Eh, depends on how you're ranking, there's a decent few that have both huge pros and huge cons - LBJ being the obvious example.

Yes, LBJ vs. Obama is an interesting comp, I think you can argue it either way Who else, though?

Does JQA get bonus points for his SecState/Congressional work? I feel like that affects the ranking.

Uhhhh, I don't think so, no. President rankings are qua president. Otherwise you'd have to give Jimmy Carter credit for his general sainthood

Yeah that's a fair point

The Total Lifetime Accomplishments Of Dudes Who Were President rankings look quite different

Also personally I don't rank Washington in a top 3 with Lincoln and FDR, b/c I think a lot of his heroisation is Revolutionary War generalship rather than his presidency as such. Which is not something I necessarily disagree with, but by that logic Grant and Ike should be up there too.

He was actually a very very good president, he belongs in the top three. Union could've very easily fallen apart without his leadership.

Also, “quitting” was a really important precedent.

Yeah but I'm not even talking about that

My high ranking of Washington is less to do with the generalship and more to do with stepping down after two terms and his work at the Constitutional Convention (obviously that’s pre-presidency, but you don’t have a Constitution without it).