When the American history profession produces one of those rankings of American presidents their criteria always seem to be geared toward giving the highest rankings to whomever ignores the Constitution the most, over-spends and over-taxes the most, kills the most people in wars, drives up the national debt the most, passes the most freedom-destroying laws, and grows government while shrinking individual liberty the most. That's why Lincoln, FDR, and Woodrow Wilson are always ranked at the top.

In sharp contrast, several years ago Ivan Eland published an "alternative" presidential ranking in the form of his book, Recarving Rushmore, in which his criteria were based on how good a job presidents have done in preserving "peace, prosperity, and liberty."  His number one ranking went to John Tyler, who served as president from April 4, 1841, to March 4, 1845.  Tyler "exhibited restraint in dealing with an internal rebellion, a bloody Indian war, and a boundary dispute with Canada."  He "supported a sound policy of limiting the money supply, and he generally opposed high tariffs, a national bank, and federal welfare to the states."