Six American Presidents are viewed favorably by at least 80% of all Americans. Those esteemed six are led by the first President George Washington. The Father of our Country is viewed favorably by 94% of Americans. The sixteenth President, Abraham Lincoln, is the second most popular. The man who gave us the Gettysburg Address is viewed favorably by 92% (see Presidential favorable ratings).

The next four are Thomas Jefferson (89%), Teddy Roosevelt (84%), Franklin D. Roosevelt (81%), and John F. Kennedy (80%).

Five other Presidents are viewed favorably by at least 70% of Americans today—John Adams (74%), James Madison (73%), Ronald Reagan (72%), Dwight Eisenhower (72%), and Harry Truman (70%). It’s worth noting that the nation’s first four Presidents—Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison—all continue to earn rave reviews in the twenty-first century.

The highest unfavorable rating for any President is earned by Richard Nixon. Sixty percent (60%) of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the only President to resign from office. Thirty-two percent (32%) have a favorable opinion of the man who famously went to China.

Close on Nixon’s heels for most unpopular is the current President, George W. Bush. Fifty-nine percent (59%) have an unfavorable opinion of him. Lyndon Johnson (42%), Bill Clinton (41%), and the first President Bush (41%) are the only other Presidents viewed unfavorably by at least 40% of Americans.

The least recognized former President is John Tyler. Seventy-four percent (74%) have no opinion whatsoever of the man derisively known by some as His Accidency. Tyler had been Vice-President for just a month when the President died. The Constitution was not clear as to what should happen and not everyone was convinced Tyler should serve out the full term as President. During a tumultuous tenure in the White House, Tyler annexed the Republic of Texas, and was the first President to attract Articles of Impeachment. In his post-Presidential days, Tyler tried to broker a compromise to avoid the Civil War but died in 1862 as a member of the Confederate House of Representatives.

The man whose death made Tyler President, William Henry Harrison, is the second least known President. Sixty-three percent (63%) have no opinion of him. That’s not surprising given than he was only President for a month. His most lasting Presidential contribution may have been to serve as the first half of the campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.”

Five other Presidents are unknown to a majority of Americans today—Franklin Pierce, Martin van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor, and James Polk.

Eight Presidents have net negative ratings. In addition to Nixon, the current President Bush, and Tyler, this list includes Franklin Pierce, Millard Fillmore, Benjamin Harrison, Warren Harding, and James Buchanan.

Among living Presidents, Jimmy Carter and the first President Bush are viewed favorably by 57% of Americans. Bill Clinton is viewed favorably by 55%.

The surveys of all Presidents were conducted between June 13 and June 24. Each rating was determined based upon national telephone surveys with 1,000 randomly selected adults.