Steve,

I was born in '65, so I'd add Johnson to the list: succeeding Kennedy, presiding over the key years of the Vietnam war, and greatly expanding the reach (and size) of government via the Great Society should ensure that he's at least somewhat well known a hundred years from now.

In contrast, Woody Allen did a pretty good of explaining how the future may very well view Nixon, in Sleeper.

Ed

The Great Liar President Bill Clinton
"I never had sexual relations with that women" will be remembered.

You just like teasing me with Heinlein references, don't you? Ya big sexy beast of a pundit...

Clinton.

In 100 years the truth about him will be completely known and it will a far worse than what is known today.

His administration will be seen as the watershed it was. A time when the country woke up and started to reverse the tilt to the left.

Of the later 20th century presidents, the ones who will be most remembered (in order):

Reagan
Kennedy
Truman
LBJ

(GWB will be on the list of major 21st century presidents, 9/11 assured that)

Why? Because each of them was a central character in one or more of the stories which will make up a chapter of the history book.

Think of what the chapters will be. My guess:

End of WW II / A- Bomb (Truman)
Cold War (Truman, Reagan)
Vietnam (LBJ)

Space Exploration (JFK)
Computers (no president)

Civil Rights (JFK, LBJ)
Women's Liberation (no president)
Youth Culture (no president)

None of the other presidents play a major role in any of the key stories of the century. They will be remembered primarily by specialists who study political history, but not as part of the general history book. They will be the equivalents of Polk or Coolidge.

This is especially true about Clinton. Today he seems very important, and places high on lists of best and worst presidents. However, he did not leave a lasting legacy in either foreign affairs or domestic legislation. The key stories of the 90's were before his time (end of Cold War), after he left (9/11) or took place away from Washington (Internet, stock bubble.)

For the school kids of 2100, Clinton will be remembered as the guy who was president between Bush and his father.

From that list? Easy -- Reagan and Clinton. Reagan for defeating Communism and Clinton the same way certain Lincoln successors are remembered.

100 years is a long time. Who now remembers McKinley, and who really knows much of anything about Teddy Roosevelt? We only see the highest mountain peaks as the ranges of the past recede behind us.

Clinton is a two-term Harding. Like Harding/Coolidge, he'll be (barely) remembered as a crooked guy who presided over a prosperous era he had nothing to do with. He'll be a footnote.

I don't remember FDR or Truman, born in 1963, but they will be seen as the guys who saved the world from Hitler and then the West from Stalin. Also both have memorable images (FDR's cigarette holder, his wheelchair) which will help preserve them in memory. JFK and LBJ will be somewhat memorable for the expansion of government and Vietnam and for being associated with the upheavals of the '60s.

Reagan may be remembered as being associated with the end of Soviet communism.

Nixon will be remembered solely because he was driven from office, which will make him a perennial quiz question.

Ford and Carter and Bush I will be footnotes. Eisenhower, unfairly, will be forgotten since he was a decent guy who presided for two terms over a peaceful and prosperous period and who did not have a nuclear war. He was great because nothing (apparently) happened. An achievement which is easily overlooked.

Bush II will be remembered as the first president of the era of struggle against militant Islam -- like Truman with the Cold War -- an era which may last a long time, and which may take many very horrible turns before it ends.

Also, what happens in the decades ahead will in part determine which past presidents look good, or seem to provide relevant models.

Kennedy
F. Roosevelt
Nixon
George W. Bush

FDR will be discredited. It's already started. His policies helped delay recovery from the depression. Tho he may be remembered for that.

Ronnie - Good

Bubba - former rapist-in-chief. Less than 50 years before the Senate records are unsealed!!!! I've already instructed my younger friends, if I don't survive, to come to my gravesite and yell, "YOU WERE RIGHT! THEY WERE SCUM!"

Clinton will be remembered for the impeachment. Why didn't anyone mention that? Too obvious?

Reagan (TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!)
George W. Bush (9/11)
JFK (if he were alive today, he'd be seething right now at how the Dems are running their party)
Truman (brought WWII to an end)