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Where they stand : the American presidents in the eyes of voters and historians
by Robert W. Merry.
The rating of American presidents is a popular fascination for scholars and citizens alike. Merry believes that professionals' opinions are, however, sometimes out of sync with those of the people and, specifically, the electorate that installed or repudiated a president.
Therefore, he accords the vox populi weight equal to the verdicts of seven polls of historians conducted over past decades. The professors and the voters exhibit no differences over who were the best presidents Washington, Lincoln, and FDR but they diverge over nominees for the near-great category; electorates liked Jackson and Reagan, but historians have been critical. Likewise, the dons praise Wilson and Truman, whereas the people voted their parties out of power.
To bridge such discrepancies, Merry combines fluid commentary on what impresses historians and application of his rule for the populace's standard of approval, rewarding an incumbent with a second term and succession by his party's nominee. Anything less plunges a president down the scale to average or failure, with near-great Polk as a conspicuous exception.
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