At Top 10 America, we believe that understanding the United States requires an honest look at its leadership—both the triumphs and the failures. While many commanders-in-chief are celebrated for forging the nation, others are remembered for the crises they exacerbated, the scandals they oversaw, or the opportunities they missed. This list explores the presidents who have historically struggled to meet the immense demands of the Oval Office.
As of late 2025, historians and political scientists continue to debate the legacies of these leaders, using fresh data to re-evaluate their impact on the American story. The rankings below reflect a consensus drawn from major academic surveys, including the Presidential Greatness Project (2024) and long-standing historical assessments from C-SPAN and Siena College.
Top 10 America has curated this analysis to provide context, not just criticism. We examine the specific “meaning behind the failure,” looking at how geography, political pressure, and personal limitations shaped these presidencies. From the fractures leading to the Civil War to modern political polarization, here are the administrations that left the most complicated legacies.
Overview: Top 10 Worst Presidents in US History
| Rank | President | Location/Origin | Term in Office | Primary Failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Herbert Hoover | California (Born Iowa) | 1929–1933 | Response to the Great Depression |
| 9 | John Tyler | Virginia | 1841–1845 | Obstructionism & Party Expulsion |
| 8 | Zachary Taylor | Louisiana | 1849–1850 | Political Inexperience & Inaction |
| 7 | Millard Fillmore | New York | 1850–1853 | Fugitive Slave Act |
| 6 | Warren G. Harding | Ohio | 1921–1923 | Teapot Dome Scandal |
| 5 | William Henry Harrison | Ohio (Born Virginia) | 1841 | Shortest Tenure (31 Days) |
| 4 | Franklin Pierce | New Hampshire | 1853–1857 | Kansas-Nebraska Act |
| 3 | Andrew Johnson | Tennessee | 1865–1869 | Undermining Reconstruction |
| 2 | James Buchanan | Pennsylvania | 1857–1861 | Failure to Prevent Civil War |
| 1 | Donald Trump | New York / Florida | 2017–2021 | Institutional Polarization |
Top 10. Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover, hailing from California (though born in Iowa), entered office with a sterling reputation as a humanitarian and engineer. However, his presidency is inextricably linked to the greatest economic collapse in American history. Historical records show that while he was not responsible for the stock market crash itself, his philosophical reluctance to use federal power for direct relief exacerbated the suffering of millions during the Great Depression.
In Top 10 America’s analytical view, Hoover’s failure was one of adaptability. He remained rigid in his belief in “rugged individualism” even as the economic fabric of the nation disintegrated. While later historians have credited him with laying some groundwork for the New Deal, his inability to connect with the despair of the American public cemented his low ranking.
Interestingly, Hoover was a man of surprising intellect and global experience. During his time in the White House, he and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, would famously speak Mandarin Chinese to each other when they wanted to have private conversations in front of staff or guests, a skill they acquired while living in China.
Key Highlights
- Unemployment Rate: Rose to nearly 25% by the end of his term.
- Policy Failure: Signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which worsened global trade.
- Humanitarian Paradox: Saved millions from starvation in Europe post-WWI but failed to provide direct aid to Americans.
Top 9. John Tyler
John Tyler of Virginia holds the distinction of being the first vice president to ascend to the presidency upon the death of a predecessor, earning him the derisive nickname “His Accidency.” His presidency was marked by immediate conflict with his own political party, the Whigs. Because he vetoed their key banking and tariff legislation, he was famously expelled from the party while still in the White House, leaving him a president without a political home.
We view Tyler’s tenure as a case study in obstructionism. Rather than building coalitions, he alienated his cabinet (most of whom resigned in protest) and Congress. While he achieved the annexation of Texas, his rigid adherence to states’ rights and eventual support of the Confederacy significantly tarnished his long-term legacy in the eyes of Union-focused historians.
A truly mind-blowing fact about John Tyler connects the 18th century to the 21st: As of 2024, one of his grandsons, Harrison Ruffin Tyler, was still alive. This incredible span of three generations covering nearly the entire history of the United States is a testament to the Tyler family’s longevity and second marriages.
Key Highlights
- Party Status: First and only president expelled from his own party while in office.
- Cabinet Crisis: Entire cabinet resigned in September 1841, except for Daniel Webster.
- Post-Presidency: Elected to the Confederate House of Representatives before his death.
