Assessing Presidential Greatness in a Polarized Moment: Analyzing the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Survey

ABSTRACT This article presents the findings of the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project Expert Survey. which aimed to rank presidential greatness from George Washington to Joe Biden. Respondents rated each president revealing notable trends in historical rankings. Abraham Lincoln topped the list with an average rating of 95.03, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt (90.83) and George Washington (90.32). In contrast, Donald Trump received the lowest score at 10.92. Changes in rankings from previous surveys highlight shifts in perceptions, particularly with Barack Obama rising from 16th to 7th. Partisan analysis revealed interesting dynamics, with Republicans and conservatives favoring Washington, while Democrats showed more favorable ratings for Obama. The survey also identified Donald Trump as the most polarizing president, while George Washington emerged as the least polarizing. Additionally, respondents characterized Jimmy Carter as the most underrated president and John F. Kennedy as the most overrated. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on presidential evaluations in a polarized political climate.