Greatest American President? Survey Says. . .
- Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:02am by
Mike Opelka
- Print »
- Email »
Presidents Day is Monday and the folks at Gallup wondered which of our Presidents occupies the #1 spot in the hearts and minds of the American people. Their methods?
“Results for this USA Today/Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Feb. 2-5, 2011, with a random sample of 1,015 adults, aged 18 and older, living in the continental U.S., selected using random-digit-dial sampling.”
And now, the results for your (real) American Idol. . .
It should be noted that in the 12 years that Gallup has been asking the question, Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln have both earned the #1 spot, three times.
For the record, this reporter picked George Washington, the man who said this during his first inaugural address;
“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”























Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (250)
beverlee
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:41amWhat? No Woodrow Wilson? “I hate that guy!”
Report Post »Rotten
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:45amLmao!
Report Post »The Eleventh Doctor
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:45amWhew, you’re right. No Woodrow Wilson. I am somewhat happy about that.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:56amyeah i forgot about woody….one heaping pile of _
Report Post »Dan
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:35amThe results of this poll turn my stomach.
Report Post »dirtypolitics
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:34amClinton? How did he get #3. Is it because he has a huge…ah ….following?
Goes to show how the low the morality of most Americans are. Also goes to show that a lot of Americans don’t read American history.
Report Post »ALEXANDERHAMILTON
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:27amGeorge Washington was our greatest President. I was proud to serve in his military and his administration.
Report Post »OneRepublic4us
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:23amI just finished reading The Real George Washington and he truly was a remarkable man. He should be a model for all future presidents.
Report Post »million
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:26amReagan is by far our greatest president of the last century. What I think would be much more interesting poll for the Blaze to to take would be the the worst president this country has ever produced. It would be nice to see Obama win a title that he has truely earned.
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:58amWhile I‘m sure many people would vote Obama just because he’s the current president, objectively there are worse people who held that title. Obama falls kinda par of the course for the streak of bad presidents we had lately.
Report Post »Room 101
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:25amSuprised that Cigar Willy ranked so highly, and encouraged that Comrade Obama is down on the list.
1. Reagan
Report Post »2. Washington
3. Coolidge
4. Jefferson
claycopolitics
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:24am1) Lincoln
Report Post »2) Washington
3) Reagan
4) Jefferson
Not even on the list, good ole’ Barry.
smitty1970
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:22amI say Reagan but let’s not forget John Adams
Report Post »Jackson
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:20amG W and Calvin Coolage! Do your homework!
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:20amHow did Carter even make the list at all? The responders had to misunderstand the question! He would definitely be at the top of a worst POTUS! IMHO
Report Post »Richard Johnson
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:19amObama, was he even eligible? How can one vote for a pres. who has not even filled out his first term yet and the historical results of his presidency are still unknown. Yep, popularity still is rampant as we find in American Idol.
Report Post »psst
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:23amHe may not be eligible in more ways than one
Report Post »APEXIdaho
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:30amWe currently do not have a president!
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=134881
Report Post »Tom Cutler
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:18amGeorge & Ron. Seeing O on this list blows my mind.
Report Post »Alphonso
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:18amObama scores higher than Truman? Gimme a break…
Report Post »Deda1
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:17amHands down it was George Washington. He set the tone for the presidency. Remember the wanted to make him out to be like a king and he would not let them.
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:16amLike any poll the number one designation could be argued many different ways. The thing that jumped out at me, though, is that a larger percentage of those polled rated Obama and the two Roosevelts over Jefferson, Truman and Jackson. Sad!
Report Post »RiseAboveThem
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:14amHow did BHO come in 7th?
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:19amYeah, right next to FDR. Not sure which one is worse being that BHO is still in office.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:22amGive it a few years for the hype to diminish, that number will drop like an Alaskan thermometer.
Report Post »psst
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:13amWashington # 1. A man who could have been a king if he wanted.
Report Post »Reagan # 2 . number 1 in my lifetime.
lillianrose
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:22amAgreed.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:11amThe results of this poll is a sad commentary on our educational system! Do they still teach American History? http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:27amAgreed, Clinton above Washington? Ever see the movie Idiocracy? It’s coming true.
Report Post »OneRepublic4us
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:27amWhen I first saw the movie Idiocracy I thought of the current president/administration and drew so many parallels it scared me.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:05amUnfortunately, they teach American Fantasy.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:11amI wonder where the 1% who voted for Carter work. I’m guessing the question “Paper or plastic?” is a regular part of their work day.
Report Post »muzzleloader
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:31amI was thinking more along the line of “You want fries with that?”
