You’ve probably seen the headlines. Every few years, a bunch of people who spend their lives buried in archives and dusty letters come together to tell us who the "best" leaders were. It’s a bit of a national tradition. But the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey, released by Brandon Rottinghaus and Justin Vaughn, feels different this time. It isn't just a list of names; it’s a reflection of how our own chaotic era is changing how we look at the past.
Honestly, ranking humans is messy. Ranking world leaders who held the fate of a nuclear superpower in their hands? That’s next-level complicated.
The 2024 Heavyweights: Who Stays at the Top?
Abraham Lincoln is still the king. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the man who held the Union together during the Civil War remains in the #1 spot. He’s been there for years. He’ll probably be there forever.
But right behind him, something interesting happened. Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) officially bumped George Washington out of the #2 spot. That’s a massive shift. For decades, Washington was the untouchable "Father of His Country." But historians are leaning more into the "modern presidency" these days. They look at FDR’s massive expansion of government power during the Great Depression and World War II and see a template for everything that came after.
Basically, Washington built the house, but FDR wired it for electricity and added five more floors.
✨ Don't miss: Franklin D Roosevelt Civil Rights Record: Why It Is Way More Complicated Than You Think
The 2024 Top 10 (According to the Experts)
- Abraham Lincoln (Average score: 93.9)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt (90.8)
- George Washington (90.3)
- Theodore Roosevelt (78.6)
- Thomas Jefferson (77.5)
- Harry Truman (75.3)
- Barack Obama (73.8)
- Dwight Eisenhower (73.7)
- Lyndon Johnson (72.9)
- John F. Kennedy (68.4)
The "Biden vs. Trump" Divide
Now, let's talk about the parts that make people scream at their TV screens.
Joe Biden made his debut on this list at #14. That puts him in the top third of all presidents, which is kinda wild when you look at his public approval ratings during the 2024 election cycle. Historians gave him a score of 62.7 out of 100. Why? Mostly because they value "norm-stabilizing" leadership. After the turbulence of the 2016-2020 years, these scholars saw Biden’s focus on traditional alliances and institutional stability as a huge "plus."
Donald Trump, on the other hand, ended up at the bottom. #45 out of 45. He even ranked below James Buchanan, the guy who basically sat on his hands while the country slid into the Civil War.
It’s important to understand the bias here—or rather, the perspective. These are social science experts. They aren't looking at "Who do I want to have a beer with?" or "Whose rallies were bigger?" They’re looking at things like "Moral Authority," "Administrative Skills," and "Respect for Democratic Institutions." In those specific categories, Trump’s scores were low enough to drag his entire average into the basement.
🔗 Read more: 39 Carl St and Kevin Lau: What Actually Happened at the Cole Valley Property
The Reputation Rehab (and the Crashes)
History isn't static. It’s a living thing.
Take Ulysses S. Grant. For decades, he was seen as a corrupt drunk who led a messy administration. Fast forward to 2024, and he’s sitting at #17. People are finally realizing that he was actually a civil rights trailblazer who tried his hardest to protect formerly enslaved people during Reconstruction. He’s the biggest "climber" in the history of these surveys.
Then there’s Andrew Jackson. "Old Hickory" used to be a Top 10 staple. Not anymore. He’s plummeted to #21. Why? Because modern historians are much more focused on his treatment of Native Americans and the Trail of Tears. The "tough frontiersman" narrative is losing out to the "human rights record" narrative.
Why Do We Even Do This?
You might think these rankings are just academic naval-gazing. Sorta. But they actually show us what we value right now.
💡 You might also like: Effingham County Jail Bookings 72 Hours: What Really Happened
In the 1950s, historians loved strong, decisive, almost imperial leaders. Today, we’re seeing a shift toward leaders who emphasize equity, justice, and the preservation of democratic norms. It’s why Barack Obama has cracked the Top 10 (#7) while figures like Andrew Jackson and even Woodrow Wilson are sliding down the rungs.
Actionable Insights: How to Read the Rankings
- Check the source: There’s a big difference between a Gallup poll of "regular people" and a Presidential Greatness Project survey of "historians." Experts value institutional stability; voters value the price of eggs.
- Look at the "laggards": If you want to understand a president’s true legacy, wait 20 years. The "heat" of the moment usually fades, and we start seeing the long-term impact of their policies.
- Focus on categories: Don't just look at the overall number. Look at why they ranked where they did. A president can be a genius at "Public Persuasion" but a disaster at "Administrative Skills."
If you're curious about where the country is headed, don't just look at the polls for the next election. Look at who we're starting to admire from the past. It usually tells you exactly what we feel is missing in the present.
Next Steps:
To get a fuller picture of how these legacies evolve, you should look into the C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey archives. Compare the 2000 results to the 2024 results. You'll see that "greatness" is often just a reflection of the challenges the current generation is trying to solve.