Rating the Presidents: A Ranking of U.S. Leaders, from the Great and Honorable to the Dishonest and in Competent

"Rating the Presidents" is a solid primer and reference manual about the many men who have held the highest office in the land, from George Washington to Bill Clinton. Certainly, there have been many attempts in the past to try and quantify to relative successes and failures of each Presidency, and there have definitely been lists of the best to worst Presidents. In most cases, however, these attempts at rankings are nothing more than thinly-veiled, politically biased extrapolations. People with an axe to grind against either political party would likely thrust a President from the opposition party somewhere low on the list. Certainly, there have been many attempts in the past to try and quantify to relative successes and failures of each Presidency, and there have definitely been lists of the best to worst Presidents. In most cases, however, these attempts at rankings are nothing more than thinly-veiled, politically biased extrapolations. People with an axe to grind against either political party would likely thrust a President from the opposition party somewhere low on the list. William Ridings and Stuart McIver, however, make a concerted effort to present as objective a set of criteria as possible for rating the presidents, as well as consulting the least subjective sources for the material and evidence to support the ratings. What results is a relatively fair and balanced assessment of where each Presidency finds itself in the harsh glare of history. There are few surprises with Abraham Lincoln being rated #1 and Warren G. Harding being rated the worst, but people might be surprised to find that Bill Clinton not rated as badly as some would think, while John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan aren't rated as highly as one would assume. The ratings might seem debatable, and they may very well provoke debate, but when one sits down to assess them, they will realize that this books provides a fair judgment of all of our Commanders-in-Chief.

No one system for ranking presidents will satisfy all readers. Ranking presidents, first started by Arthur Schlesinger Sr. and Jr., has become a matter for intense debate. Authors Ridings and McIver have accomplished a difficult task started in 1989. They relied on the input of 719 individuals, 97% from academic historians and political scientists, with input from a few elected officials, lawyers and journalists. The most intense political debate will involve two of the most recent presidents, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Both were two term presidents, excellent media performers, each with a strong partisan following. Ridings-McIver has produced an excellent reference source, educational tool and fair minded ranking of the American presidency.

"Rating the Presidents," basewd upon a wide ranging poll of historians, is an interesting exercise for those who love Presidential history. It should be noted that when the polls for this book were taken, Bill Clinton fourth from the bottom for "Character and Integrity," and this was BEFORE the Monica scandal broke. The opinions rendered may be debateable, but they are well reasoned and authoritative.

A great book that had so many facts about the presidents. The best part is the chart at the beginning that was very accurate. I really enjoyed reading it and it will come in handy for years to come. I recommend it to anyone out of all ages who are interested in the presidents.