George W. Bush ranked as worst modern president, FDR best

The Siena College Research Institute's survey of more than 230 presidential scholars ranked America's 43 presidents and found Franklin Roosevelt rising to the top spot and George W Bush falling to number 39.

The Siena College Research Institute (SRI) Survey of U.S. Presidents first began in 1982. For the 2010 survey, SRI, located in Loudonville, NY, received responses from 238 presidential scholars, historians and political scientists who were invited to participate in the survey. The survey asked respondents to "rank each of 43 presidents on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) on each of twenty presidential attributes, abilities and accomplishments. Overall rankings were computed by assigning equal weight to each of those twenty categories." Personal attributes include willingness to take risks, intelligence, background, and luck. Abilities include communication, leadership, ability to compromise, and executive ability. Accomplishments include handling of U.S. economy, party leadership, relationship with Congress, and foreign policy accomplishments. The newcomer to the 2010 survey, President Obama, entered the survey ranked at number 15 with high marks in executive and leadership ability, intelligence, communication, and imagination. There was some movement in terms of rankings of the 42 presidents included in previous surveys. George W. Bush, for example, fell from 23rd in 2002 to 39th today. This ranking puts Bush among the worst U.S. presidents ever. The only presidents considered worse than Bush, according to the 238 scholars, are Andrew Johnson, James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, and Franklin Pierce. This overall rank places Bush as the worst president in the modern era. Bush fell short in the areas of intelligence, handling of the U.S. economy, communication, and foreign policy accomplishments, among others. Think Progress noted:

President George W. Bush did not fare well since the last poll was conducted in 2002. He dropped 16 places to 39th, making him the worst president since Warren Harding died in office in 1923, and one of the bottom five of all time, according to the experts.

It was the fifth time since 1982 that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was ranked by experts "as the top all time chief executive." FDR received high marks for his handling of the U.S. economy, ability to compromise, communication, party leadership, and foreign policy accomplishments. Other shuffling of the rankings include Bill Clinton's move from number 18 overall to number 13. Ronald Reagan dropped two spots from number 16 to number 18 overall. Jimmy Carter dropped from 25th in 2002 to 32nd this year. George H.W. Bush, however, remained steady at the number 22 spot.