Poll: Who’s Your Favorite U.S. President?

Today is President’s Day—a public holiday during which U.S. presidents are honored for their contributions to the nation. While it is, strictly speaking, on occasion to honor all presidents since George Washington, we thought we’d ask our readers to vote for their favorite president over nearly the past 50 years.

Here’s a quick roundup of presidents and their achievements from 1963 through 2012, culled from the official website of the White House: 

1. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969): Texas strongman who pushed for civil rights, envisioned “A Great Society” and presided over the Vietnam War.
2. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974): Ended the draft, signed anticrime laws and championed environmental protection before being implicated in the Watergate scandal and becoming the first president ever to resign from the job of running the country.
3. Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977): “The Healer.”
4. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981): Sought to make government “competent and compassionate” in the face of considerable economic challenges.
5. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989): The first two-term president since Eisenhower’s rule ended in 1961, Reagan is credited with fulfilling his 1980 campaign pledge of restoring “the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism.”
6. George H.W. Bush (1989-1993): Aspired to make the U.S. “a kinder and gentler nation” as well as “a force for good.”
7. Bill Clinton (1993-2001): First democratic president since Roosevelt to win a second term. Presided over the lowest unemployment and inflation rates, not to mention a budget surplus. Survived the Monica  Lewinsky scandal against the background of unprecedented approval ratings.
8. George W. Bush (2001-2009): The second U.S. president ever—since John Quincy Adams in 1825—to succeed his father to the White House. Implemented major tax cuts at home and waged wars abroad in the aftermath of 9/11.
9. Barack Obama (2009-): Has some impressive achievements to his credit, particularly in Heath Care, but has yet to be judged by history.