I was born on September 3, 1951. On this Presidents Day, I found myself wondering: who were the five best presidents to serve during my lifetime?

I did not want to judge them based on my own political leanings. Instead, I wanted to see how historians and scholars rank them. So I turned to academic research — most notably the Siena College Research Institute’s U.S. Presidents Study (2022) and the Presidential Greatness Project (2024).

The Siena study is based on an ongoing survey of historians, political scientists and presidential scholars. The Presidential Greatness Project draws on the views of more than 200 presidential scholars. While no ranking is definitive, these surveys offer a broad, research-based look at how experts assess presidential performance over time.

So, according to those scholars, who were the top five presidents of my lifetime?

Number 5: John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy consistently receives strong marks for public leadership and his handling of Cold War crises. Historians continue to debate how much of his reputation reflects accomplishments versus the promise of a presidency cut short, but he regularly appears near the top in expert surveys.

Number 4: Barack Obama.
Scholars often cite Obama’s management of major economic and international challenges, along with policy initiatives that have had lasting impact. In recent rankings, he frequently lands in or near the top 10 among modern presidents.

Number 3: Lyndon B. Johnson.
Johnson’s sweeping domestic achievements — particularly civil rights legislation and Great Society programs — drive his high placement in many surveys. His escalation of the Vietnam War tempers that assessment for some historians, but his legislative record remains significant.

Number 2: Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Eisenhower is praised for steady leadership, administrative competence and a measured approach to Cold War tensions. Historians often reward his stability and governance style in retrospective evaluations.

Number 1: Harry S. Truman.
Truman is frequently credited with pivotal post–World War II decisions and institution-building that shaped America’s modern global role. Scholars often highlight his decisiveness during moments of extraordinary pressure.

I am sure this list will spark debate. Some readers will disagree with who made the top five; others will argue that certain presidents were left out. I was far too young to remember Truman and recall only glimpses of Eisenhower. From John F. Kennedy forward, however, I have vivid memories of the presidents who have served during my lifetime.

Who would make your top five from 1951 to the present? My guess is there are as many lists as there are readers.

Happy Presidents Day.