The GOP of 1956 would have very little to do with the GOP of today. The Republicans of then understood that the USA was part of an international order, the Republicans then understood that a social compact existed in which the better off in society were morally obligated to watch out for the less fortunate in society. The GOP then refused to make room for wackos like the John Birch Society and would not make room for the extreme elements of the Tea Party.
So how can a president be rated given the moving goal posts of party stance, and it's obvious base, public gestalt?