Report Post »tankerBigRed1
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:32amThink that pretty well sums it up- cept – ya want fries w/ dat.
Report Post »OccamsGun
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:39amGonzo, You’re doing checkout workers a disservice. These people have jobs in the real world and do real work. The Carter voters are the bonehead government workers sitting behind a desk somewhere, earning a 6 digit salary, who, when they aren’t playing solitaire on their computers (or voting on silly surveys like this), are enforcing free enterprise stiffling regulations.
Report Post »Rotten
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:42amI think Carter voted for Carter.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:44amCheckout workers of America, please accept my formal apology.
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:06amGonzo they don’t work, just get their account recharged the first of every month
Report Post »on account of they are lazy, useless and have been raised the think that their
way of life is acceptable and it must be because we continue to pay for
it. (For now!)
Dale
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:59amGonzo;
I fear the phrase “I’m from the government…” is a major part of their day.
Report Post »Furious Styles
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:10amGW hands down. Shouldn’t even be close.
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:09amMine would be Washington.
Report Post »LVMerrily
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:26pmThis poll reflects the wonderful education today’s children are receiving. Most of them cannot even name a Founding Father, much less rank one for their merit. Clinton #3? God help us all.
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:37pm@Lvmerrily,i would vote for Clinton as being the most immoral,Obama no.1 as being the biggest lier and the one to be the most likley not to be trusted in anything he says or does,Now for no.1 best it would have to be George Washington,no doubt
Report Post »joeliberty
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:09amGeorge Washington all the way! This survey just shows how stupid the American people are! Ronald Reagan run up huge deficits, Abraham Lincoln was a tyrant who dissolved states rights!
Report Post »Non-sequitur
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:56amReagan ran huge deficits, was responsible for the biggest tax hike in American history, increased the size of government by about 8% while speaking of a smaller government and was responsible for the deregulation of Wall Street and the financial markets that still causes problems today.
While I will not say that Reagan was as bad as he was regarded at the time of his presidency, I cannot understand how he’s revered as some sort of conservative deity today.
But still, I have to admit selling supply side economics to the American people sure took some skill. I still cannot see how he pulled that one off.
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:22amReagan dealt with the impairment of a demonrat congress…
Reagan was the best..
Report Post »escape_from_socialism
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:37amDon’t forget about war on drugs.
Report Post »mill
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:46pmWashington hands down..brave man to accomplish and endure the things he did for the sake of this country.
AND it should take more than a man being president for two years ten months and two days to consider him “great”
Report Post »/\ HOWEVER I do agree that in less time Obama has made a really good run at completely destroying the very fiber of our republic and turning people against each other.
ComeAndTakeThis
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:09amMount Rushmore is missing a bust.
Report Post »LittleBigMouth
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:08amGeorge & Ron
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:11amditto. george and ron
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:12am2nd
Report Post »MOE3
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:17amagree
how the hell did BO make the list?
Report Post »annieoakley
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:45amGeorge Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Reagan.
Report Post »jjoy
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:40amWashington, Reagan, Harry Truman #3… “The buck stops here!”
Report Post »junkyarddog
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:54amHow about a little love for Grover Cleveland? Vetoed 584 bills in two terms (414 in his first), the most ever by a two term president. He opposed high tarrifs, pork barrel spending, subsidies, and imperialism. He also believed strongly in the gold standard. And get this (hold onto your seat!), he was also known for his honesty and integrity.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:04pmI have to go with Clinton – times were so much better when he was President. http://wp.me/pYLB7-Eh
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:07amGeorge Washington is the greatest President. Without George Wishington, there would be no United States of America. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:14am1. Washington
Report Post »2. Adams (father)
3. Jefferson
43. Carter
44. B. Hussein Obama
From the results of the poll in the article, this country is in worse shape than I thought.
Cobra Blue
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:20amObama’s not going to be happy. Its all about him. Just ask him. George and the real Gipper for sure.
Report Post »rodamaa
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:22amNo doubt about that. But remember people don’t remember or know really who George Washington is or can relate to the significance our first great president.
Or to put it another way, if the poll was taken back George was president I doubt Reagan would have done as well :-)
Report Post »Cobra Blue
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:24amCemoto78
#44 will always be bringing up the rear. History will prove that out. Over time he will just index to the next number…45…46…47…etc…etc.
Report Post »what4
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:25amWashington is #1….Who are the tool’s that took this poll??
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:30amCouldn’t agree more Toby. George Washington was the man, and anyone who voted for Barack Obama just proves why we are in the mess we’re in. Even if you’re a hard core liberal, you have to be mindless to vote him the best President in history.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the Reagan tribute video
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:50amYou hit the nail on the head toby. The man set standard, true greatness.
