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Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House: A Wall Street Journal Book Review

Ian McEwan

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Published in Presidential Leadership: Rating The Best And The Worst In The White House (Wall Street Journal Book)

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In their new book, "Rating the Best and Worst in the White House," Wall Street Journal reporters Michael Hirsh and William McGurn rank all 45 US presidents based on their performance in office. The book is a comprehensive and insightful look at the presidency, and it offers a unique perspective on the men who have held the office.

Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House (Wall Street Journal Book)

by Arne Fronsdal

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	998 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	320 pages

Hirsh and McGurn use a variety of criteria to rank the presidents, including their leadership skills, their accomplishments, their personal character, and their impact on the country. They also take into account the challenges that each president faced during his time in office.

The book's top-ranked presidents are George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. These three presidents are all considered to be among the greatest in American history, and they all led the country through some of its most challenging times.

The book's bottom-ranked presidents are James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, and Warren G. Harding. These three presidents are all considered to be among the worst in American history, and they all presided over periods of great turmoil and division.

"Rating the Best and Worst in the White House" is a fascinating and informative book that offers a unique perspective on the presidency. Hirsh and McGurn's rankings are sure to spark debate, but they are also a valuable contribution to the study of American history.

The Best Presidents

The top-ranked presidents in "Rating the Best and Worst in the White House" are:

George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt
Woodrow Wilson
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama

These presidents are all considered to be among the greatest in American history. They all led the country through some of its most challenging times, and they all made significant contributions to the nation's development.

The Worst Presidents

The bottom-ranked presidents in "Rating the Best and Worst in the White House" are:

James Buchanan
Andrew Johnson
Warren G. Harding
Zachary Taylor
Martin Van Buren
Franklin Pierce
Rutherford B. Hayes
Chester A. Arthur
Benjamin Harrison
William Howard Taft

These presidents are all considered to be among the worst in American history. They all presided over periods of great turmoil and division, and they all failed to meet the challenges of their times.

Whether you agree with their rankings or not, Hirsh and McGurn's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the presidency or American history.

Presidential Leadership: Rating the Best and the Worst in the White House (Wall Street Journal Book)

by Arne Fronsdal

4.1 out of 5