The 10 Best/Worst U.S. Presidents Ranked by Artificial Intelligence

An Expressionist painting of a president speaking to a massive audience at his inauguration

Here is ChatGPT’s ranking of the top 10 U.S. presidents, with explanations for each one:

  1. George Washington – As the first President of the United States, Washington set the precedent for future presidents to follow. He was instrumental in shaping the country’s foreign policy and establishing the foundations of the U.S. government. He also played a key role in the creation of a strong and stable economy.
  2. Abraham Lincoln – Lincoln is often considered one of the greatest U.S. presidents for his leadership during the Civil War and his efforts to abolish slavery. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in the Confederate states were to be set free, and he worked to pass the 13th Amendment, which permanently abolished slavery throughout the United States.
  3. Franklin D. Roosevelt – Roosevelt led the U.S. through the Great Depression and World War II, implementing policies that helped to stimulate the economy and bring about much-needed social reforms. He is credited with implementing the New Deal, which included programs like the Social Security Act and the Works Progress Administration, which provided jobs and financial assistance to millions of Americans.
  4. Lyndon B. Johnson – Johnson is known for his work on civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He also implemented the Great Society program, which aimed to address issues of poverty and inequality.
  5. John F. Kennedy – Kennedy is remembered for his work on civil rights, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which he proposed to Congress. He is also known for his efforts to reduce tensions with the Soviet Union during the Cold War and for his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
  6. Thomas Jefferson – Jefferson is known for his role in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and for his efforts to expand the size of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. He also played a key role in the development of the country’s education system and was a strong advocate for the separation of church and state.
  7. James K. Polk – Polk is known for his efforts to expand the size of the United States through the acquisition of new territories, including California and much of the Southwest. He is also credited with helping to strengthen the country’s economy and improving its foreign relations.
  8. Theodore Roosevelt – Roosevelt is known for his efforts to regulate big business and protect the environment, including the creation of national parks and forests. He also played a key role in the construction of the Panama Canal and in improving relations with Latin American countries.
  9. James Monroe – Monroe is known for his work in foreign policy, including the issuance of the Monroe Doctrine, which declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to European colonization. He is also known for his efforts to strengthen the U.S. economy and promote national unity.
  10. Andrew Jackson – Jackson is known for his efforts to modernize the U.S. government and for his role in the Indian Removal Act, which resulted in the forced relocation of Native American tribes to the West. He is also credited with strengthening the U.S. economy and defending the Union during the Nullification Crisis.

It is difficult to definitively rank U.S. presidents as “worst,” as opinions on their actions and legacies vary widely. However, here is a list of 10 U.S. presidents who are often considered to have had negative impacts on the country, along with explanations for each one:

  1. Andrew Johnson – Johnson is often ranked as one of the worst presidents due to his handling of Reconstruction after the Civil War. He vetoed legislation that would have granted civil rights to newly freed slaves and resisted efforts to hold former Confederate officials accountable for their actions.
  2. James Buchanan – Buchanan is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his inability to effectively address the issue of slavery and the impending Civil War. He refused to take a strong stance on the issue and his inaction is seen as a contributing factor to the outbreak of the war.
  3. Franklin Pierce – Pierce is often ranked as one of the worst presidents due to his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the expansion of slavery into new territories and his failure to address the issue of slavery in a meaningful way.
  4. John Tyler – Tyler is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his support for the expansion of slavery and his inability to effectively address the issue. He also vetoed legislation that would have protected the rights of African Americans and Native Americans.
  5. William Henry Harrison – Harrison’s presidency was short-lived, as he died just one month after taking office. However, he is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his lack of significant achievements and his role in the forced removal of Native Americans from their land.
  6. Millard Fillmore – Fillmore is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his support for the Fugitive Slave Act, which required the return of runaway slaves to their owners and his failure to address the issue of slavery in a meaningful way.
  7. Andrew Jackson – Jackson is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his treatment of Native Americans, including the forced removal of thousands of Native Americans from their land through the Indian Removal Act. He is also known for his strong opposition to the national bank and his role in the Panic of 1837.
  8. Herbert Hoover – Hoover is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his handling of the Great Depression. Many believe that his policies exacerbated the economic downturn and that he was slow to implement relief measures.
  9. Warren G. Harding – Harding is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his administration’s corruption and his lack of significant achievements. He is also known for his opposition to women’s suffrage and civil rights for African Americans.
  10. Richard Nixon – Nixon is often considered one of the worst presidents due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal and the abuse of presidential power that it entailed. He is also known for his handling of the Vietnam War and for his role in the widening of the income gap between the rich and the poor.

This essay was created by ChatGPT and the images by DALL-E 2. Edited by Omri Shabath.