Top 10: Underrated

This list is very debatable. Let me make that absolutely clear. By no means is this list comprehensive or correct. But it is my best attempt to rank the top 10 underrated presidents by their recognition in the eyes of the common American.

10. James K. Polk
The last of the strong chief executives before the Civil War.

9. Richard Nixon
People seem to forget that he did anything as president other than resign due to Watergate.

8. John Tyler
The fact that he's a president is what he should be given credit for. His assertion in making himself successor to the deceased William Henry Harrison set the Vice President's position as first backup for a presidential death.

7. James Garfield
The man didn't have time to do much, I know. But he did manage to both play the political game in satisfying Stalwarts long enough to be elected, and then be president by not becoming Roscoe Conkling's dog on a chain.

6. William Taft
This big fella may have been a generally poor president, but we have to remember that he did more trustbusting than TR did.

5. Chester Arthur
He rose above party factions and possibly parties themselves. Then he reformed civil service. He also modernized the navy.

4. William McKinley
This man is the first modern president. He brought back power to the position, and thus ended the Gilded Age's streak of generally weaker presidents.

3. Lyndon Johnson
His work for civil rights, as well as his appointment of a black cabinet member, are often overlooked due to his involvement with the Vietnam War.

2. Millard Fillmore
He gave a boat to Commodore Perry, which would lead to relations with Japan. In addition, he supported the Compromise of 1850 (even while VP, doing so against the views of Zachary Taylor) which helped postpone the Civil War a bit

1. Benjamin Harrison
His signing of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act is what let TR, Taft, and Wilson go trust busting.