Top 8. Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor, a career military hero from Louisiana, came to the presidency with zero political experience—he had purportedly never even voted in an election before his own. His tenure was cut short by his death just 16 months into his term. Historians often rank him low due to his lack of clear policy direction and his inability to defuse the rising sectional tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
Top 10 America suggests that Taylor’s ranking reflects a “what if” scenario. He was a slave owner who surprisingly opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, a stance that angered his Southern base. However, his sudden death left a vacuum of leadership at a critical juncture, allowing the Compromise of 1850 to pass in a form he might have opposed.
His death remains a subject of historical curiosity. Taylor fell violently ill after attending a July 4th celebration at the Washington Monument, where he consumed copious amounts of raw cherries and iced milk. While rumors of poisoning persisted for over a century, modern analysis suggests he likely died of cholera or severe gastroenteritis caused by the unsanitary water in Washington D.C. at the time.
Key Highlights
- Term Length: Served only 16 months (March 1849 – July 1850).
- Crisis Management: Threatened to hang anyone taken in rebellion against the Union.
- Succession: His death paved the way for Millard Fillmore’s presidency.
Top 7. Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore of New York assumed the presidency after Taylor’s death and is best known for signing the Compromise of 1850. While intended to stave off civil war, the compromise included the Fugitive Slave Act, a law that forced federal officers and citizens in free states to assist in capturing escaped enslaved people. This act is viewed by modern historians as a moral failure that inflamed abolitionist sentiment and made conflict inevitable.
Our analysis places Fillmore among the worst because his attempt at “middle ground” came at a horrific human cost. By trying to appease the South to save the Union, he alienated the North and destroyed the Whig Party. He left office unpopular and was rejected by his party for nomination in 1852.
Fillmore is often the subject of a famous “did you know” myth. In 1917, journalist H.L. Mencken published a satirical article claiming Fillmore installed the first bathtub in the White House. Despite being a complete fabrication, this “fact” is still frequently cited today. On a factual note, Queen Victoria reportedly described him as the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Key Highlights
- Legislation: Signed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.
- Party Collapse: The last Whig president; the party disintegrated shortly after his term.
- Foreign Policy: Dispatched Commodore Perry to open trade relations with Japan.
Top 6. Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding of Ohio swept into office promising a “return to normalcy” after World War I, but his administration became synonymous with corruption. While Harding was personally popular, he surrounded himself with the “Ohio Gang,” a group of cronies who used their government positions for personal gain. The Teapot Dome scandal, where oil reserves were secretly leased to private companies for bribes, remains the defining stain of his tenure.
We suggest that Harding’s failure was one of judgment and oversight rather than malice. He famously admitted to a friend, “I am not fit for this office and should never have been here.” His inability to control his subordinates led to a collapse of public trust that was only fully revealed after his sudden death in 1923.
Insider details reveal that Harding was an avid poker player who hosted twice-weekly games at the White House. Rumor has it that he once gambled away a set of White House china during a high-stakes game, illustrating the casual and often unprofessional atmosphere that permeated his administration.
Key Highlights
- Scandal: Teapot Dome was the first time a cabinet member went to prison.
- Economic Policy: Signed the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921.
- Reputation: consistently ranked in the bottom five until recent years.
Top 5. William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison, a military hero associated with Ohio, holds the record for the shortest presidency in American history. Dying just 31 days after taking office, his ranking is unique; he is judged not by what he did wrong, but by his complete inability to do anything at all. His death created a constitutional crisis regarding succession that had to be resolved by his vice president, John Tyler.
From Top 10 America’s perspective, Harrison represents a “null value” in presidential history. His campaign was the first to use modern mass-marketing techniques (the “Log Cabin and Hard Cider” campaign), but his governance is non-existent. He serves as a historical warning about the fragility of leadership.
The legend of his death is one of the most famous in American lore. It was long believed that he died of pneumonia caused by delivering the longest inaugural address in history (nearly two hours) without a coat in freezing rain. However, modern medical analysis suggests he actually died of septic shock due to “enteric fever” (typhoid) caused by the White House’s contaminated water supply.
Key Highlights
- Tenure: Served exactly 31 days (March 4 – April 4, 1841).
- Firsts: First president to die in office.
- Inauguration: Delivered an 8,445-word speech, the longest on record.
Top 4. Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire is widely regarded as one of the most destructive presidents in U.S. history. His support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, opening Northern territories to slavery and sparking the violence known as “Bleeding Kansas.” His administration is seen as the tipping point that made the Civil War all but inevitable.
We view Pierce as a tragic figure who was overwhelmed by the forces of his time. A “Doughface” (a Northerner with Southern sympathies), he sought to preserve the Union by appeasing pro-slavery interests, a strategy that backfired spectacularly. His failure to lead a divided nation accelerated the country’s slide into chaos.
