Most Influential Politicians in US History

Franklin D. Roosevelt is one of the most influential politicians in U.S. history due to his leadership during the Great Depression and World War II. His New Deal policies fundamentally reshaped the role of the federal government in the economy and society, while his wartime direction solidified America's position as a global superpower.

• Leadership during the Great Depression

• Initiation of the New Deal

• Transformed the country during the Great Depression

• Transformed the country during World War II

Barack Obama stands out in this ranking for being the first African American president of the United States, a historic milestone that redefined political representation. His presidency was marked by the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which significantly expanded healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, and by his leadership in foreign policy, including the end of the Iraq War and the Iran nuclear deal.

• Criticism of the Bush Administration

• Most progressive member of the Senate

• Legitimized progressive policies

• Advanced progressive social policies

Dwight D. Eisenhower was an influential political figure due to his leadership as Supreme Allied Commander in World War II, which granted him immense prestige. Subsequently, as president, he oversaw the construction of the Interstate Highway System, a massive infrastructure project that transformed American transportation and economy, and managed the Cold War with a policy of containment that shaped international relations for decades.

• His background as a military planner served him well as president

• Responsible for the victory on D-Day

• He led the United States during the Cold War

Lyndon B. Johnson is one of the most influential politicians in U.S. history due to his ambitious Great Society agenda, which aimed to eradicate poverty and racial injustice. His leadership propelled the passage of landmark civil rights legislation and social programs that transformed the nation.

• Promoted an agenda against racism and poverty

• Managed the introduction of electricity

• Promoted social reforms

Abraham Lincoln is fundamental to this ranking for leading the United States through its deepest crisis, the Civil War, and for abolishing slavery. His leadership and vision preserved the union and laid the groundwork for a more just nation.

• Issued the Emancipation Proclamation

• Took advantage of the Democratic Party's division

• Defended the concept of the working class

• Fought with determination to preserve the Union

Thomas Jefferson was a central figure in the founding of the United States, drafting the Declaration of Independence and serving as the third president, laying the groundwork for territorial expansion and American democracy. His vision and leadership significantly shaped the nation's political and philosophical trajectory.

• Third President of the United States

• Founded the University of Virginia

• Responsible for the Louisiana Purchase

• Influential in the Declaration of Independence

Ronald Reagan is considered one of the most influential politicians in U.S. history for his pivotal role in ending the Cold War and revitalizing the American economy through his free-market policies. His presidency marked a significant ideological shift and left a lasting legacy on foreign and domestic policy.

• Revitalized the American economy

• Joined the Republican Party

• Governor of California

Harry S. Truman was a pivotal figure in American politics, leading the country through the end of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War. His decision to use the atomic bomb and the implementation of the Truman Doctrine laid the groundwork for US foreign policy for decades.

• Promoted North American intervention in the internal affairs of other nations

• Committed to the containment of communism

Theodore Roosevelt is a key figure in American political history due to his progressive leadership and his role in expanding presidential power. His "trust-busting" and conservation policies laid the groundwork for modern regulation and environmental protection, leaving a lasting legacy on the nation.

• He fought against monopolies and regulated companies

• He consolidated the imperial policy of the United States as a world power

• He expanded the American fleet

• He pursued a moderate progressive agenda to preserve capitalism

George Washington is fundamental to this ranking as the first President of the United States and for his leadership during the Revolutionary War, laying the foundation for the nation. His decision not to seek a third term set a crucial precedent for the peaceful transfer of power.

• Chief military officer in the fight for independence

• Key leader in the war for independence

• Led the Continental Army to victory

• First President of the United States