Report Post »Too bad not all others that followed had his love of country and freedom.
CaptGregg
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:51amMy top 5: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Reagan & Monroe.
Report Post »God help us if any future POTUS displaces Carter and Obama as the worst.
hifi74
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:53amI could see the argument between number 1 going to either Washington or Lincoln. But how in Gods name is Kennedy or Clinton of all people ranked higher then the father of this nation? Sad state of affairs our country has fallen into.
Report Post »hickoryrat
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:54amWell,at least now we have an insight as to what we are dealing with when it comes to the intelligence of a sampling of the American people. It would appear that the dumbing down of America has been completed.
Report Post »Sheepdog911
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:56amObama – #45. Not worthy of the #44 spot.
Report Post »craig_54
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:01amOf course Ol’ George in first. But what about Jefferson? The man who actually wrote down what the majority of the colonies were thinkning. Independance. That document changed the world! Anyone think of Coolidge? The man who was inaugurated by candle light and left the Union in more prosperity than most presidents could’ve imagined?
What about Van Buren. He was responsible for the party that was grounded in circumventing real issues of the time. I don’t wanna name any names but it begins with a D. Ends with an S. And in the middle emocrat.
Report Post »Oil_Robb
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:15amI agree…..President Satoro elected back in 08 ranks about 44th
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:16am@Tobywil2
My top pics: Washington, Lincoln, Regan. Obama would never be on my list, same with Carter.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:18am@Cemoto
Understood, someone actually chose Carter and Obama to be on the list of great presidents.
@Cobra Blue
As for Obama not being happy, who cares; his boss Soros the Emerpor is not happy with Obama and that makes me extatic with delight.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:21amIn elementary school I was taught (by no doubt a progressive teacher) that George Washington was called the “father of our country” because he raped slaves and fathered countless children by them. This womans disdain for Washington and her take on history stuck with me until I was in high school. This was decades ago, you can imagine what our children are taught now. In high school journalism classes where I live the kids are shown all of Micheal Moores movies in class. No opposing view is shown. We need to find a way to stop the indoctrination of our kids.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:21amI would personally like to reanimate JFK, for the sake of America.
The we could go forward with Executive Order 11110.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_11110
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:28amThat Clinton made it near the top irks me. Sure, by the stats, he may have done OK…but who can balance that with also being an absolute disgrace as a man and a leader is beyond me.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:34amThis is Bull
The best President ever
Charlton Heston as Andrew Jackson…
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:40amPresident Lincoln set a horrible precedent when it comes to states rights. That drops him way down the list for me. President Adams also drops significant ranking for the Alien and Sedition Act. President Jefferson would be high on my list but even he had his mistakes though I can forgive him because he is still one of my favorite founding fathers. The fact that President Clinton is #3 scares me and the fact that President Obama even made it that high on the list does as well. I think the saddest part is that Presidents Clinton, Obama and Bush made it higher than Jefferson.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:40amHow is the best president the one who tripled the debt held by the public?
It must be a LOT of crack going around the United States….
Report Post »Steverino
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:46amSINISTA-
Report Post »What a better place we’d be in…
Steve
nuttyvet
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:51amChester Arthur
Report Post »JoeBtfsplk
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:53amExecutive Order 11110 is quite infamous among conspiracy theorists, such as Jim Marrs, author of the 1989 book Crossfire: The Plot that Killed Kennedy,[3] who speculate that there is a link between the John F. Kennedy assassination and E.O. 11110 by arguing that the Federal Reserve Board was involved in the murder to protect its power over the monetary policy of the United States.[4]
Report Post »Jayk Signal
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 10:54amWashington made a lasting change to the character of the American people in a way we still feel to this day.
Reagan made an impact. Sure. But if he‘d had an impact on the psychology of the nation equal to Washington’s, we wouldn’t have had the worthless leaders that followed him, from Bush 41 to the current doofus.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:03am@Cemoto78
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:14am
1. Washington
2. Adams (father)
3. Jefferson
43. Carter
44. B. Hussein Obama
————————
Unless Obama’s biological father was someone other than Obama, Sr., he’s not even in the running as far as I am concerned.
@TOBYWIL2 -
Report Post »I agree with you on Washington.
TunaBlue
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:20am1. Washington
Report Post »2. Adams (father)
3. Jefferson
4. Reagan
41. Carter
42. Wilson
43. FDR
44. Obama
sawhorse1950
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:42amYou are so right!! This man was the greatest, forging his way into the new world and helping sstart the greatest country in the world..God Bless Washington and the USA!!!
