6. Harry Truman (1945-1953)
For his leadership, Truman gained praise from historians. After V-E Day, he ordered atomic bombs to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki when Japan refused to surrender, finally ending World War II in the Pacific. Shortly thereafter, Truman watched the signing of the United Nations Charter, set up to preserve peace.
6. Harry Truman
5. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Eisenhower jumped from 9th in the 2000 rankings to 5th in 2017, largely owing to an increasingly favorable view of his leadership in the crisis. The energies of Eisenhower were largely dedicated to easing the Cold War tensions. After years of war in Korea, he obtained a truce, desegregated the U.S. armed forces, and sent federal troops to enforce a court order in Little Rock, Arkansas, to desegregate public schools.
5. Dwight D. Eisenhower
