One of the most controversial presidents in US history, Richard Nixon led the country from 1969 to 1974. Although it's true that Nixon was popular for his foreign policy achievements before the Watergate scandal, his involvement in that unforgettable episode forced him to resign, making him the first and only US president to step down from office.

Image: History in HD

Judging a president goes beyond their bad decisions: The lack of empathy for the people they serve can be just as damaging. Herbert Hoover was president when the Great Depression began, following the stock market crash of October 1929. He maintained a hands-off approach that was harshly criticized as insufficient and led many to see the president as out of touch with the suffering of Americans.

Image: Tomasz Zielonka

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th US President, was a polarizing figure. As a Union general, he contributed greatly to winning the Civil War. However, during his presidency, there were several scandals related to corruption that affected his image negatively, both during his term and for many years thereafter.

Image: Library of Congress

After Abraham Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson served as the US president from 1865 to 1869, just six weeks after becoming Lincoln's vice president. It was a critical period, and he is remembered for opposing many Reconstruction efforts. He even vetoed several key congressional initiatives, including the Civil Rights Act of 1866, but Congress overrode many of his vetoes. In 1868, Johnson became the first US president to be impeached.

Image: Library of Congress

Often ranked among the least popular presidents, James Buchanan led the country just before Abraham Lincoln, during a time of deep internal division. Despite the growing tensions, he chose to stay out of the conflict. He's most often criticized for doing little as the Southern states began seceding from the Union and making only minimal efforts to prevent the Civil War.

Image: Library of Congress

Some presidents aren't necessarily considered unpopular because of any specific scandal or failure, but rather they simply went unnoticed. One example is Chester A. Arthur, who served as president from 1881 to 1885. He took office after President James A. Garfield was assassinated and, while many historians consider him a good president, he's often forgotten.

Image: Library of Congress

Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, is considered by some historians to have been an ineffective leader. Although Harding himself wasn't directly involved, corruption scandals implicating members of his administration–along with his inaction in response to them–did the most damage to his reputation.

Image: Library of Congress

Millard Fillmore, who served as US president from 1850 to 1853, is widely criticized for decisions that deepened national divisions, particularly his signing of the Fugitive Slave Act, which dangerously increased tensions in a country already in conflict.

Image: Pixabay

In 1841, John Tyler became the first vice president to assume the presidency following the death of a sitting president. His assumption of office was unexpected–even for himself–and his clashes with the Whig Party's ideas didn't help his image among voters. In fact, he was expelled from the party while still in office. To make things worse, after his presidency, Tyler sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Image: Joanna Kosinska

Zachary Taylor became the 12th President of the United States in 1849, but his sudden death in July 1850 meant his time in office lasted only 16 months. While he isn't necessarily disliked, he's less remembered, partly because of his short time in office.

Image: Library of Congress