appointments as achievements.
06:39It's worth noting that assessments of recent presidents
06:41can change over time
06:43as the long-term impacts of their policies become clearer.
06:47Warren G. Harding.
06:48Warren G. Harding's short presidency
06:50is often remembered more for its scandals
06:53than its accomplishments.
06:54The Teapot Dome scandal,
06:56in which Harding's Secretary of the Interior
06:58leased federal oil reserves in exchange for bribes,
07:01is considered one of the most significant scandals
07:04in American political history.
07:06While Harding himself wasn't directly implicated,
07:09his poor choice of cabinet members
07:11and his administration's corruption
07:13have led to low rankings from historians.
07:17The challenges of ranking recent presidents.
07:19Presidents like Barack Obama, George W. Bush,
07:22and Bill Clinton have seen their rankings
07:24fluctuate in recent years.
07:26For instance, Barack Obama initially ranked quite high,
07:29buoyed by the historic nature of his presidency
07:32as the first African-American to hold the office
07:35and his handling of the 2008 financial crisis.
07:38But his ranking has slightly decreased in recent years,
07:41possibly due to reassessments of his foreign policy
07:44and his relationship with Congress.
07:46Similarly, George W. Bush's ranking improved
07:49somewhat in recent years,
07:51possibly due to a reassessment of his presidency
07:54in light of more recent events.
07:55His leadership after the 9-11 attacks
07:58and his work on AIDS relief in Africa
08:00are often cited as positive aspects of his legacy.
08:05The impact of modern media.
08:07In the age of 24-7 news cycles and social media,
08:11the way presidents are perceived and remembered
08:13has changed dramatically.
08:15Modern presidents face unprecedented scrutiny
08:18with their every word and action analyzed in real time.
08:22This constant spotlight can make it more challenging
08:25for presidents to control their narrative
08:27and shape their legacy.
08:28For example, Donald Trump's prolific use of Twitter
08:31during his presidency provided an unfiltered window
08:34into his thoughts and decision-making process.
08:37While this direct communication with the public
08:40was appreciated by his supporters,
08:42it also led to numerous controversies
08:44that may impact his long-term historical standing.
08:47And the rise of partisan media outlets
08:50has led to increasingly polarized views
08:53of presidential performance.
08:54This polarization can make it more difficult
08:57for historians to arrive at a consensus
08:59when ranking presidents,
09:00particularly those who have served in recent years.
09:05The role of crisis management.
09:07One factor that often separates
09:09the highest-ranked presidents from the rest
09:11is their ability to lead during times of crisis.
09:14The presidents who top the lists
09:16are often those who guided the nation
09:18through its darkest hours.
09:20Lincoln during the Civil War,
09:22FDR during the Great Depression and World War II,
09:25and Washington during the nation's fragile early years.
09:29This pattern raises interesting questions
09:31about how future historians might evaluate presidents
09:34like George W. Bush,
09:36whose presidency was defined by the response
09:38to the 9-11 attacks,
09:40or Barack Obama who took office
09:42during a severe economic crisis.
09:44It also suggests that the ultimate historical judgment
09:48of presidents like Donald Trump and Joe Biden
09:50may hinge on their handling of crises
09:53like the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
09:56Now it's time to hear from you.
09:58If you could add one category
09:59to the presidential ranking system,
10:01what would it be and why?
10:03Let us know in the comment section below.