Pierce entered the White House carrying an unbearable burden of grief. Weeks before his inauguration, he and his wife witnessed their 11-year-old son, Benny, being crushed to death in a train derailment in Massachusetts. His wife, Jane, believed the accident was divine punishment for his political ambition and spent much of her time as First Lady in deep mourning, writing letters to her dead son.
Key Highlights
- Major Legislation: Signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854.
- Political Fallout: Was denied renomination by his own party in 1856.
- Quote: Reportedly said after leaving office, “There’s nothing left to do but get drunk.”
Top 3. Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson of Tennessee took office following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, tasked with the monumental job of Reconstruction. Instead of continuing Lincoln’s vision, Johnson fiercely opposed rights for freed slaves and battled with the Republican Congress. His leniency toward the defeated Confederate states allowed the “Black Codes” to proliferate, setting the stage for a century of systemic racism in the South.
Top 10 America ranks Johnson highly on this list because his actions actively sabotaged the healing of the nation. He was the first president to be impeached, surviving removal from office by a single vote in the Senate. His stubborn refusal to compromise or protect the newly emancipated population is viewed as a betrayal of the Civil War’s outcome.
Before his political rise, Johnson worked as a tailor, a trade he was quite proud of. He famously made his own suits even while serving as governor and in Congress. He was the only Southern senator to remain loyal to the Union during the Civil War, which is why Lincoln chose him as a running mate—a decision that had profound historical consequences.
Key Highlights
- Impeachment: Impeached by the House in 1868; acquitted by one vote in the Senate.
- Vetoes: Vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (Congress overrode him).
- Purchase: His administration purchased Alaska from Russia (“Seward’s Folly”).
Top 2. James Buchanan
James Buchanan of Pennsylvania has traditionally held the title of the worst president in history. His inaction during the “Secession Winter” of 1860-1861 allowed seven Southern states to break away from the Union without any federal resistance. He famously stated that while he believed secession was illegal, he also believed the federal government had no legal right to stop it.
Our analysis aligns with the historical consensus: Buchanan’s paralysis in the face of crisis was a catastrophic failure of leadership. By deferring the issue of slavery to the Supreme Court (actively lobbying for the disastrous Dred Scott decision), he abdicated his responsibility to govern. He left the White House handing Abraham Lincoln a nation already in flames.
Buchanan remains the only lifelong bachelor to serve as president. He had a distinct physical quirk: a wandering eye and nearsightedness that caused him to tilt his head forward and to the left when engaging in conversation. While his supporters viewed this as a gesture of attentiveness, his detractors mocked it as a sign of his deceitful nature.
Key Highlights
- Crisis: Presided over the secession of 7 states.
- Economy: The Panic of 1857 occurred during his first year.
- Legacy: Often quoted telling Lincoln, “If you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man indeed.”
Top 1. Donald Trump
Donald Trump, primarily associated with New York and Florida, is a polarizing figure who has recently been ranked last in major academic surveys, including the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project. Historians cite his challenges to democratic norms, the events of January 6th, and his distinction as the only president to be impeached twice as primary reasons for this placement. His tenure marked a significant departure from traditional presidential conduct.
In Top 10 America’s objective review of these academic rankings, Trump’s position at #1 reflects the intense weight scholars place on institutional stability. While he maintains a fervent base of support and reshaped the federal judiciary, the academic consensus penalizes his administration heavily for the polarization and systemic shocks that occurred during his term. We present this ranking as a reflection of current expert data.
A unique aspect of his presidency was his use of social media as a primary tool of governance, bypassing traditional press channels to speak directly to the public. Additionally, he was the first president without any prior military or government service, entering the office solely from a business and media background.
Key Highlights
- Rankings: Placed last (45th) in the 2024 Presidential Greatness Project survey.
- Impeachments: Impeached in 2019 (Ukraine) and 2021 (Incitement of Insurrection).
- Legislative Impact: Signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Conclusion
Leadership is a heavy mantle, and the history of the United States shows that even those who seek the highest office can crumble under its weight. From James Buchanan’s passivity on the brink of war to the ethical collapses of the Harding administration, these presidents serve as powerful reminders of the consequences of failure. At Top 10 America, we believe that knowing who failed is just as important as knowing who succeeded, as it teaches us what to demand from our future leaders.
Did any of these rankings surprise you, or do you think a different president deserves the bottom spot?
