Results of a presidential survey released over the President’s Day weekend that came out on CNN last February 16, 2009, revealed that Abraham Lincoln was ranked first among all the other former United States presidents.

The poll asked 65 historians to rank each U.S. president on 10 leadership characteristics: economic management, moral authority, public persuasion, international relations, crisis leadership, administrative skills, vision/setting an agenda, relations with Congress, performance within context of times, and how they pursued equal justice for all. The survey was conducted for the cable television network C-SPAN; and this was the network’s second survey since 2000, where Abraham Lincoln led the survey as well.

The survey listed George Washington as second in rank, while Franklin D. Roosevelt placed 3rd, Theodore Roosevelt 4th, and then followed by Harry Truman in the 5th spot. Ulysses S. Grant had the largest leap from 33rd to 23rd. Bill Clinton climbed the chart from 21st to 15th; Ronald Reagan moved from 11th to 10th; and George H.W. Bush jumped from 20th to 18th. George W. Bush placed 36th in the new poll while James Buchanan held the last spot.

Abraham Lincoln has indeed left a grand legacy of freedom to our people today, having led the nation through the American Civil War, from which he saved the Union and eradicated slavery. Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky on February 12, 1809. Prior to becoming president, Abraham Lincoln served as captain in the Black Hawk War. He was also a lawyer, an Illinois state legislator for eight years, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1847 to 1849. As president, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that took effect on January 1, 1863, ordering the freeing of slaves in territories not under Union control. He also promoted the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution that was later ratified by the states in 1865. The amendment officially abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, and it remains to prohibit the said acts until this day.

About C-SPAN
C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) is a private, non-profit American company that was created in 1979 carrying a mission to “provide public access to the political process.” In this regard, the network broadcasts nonstop coverage of public affairs programming as well as government proceedings such as the Senate and the House of Representatives. C-SPAN is operated by the National Cable Satellite Corporation, whose board of directors is composed mainly of representatives from major cable companies. The network does not accept funding from government sources nor does it accept any advertising from outside entities. Instead, C-SPAN receives its funding from fees charged to cable and satellite operators that carry the network’s programming.

Related Sources:

C-SPAN outlines the summary of 2009 Historians Survey of Presidential Leadership.

A view the overall ranking of C-NET’s presidential survey for 2009 in comparison with results in 2000.

List of historians who participated in the 2009 presidential leadership survey.