A question for historians.?

Question

What are some good examples of presidents or other historical figures who were unpopular at the time but are widely admired today? And vice versa as well. Thank you.

Answer 1

Harry Truman was very unpopular, and later recognized as a great leader, won the reelection against Dewey by a literally a hair pin.
Abraham Lincoln, almost lost the 1864 election, was very unpopular and later recognized as the best president after George Washington
Chief Ocala ( Seminole Indians) was considered a bandit, now recognized as a great warrior. Similar things could be said of Sitting Bull and Geronimo. Our perspective of the Indians have changed,especially after 1924, when native Americans were finally recognized as American citizens by virtue of their birth right and heritage
Vincent Van Gogh was considered a failure of a painter, only sold like two canvasses in his whole life, despite the fact that his brother was an art dealer. Nowadays a genuine van Gogh is worth over 70MM USD.
Perhaps this is the best example: Jesus Christ was a prophet sentenced to Crucifixion for his heresies. Nowadays 2 billion people consider themselves Christians.

Answer 2

Two come to mind. Richard Nixon and Abe Lincoln.
Neither were popular for a long time and then were.
Lincoln because of the Civil War and Nixon because of Watergate.
Later Lincoln became one of the most popular presidents and then Nixon in his later life became popular.

Answer 3

Martin Luther, Joan of Arc,....Hitler, in a way, Aaron Burr, ...Try to think about people who tried to change things or challenged the conventional beliefs of their time period. These kinds of people were always unpopular when they were alive, but are usually admired by later generations.

Answer 4

Truman, T. Roosevelt.

Answer 5

Don't forget Jimmy Carter.

Answer 6

gerald ford, abe lincoln, socrates,