Report Post »Drippy Fawcett
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:02pm@HiFi
Report Post »It‘s because George Washington isn’t real to these morons.
To them, he’s just some cartoon character out of a story book.
They don’t have a CLUE who the man really was or what he accomplished.
weeblewacker1
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:07pmagree!! old G.W-#1, he is the one that sent the tone on who and what a American pres.should be.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:08pmNot sure who the “best” president is, but I definitely know who the WORST president is(and no, I don’t mean WAS)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Tayper
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:14pmClinton over JFK I think NOT!
Report Post »TonyDarrington
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:16pmPeople don’t pay enough attention to history to make this very accurate. If you asked a follow-up question “Why is he the greatest?” The answers would likely be trite. Why TR? “Walk softly and carry a big stick” “He created Yellowstone Park.” Why FDR? “He won WWII” “He ended the Great Depression” Why JFK? “He sent us to the moon” All meaningless drivel. At least Wilson didn’t make the list.
Report Post »SANE_I think
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 12:58pmLet us not forget Clinton as amongst the worst. Again, correct me if I am wrong but his crew ( Franks ilk) forced the banking rule changes that lead to the crash, it was his fault! And who was it that gave the speech that said home ownership is the “RIGHT” of every American? Forget working for it, but the RIGHT!?( was it Bush? think it was Clinton)
Report Post »mcfinch
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:03pmWashington should have been #1.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Video Website
Report Post »Libertarian
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:24pmPeople voted on what they have experienced (personally). This is a great example how people vote for elected officials, “feelings” or “charisma”. Reagan was a pretty good president, but despite his capitalist ideas or speeches he still;
More than tripled the federal debt
Increased foreign aid by 120%
Increased the Department of Educations budget by 2x!
Employed over 200,000 federal employees
Increased federal spending by 50%
His actions weren’t conservative by any tea partier standard.
I would have liked to see a poll that split up the presidents in 50 year increments. Reagan was the greatest president in the last 50 years, but he pales in comparison to Washington, Madison, Jefferson, Lincoln and Cleveland.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:50pmclinton over Washington…do these people not remember clinton…because I do and he wouldn’t of gottem third place thats for sure…who took this poll… is what I want to know..
Report Post »desertspeaks
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 2:39pmBeing an avid fan of Fox news, Glenn Beck et al; I am deeply concerned over the SHAM that fox news recently perpetrated against Ron Paul CPAC straw poll, in which Ron Paul WON the CPAC straw poll for president. Fox news aired the CPAC response from 2010 rather than the CPAC response from 2011 where the crowd breaks into cheers over the news that Ron Paul won the poll.
Report Post »Are we being played by Fox news as well???
Yes I used the have a tip box at the bottom of all of the Blazes pages asking if they had the testicular fortitude to report THE TRUTH of what FOX NEWS DID.. their BLINDINGLY OBVIOUS RESPONSE, SAY NOTHING AND HOPE IT WILL GO AWAY, a page from obama’s play book. I am saddened by this travesty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwo0Iyrh1Zk&feature=player_embedded
bread and circuses
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 3:18pm@DESERTSPEAKS
Report Post »FOXNEWS apologized for the incorrect video of CPAC on several shows
FlashFly
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 4:55pmObama isn’t even on my list of favorite toilet papers, let alone President of the United States!
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 5:45pmAgreed
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 7:36pmI vote for Jefferson and Andrew Jackson if he didn’t screw the Indians.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 8:02pm@DESERTSPEAKS
Report Post »Journalistic errors and inaccuracies seem to really have an effect on you. Fox did apologize for the mistake. However MSNBC and Huffypo lies and distorts the news everyday. And since you have become such an activist over truth in news maybe you should focus your time and energy reporting their faults on a ******* blog. Maybe it will be theraputic for you.
patriot4all
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 9:43pmAbsolutely no doubt. First in the hearts of his countrymen. Try a starving winter in the PA. area etc. etc. and then you might get a clue of what this man did and sacrificeid for us. Washington.
Report Post »One1
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 11:57pmLike Reagan. But George Washington is the greatest by far.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 2:15pmCountry is in deep DODO.. THEY haven’t even taught our kids about WASHINGTON?? IF they did he would have WON hands down.. along with LINCOLN, ADAMS..
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on February 22, 2011 at 4:58pmSome of you have too high an opinion of our current president. I can’t even give him 44th. I would say zero. Just the last few weeks have been trying to this country. When I’ve learned how much in bed Obama is with Trumka, I realized we are in trouble, beam me up scotty! The planned disturbances in Wisconsin, then Ohio, Michigan etc. are just the beginning of things to come to split this country down the middle so the union thugs and followers can take over, or worse. Just saying
Report Post »