GWB Third on Greatest President List
N E W Y O R K, Feb. 18 -- George W. Bush takes the bronze in his debut on the nation's greatest-president list, boosted by a strong vote from the Republican judges. A more venerable Republican, Abraham Lincoln, wins the gold, with the silver medal to John F. Kennedy.
An ABCNEWS.com poll finds those are the standings when Americans are asked to name the country's greatest president. Aside from Bush's sudden arrival, the biggest change is a 10-point drop in Ronald Reagan's position, from first place on Presidents Day last year, when 18 percent picked him, to a tie with Bill Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt for fourth place this year.
Reagan lost ground as Republicans in particular cited Bush, who's been riding an extraordinary wave of public approval for his response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Among Republicans, Bush finishes numerically first as the greatest president. Among independents he's third, and among Democrats he's fifth.
Historians may differ, of course, and recency does play a role in a question like this — presidents who're fresher in the public's memory have a much better chance of making the list. Among the 19 presidents cited by respondents, all but five served in this century.
Abe Is Tops
But, as Lincoln shows, greatness can have staying power. The 16th president, he had served barely over a month into his second term when he was assassinated on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, 136 years ago. But still he tops the list today as the greatest U.S. president.
The reason, perhaps, can be found in no better place than his second inaugural address, delivered as the Civil War consumed the nation. Each side, he said, "looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged …
