C-SPAN's 2021 historians survey on presidential leadership was released Wednesday. This ranking has been produced at the close of every presidency since 2000. Survey was sent to 141 historians and professors as well as professional observers of the presidency, who then ranked each American president based on 10 characteristics, with an overall score.The big question is: How did our previous president do? Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, finished 41st among the 44 American presidents no more in office. He did not alter the low ranking of the three presidents who failed to manage the Civil War's aftermath and lead-up: Andrew Johnson (second), James Buchanan (last), and Franklin Pierce (3rd).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSubscribe to the Slatest Newsletter Get a daily email update with the latest stories. Signing you up was not possible due to an error Please try again. To use this form, please enable jаvascript. Email address: I would like to receive updates on Slate special offers. You agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms by signing up. Thank you for signing up! You can cancel your subscription at any time.Trump's good news is that historians agree with him. Buchanan's disastrous presidency resulted in a national secession crisis. Trump refused to take a firm stand against the Confederacy. Instead, he sought to include slavery into the Constitution before Abraham Lincoln was sworn in. Trump beat Johnson, whose racist views were well-known even in that era. He opposed attempts to grant basic rights for newly freed slaves and was ultimately impeached. However, he was not removed as president. Trump scored even higher than Pierce, who's drive to enforce Fugitive Slave Acts and nullify Missouri Compromise drove the country closer to civil war.AdvertisementTrump's worst news is that he has the lowest initial ranking among the four modern presidents reviewed since the survey began. George W. Bush, however, was ranked seventh in his initial survey and has since moved up from the bottom 15. Trump is still considered worse than Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon.AdvertisementHistorians have ranked presidents in 10 categories. According to historians, Trump ranked 32nd in the category of public persuasion. His worst categories were administrative skills and moral authority, which he ranked last. However, historians considered Trump a superior president to others in many other categories. Let's take a closer look.AdvertisementTrump: Public Persuasion: 32 of 44This category is Trump's most important and where historians felt the most comfortable grading on a curve. In a stunning upset in 2016, Trump won the presidency with no experience in politics. He was within 30,000 votes of winning reelection in just a few states. He also retains an unwavering political grip on one of America's largest parties.This guy won the most popular mandate in history. He lost the popular vote in every election and finished with 46.1 percent in 2016 and 46.8 percent for defeat in 2020.AdvertisementTrump beat Warren G. Harding (33) in this category. Harding won his only presidential election with 60.4 per cent of the vote. After the Teapot Dome scandal revelations and his sexual relationship with the Oval Office, Harding's popularity plummeted. He was, however, persuasive throughout his life!AdvertisementTrump finished ahead Chester A. Arthur (34), who was promoted to vice president but never won an election (OK, this makes sense) and Jimmy Carter (35) who won the popular vote in 1976 but didn't have the same Trump showmanship.Trump's Crisis Leadership: 41 of 44This category is roughly the same as the final rankings. Trump finished fourth behind the troika, which includes pre- and postCivil Wars schmucks. Trump finished just below Herbert Hoover (40), who had 26.5 points out 100, while the 31st president's score was 26.6. The half-million Americans who died in the COVID-19 epidemic were considered more serious than the 25 percent unemployment that Hoover experienced during the Great Depression.AdvertisementTrump's Economic Management: Trump gets 34 of 44Trump's final ranking was significantly outpaced by another category, such as public persuasion. It's a little easier to understand why in this instance. Trump had it all and to his credit oversaw an economy that saw the lowest national unemployment rates in decades. That's great! After his terrible mishandling of the pandemic, the unemployment rate rose to an all-time high and caused mass deaths on a scale not seen before. It was terrible. Trump was able to leverage his influence with his party to support Democratic-sponsored Initiatives to Pour Trillions of Dollars into the Economy, including through enhanced unemployment benefits, rescue checks, and other measures that raised the standard of living for millions. Also, it was great! Trump was not involved in the passage of these packages. He saw them as a political benefit and tacitly endorsed them. Trump almost ruined pandemic rescue legislation due to his shifting negotiation positions and mercurial demands.AdvertisementAdvertisementTrump, a veteran businessman, finishes behind Gerald Ford (33) but ahead of George W. Bush (34) and Millard Fillmore (35) in economic performance.Trump's Moral Authority: 44 of 44Many of these men were slaves. Trump's inability to be a slave owner should earn him some moral authority points. However, he was docked many for refusing peaceful power transfers and trying to overthrow American democracy. He was likely to finish at the bottom due to all the sexual assault allegations and open racism and xenophobia towards people from shithole nations, as well as many other alleged crimes and two impeachments that set a new record. He is just below James Buchanan (43) and Andrew Johnson (42) while Richard Nixon (41) is also at the bottom. Bill Clinton (38) is also at the bottom.AdvertisementInternational Relations: Trump has 43 of 44Trump was able to keep the United States from major wars but he also left friends and allies for brutal dictators. Buchanan (44), who's international relations achievements included letting half the United States attempt to become another country, is beaten by Trump (44)AdvertisementAdvertisementTrump's Administrative Skills: 44 of 44With a score 22.8 out 100, this is the category where Trump came in dead last. Blame JaredRelations with Congress: 42 of 44 for TrumpTrump was below John Tyler (41), who was first president to see impeachment proceedings open against him. Tyler, at different points in his career, abandoned both major political parties of Congress at that time and alienated all sides. Andrew Johnson came in last place in this category. This seems unfair considering that Johnson was impeached only once.AdvertisementVision/Setting an Agenda for Trump: 36 of 44This category is Trump's best and he appears to have been graded according to a curve. Here are the people he defeated: Harrison (died at 37), Harding, 38; Tyler (name synonymous to the Great Depression), 39); Hoover (nearly impeached) and Tyler (40). Fillmore (led country towards Civil War), 41. Pierce (really led nation toward Civil War), 42. Andrew Johnson (impeached following his support for ex-Confederates postCivil War America 43. Buchanan (really and really led country towards Civil War 44).Equal Justice for All: Trump's 40th out of 44This list included 18 enslavers. Trump won the category of pursued equal Justice for All over Johnson (43), Tyler (41), and Buchanan (44). Franklin Pierce (42), who did not own slaves, but used his term in order to establish slavery. This led inexorably towards civil war. Andrew Jackson, Trump's presidential idol and one of America's most violent men, is just behind Trump (39), who has committed genocidal acts against Native Americans that have outsold all others.AdvertisementPerformance within the context of Times: 42 of 44 for TrumpThis category seems almost like the most important ranking. It is impossible to compare how a president performs in different times and situations. According to historians, it is important to consider the context and social environment in which they lived. Trump's overall ranking drops to third last, with 28.3 points. Civil Warinspiring Pierce was the one historians believe did better, given the circumstances.MAGA!
