A random poll of Americans would draw mostly puzzled looks at the name, but according to Independent Institute Senior Fellow Ivan Eland, in his 2009 ranking of the presidents, Recarving Rushmore, this 10th US president has the strongest record upholding Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty.

On the prosperity front, Tyler vetoed both the attempt to revive the national bank, and a bill to raise tariffs. His efforts for peace included ending "the longest and bloodiest Indian war in US history," and cutting the number of troops in the US Army by 33%. He also chose not to respond militarily to both an internal rebellion in Rhode Island, and to a border dispute with Canada, both of which were instead resolved peacefully.

But what of those presidents whose birthdays morphed in "Presidents Day"—Washington and Lincoln—or these two plus one usually ranked as "Greats:" Washington, Lincoln, and FDR?

As Eland points out:

What do these three presidents have in common, then? The answer: a crisis, especially war. The greatest crises in American history were the country's founding, the Civil War, and the Depression and World War II. Washington, Lincoln, and FDR, not coincidentally, were the presidents during these crises.

Washington ranks #7 using Eland's Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty ("PP&L") scale, which keeps him in the "Good" category. Points against him include his handling of the Whiskey Rebellion, and inflating Executive power beyond the Founders' intent, both in foreign and domestic policy.