Reagan overtakes Kennedy as America's favorite president

[Jenn! 918]

Americans Say Reagan Is the Greatest U.S. President

Lincoln and Clinton next on the list; Washington fifth

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- Ahead of Presidents Day 2011, Americans are most likely to say Ronald Reagan was the nation's greatest president -- slightly ahead of Abraham Lincoln and Bill Clinton. Reagan, Lincoln, or John F. Kennedy has been at the top of this "greatest president" list each time this question has been asked in eight surveys over the last 12 years.

Presidents Day, celebrated on the third Monday of February each year, officially commemorates the Feb. 22 birthday of George Washington. The country's first president is not regarded by Americans as the nation's greatest president, however. Gallup's Feb. 2-5 update shows that Washington comes in fifth on the list, behind Reagan, Lincoln, Clinton, and Kennedy.

In the eight times Gallup has asked this same "greatest president" question over the last 12 years, one of three presidents -- Lincoln, Reagan, and Kennedy -- has topped the list each time. Reagan was the top vote getter in 2001, 2005, and now 2011. Lincoln won in 1999, in two 2003 surveys, and in 2007. Kennedy was on top in 2000, and tied with Lincoln in November 2003.

Americans as a group have a propensity to mention recent presidents, not surprising given that the average American constantly hears about and from presidents in office during their lifetime, and comparatively little about historical presidents long dead. Four of the five most recent presidents are in the top 10 greatest presidents list this year -- Obama, George W. Bush, Clinton, and Reagan.

Reagan Tops Among Republicans, Clinton Among Democrats

Americans clearly evaluate presidents through partisan lenses -- with Democrats and Republicans each most likely to choose a greatest president within their own party. Republicans name Reagan substantially more than anyone else, followed by Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, and then George W. Bush. Democrats are most likely to say that Clinton was the greatest U.S. president, followed by Kennedy, Barack Obama, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Independents name Lincoln and then Reagan as top choices.

Roosevelt on Top 55 Years Ago

The results of a Gallup poll conducted some 55 years ago show how these rankings can change over time. In 1956, Gallup asked Americans to name the top three greatest presidents. The top vote getter at that time was Franklin Roosevelt, who had died only 11 years previously. Roosevelt was followed by Lincoln, Washington, and Dwight Eisenhower, the incumbent president at the time of that poll.

Implications

Americans' views on the topic of great presidents appear to have coalesced around three presidents: Lincoln, Reagan, and Kennedy. One of these three has been at the top of the list in each of eight surveys conducted since 1999.

This "greatest president" question is open-ended, meaning that respondents are asked to name a president off the top of their head. This type of measurement tends to increase the mention of recent presidents. Democrats, for example, are most likely to name Clinton -- the most recent Democratic president not currently in office -- as greatest. Republicans, in slightly different fashion, tend to skip over the two most recent Republican presidents, the two Bushes, and instead are most likely to choose Reagan.

http://www.gallup.co...-President.aspx

[slim 1,530]

Amazing when you look at how it's split between the parties. One man's trash is another man's treasure!

[Danno 1,228]

Oddly enough his popularity only seems to grow, I recall when he was despised as much as Bush by the Left.

Reagan had a great sense of humor which is something I admire in any person.

Here is a side to Reagan few are familiar with.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

here's why Reagan was awesome and liberals hate him.

TRUTH:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs

[mawilson 2,133]

here's why Reagan was awesome and liberals hate him.

Reagan was a socialist worse than Obama.

During Reagan's first term, the top income tax rate was 50 percent - 11 percent

higher than the Republican threshold for being a socialist. (Remember, Obama

was branded a socialist for wanting to raise it from 35 percent to 39 percent.)

Yet, even with a 50 percent tax rate on millionaires, Reagan spent us into a

huge deficit. In an attempt to reduce the deficit, in 1982 he raised taxes

on gasoline and cigarettes. In 1983, he signed the biggest payroll tax

increase, creating a surplus in the Social Security system which he then

used to further finance his "tax and spend" socialist agenda.

See, Reagan wasn't just any socialist - he was a "tax and spend" socialist!

[Danno 1,228]

Reagan was a socialist worse than Obama.

During Reagan's first term, the top income tax rate was 50 percent - 11 percent

higher than the Republican threshold for being a socialist. (Remember, Obama

was branded a socialist for wanting to raise it from 35 percent to 39 percent.)

Yet, even with a 50 percent tax rate on millionaires, Reagan spent us into a

huge deficit. In an attempt to reduce the deficit, in 1982 he raised taxes

on gasoline and cigarettes. In 1983, he signed the biggest payroll tax

increase, creating a surplus in the Social Security system which he then

used to further finance his "tax and spend" socialist agenda.

See, Reagan wasn't just any socialist - he was a "tax and spend" socialist!

Since you know the numbers... what was the rate under carter and what was the rate at the end of his first term... then the second after the second?

[mawilson 2,133]

Since you know the numbers... what was the rate under carter and what was the rate at the end of his first term... then the second after the second?

And how big was the deficit at the end of his second term, relative to what it was under Carter?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Clearly the independents know the truth.

[Fandango 1,439]

lol dems put Obama ahead of Lincoln. Unreal.

[웃 910]

I wonder how much of an influence the media has in this? Geagan got 38% of the vote with Washington and Lincoln getting 14 and 13%...

I am pretty sure not an hour of airtime goes by on Hannity's show without him mentioning worshiping Geagan...

Edited February 20, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Danno 1,228]

And how big was the deficit at the end of his second term, relative to what it was under Carter?

IN whole numbers or as a percentage of the vastly expanded economy?

[mawilson 2,133]

IN whole numbers or as a percentage of the vastly expanded economy?

As a percentage.

[Danno 1,228]

As a percentage.

It was too big.

But lets share the blame, Reagans Goal of a strong defense seemed to hold more weight than his ability to get a Democratic House to agree to the promised cuts.

If you believe as many do that his arms build-up drove the USSR to an ealy grave.... and if you consider the huge reduction in the military we (clinton) enjoyed.... I guess you could consider his spending "thrifty" in the long term.

Again, Reagan did not spend anything the Democrats did not agree too and in fact,much of that spending was incurred in "deal making" with the Dems to get what he wanted.

Reagan actually made bigger mistakes than that, all his Supreme Court Picks were flawed, He pulled and "amnesty-scamesty" and in some ways he grew Gov't as well.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was going to say it was because a lot of stupid people died of old age, but I see Clinton is still on the list.

Edited February 20, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

lol dems put Obama ahead of Lincoln. Unreal.

Lincoln freed the slaves, Obama keeps them working picking lettuce and lining the pockets of American business. Just like the Dems always did.