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Up To Date

How U.S. Presidents Stack Up Against Each Other

By Steve Kraske,

Trevor Grandin

Published July 23, 2021 at 4:15 PM CDT

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President Dwight D. Eisenhower has remained number five for the last five years after he jumped from eighth.

After former President Donald Trump's departure from the White House made him eligible for C-SPAN's presidential rankings, some are questioning how he placed.

Donald Trump placed 41 out of 44 presidents in C-SPAN's 2021 ranking. The top three have stayed the same since 2009, and George W. Bush rose four spots. What's behind the rise and fall of these historic figures and how do you judge a presidency less than a year after it ended?

Amity Shlaes, author and chairwoman, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation
Richard Norton Smith, presidential biographer

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Trevor Grandin

Trevor Grandin is a contributing producer for KCUR Studios.

See stories by Trevor Grandin

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