Why Do We Forget Presidents? The Science Behind It

People often struggle to remember all the U. S. presidents, and a recent incident with Vice President JD Vance highlights this issue. Vance could only name two of Ohio's eight presidents when asked. This isn't just about Vance's memory; it's a common problem for many Americans. Research shows that most presidents fade from memory within 50 to 100 years after leaving office. People tend to remember presidents who were in office during major events, had a big impact, were very charismatic, or were involved in scandals. The rest often fade into obscurity. The two presidents Vance named were Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes. He also mentioned Grover Cleveland, but Cleveland wasn't from Ohio. Vance joked that the question was unfair and that many Ohio presidents are forgotten because they served during a less memorable time. The presidents from Ohio that Vance couldn't name include William Henry Harrison, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding. Many of these presidents are not well remembered because they served during a time when there were fewer major events or scandals. The science of memory explains why people forget presidents. People tend to remember the first and last presidents they learn about, but forget the ones in the middle. This is why presidents like Lincoln are remembered, even though he was in the middle of the list. Recent presidents also fade from memory faster than expected. Despite Ohio's history of producing eight presidents, most of them are not well remembered today. Only Grant has achieved lasting fame, mostly because of his role in the Civil War. The others are mostly forgotten, even though some had significant accomplishments. The research on presidential memory shows that collective memory is consistent across generations. This means that as a nation, we share a similar memory of presidents, and some are more likely to be remembered than others.