The president of the United States is ultimately accountable for the population’s well-being and growth. While some of these leaders kept their word, others failed to deliver on their commitments. This list includes the finest and worst presidents the United States has ever had. Check out these presidents’ intelligence! Their accomplishments may surprise you!
The U.S. Presidents Facts You Might Not Know
Ulysses S. Grant – 130
When you consider that the ‘least clever’ president on this list still has an IQ of 130, which is 15 points above average, you can see how intelligent we’re talking about when it comes to American presidents. Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, was a former Union Army commanding general during the Civil War. During his presidency, which ran from 1869 until 1877, he was highly popular. He earned a reputation for himself after serving in the Mexican-American War a few years after graduating from West Point. He became the country’s president at the age of 47, making him the country’s youngest president.
Ulysses S. Grant
George W. Bush – 138.5
George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States and served as Commander-in-Chief during the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. He served two terms in office from 2001 and 2008. During his administration, he presided over the invasion of Afghanistan and the second Gulf War, which saw Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein deposed. In reaction to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Bush established the Department of Homeland Security. Before campaigning for president in 2000, he served as governor of Texas for five years. Bush was elected president after winning the electoral vote despite losing the popular vote. With an IQ of 138.5, George W. Bush is another president with a lower-than-average IQ when compared to all other presidents. He is only the second president’s child, as his father, George H.W. Bush, was president for about ten years before he was elected.
George W. Bush
Bush Hears About 9/11
Everyone recalls what happened on September 11th, 2001, at 6:00 a.m. It was the day of Al Qaeda’s strike on the United States. Thousands of people died when two planes collided in New York City’s World Trade Centers. At the time of the incident, the president was at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota County, Florida.
Bush Hears About 911
James Monroe – 138.6
If you didn’t know, James Monroe was President from 1817 until 1825. This founding father served as the United States’ fifth president. He was a popular contender for the job before, and he won it handily. Monroe was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War who became famous for his foreign policy, which he named “The Monroe Doctrine.” Monroe had the third-lowest IQ score, barely ahead of George W. Bush, with a score of 138.6. Despite this, a 138.6 score does not suggest being a slacker. The Wechsler IQ classification classifies it as “extremely high” intelligence.
James Monroe
Andrew Johnson – 138.9
Andrew Johnson was elected president after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. He was the first president of the United States to be impeached, though. This is due to his efforts to reconcile the secessionist states into the Union while denying former slaves protection. The plan was criticized in Congress. He also had a 138.9 IQ, which made issues worse.
Andrew Johnson
William Howard Taft – 139.5
While he may appear to be near the bottom of the list, William Howard Taft was the only president to have served in both the executive and judicial departments of government, with an IQ of 139.5. He became the 10th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court after serving as president from 1909 to 1913. William H. Taft, the 27th President of the United States, was the first and only head of state to be named to the United States Supreme Court. He was born and raised in Ohio and went to Yale University to study law. During his stay at the famous university, he was reputedly a member of the secret society Skull and Bones.
William Howard Taft
James Buchanan – 139.6
The 15th president had a similar performance to his predecessor. Most historians will recall that James Buchanan set some lofty aspirations for himself during his presidency. During his administration, Buchanan claimed to match George Washington’s achievements. For example, James Buchanan had a 139 IQ. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite make it.
James Buchanan
The Only Bachelor
Only one president has never married in American history, and that president is none other than James Buchanan! The 15th president never explained why he never married, but it’s conceivable he was too focused on his profession and presidency to think about his personal life!
The Only Bachelor
Zachary Taylor – 139.8
Zachary Taylor, dubbed “Old Rough and Ready,” was the 12th President of the United States, but he is best known for his brief presidency. He was a combat hero before entering politics, and his leadership talents in the field earned him the moniker. He was the last Whig Party presidential candidate, and he was praised for his bravery throughout the Mexican-American War. In March 1849, he was elected to the House of Representatives and spent much of his time debating slavery. Despite owning slaves, he was an outspoken anti-slavery supporter. During his presidency, he advocated for the statehood of New Mexico and California. Unfortunately, Taylor died of cholera while still in office in July 1850.
Zachary Taylor
Unexpected Death
Zachary Taylor’s unexpected death triggered a flurry of speculation concerning the origin of his illness. Some claimed that he drank poisoned ice water or milk, while others suggested it was due to his excessive eating of cherries during the Fourth of July party. Can you believe that in the 1800s, something as easy as eating too many cherries was considered a cause of death?
Unexpected Death
Harry S. Truman – 139.8
Harry S. Truman served as the 33rd President of the United States from 1945 to 1953. He was elected to power just after the Second World War ended. He was a soldier in World War I and the first president to utilize nuclear bombs. He was known for his stubbornness, and it was believed that he had used his veto power 180 times! Harry Truman has an IQ of 139.8, which places him in the bottom fourth of all US presidents.
Harry S. Truman
Warren G. Harding – 139.9
Warren G. Harding was named the winner of the 29th election. It was a historic occasion because it was the first presidential election in which women were allowed to vote. Warren Harding started his career in journalism as the owner of the Marion Star newspaper in Marion, Ohio. When the time came, he left the little community to seek a career in politics. During his administration, Harding declared the First World War to be finished when he reported that the US had negotiated an agreement with Austria, Germany, and Hungary. He was given the duty of bringing the country back to “normalcy,” which included economic growth. Throughout Harding’s presidency, his cabinet was troubled with scandals, but he died of a heart attack before they were made public.
Warren G. Harding
George Washington – 140
George Washington, as we all know, was a founding father and the first President of the United States. He was a crucial figure in the establishment of the nation’s governance structure from 1789 until 1797 when he was in power. During the American Revolutionary War, he also led the Continental Army. During the research, he was recognized as the second-best president in US history. Because he was one of the Founding Fathers, you might believe George Washington was a genius. To some extent, you are correct. He was significantly more intelligent than the ordinary human, with an IQ of 140. Regardless, he isn’t near the top of the president’s list.
George Washington
Gerald R. Ford Jr. – 140.4
After Richard Nixon resigned, Gerald Ford was elected as the United States’ 38th president. He was in charge from 1974 until 1977, and during that period he pardoned his predecessor. Ford was well-known for his role in the Helsinki Accords, which intended to normalize relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. Ford was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and went on to study law before pursuing a political career. He led the people through a period of great economic hardship, which aided his polling gains. Ford is the only person to have served as vice president and president without being elected to either of those posts.
Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Ford’s First Assassination Attempt
The events of September 5, 1975, took President Gerald Ford by surprise. A woman brandished a Colt M1911 pistol as he went through a cheering crowd in Sacramento, California. She was apprehended because the gun did not shoot. Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a member of Charles Manson’s cult, was the woman who attempted the assassination.
Fords First Assassination Attempt
Ford’s Second Assassination Attempt
It’s hard to think that President Ford was assassinated only 17 days after a woman attempted to kill him. Sara Jane Moore, who was in California at the time, took out a pistol and fired a single shot at the president. A former marine immediately overcame her when she missed. Even though the bullet missed the president, it hit a taxi driver. Who will be the next president on our list?
Fords Second Assassination Attempt
Lyndon B. Johnson – 140.6
He took over as president after John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The United States’ presence in Vietnam was then increased by Lyndon B. Johnson. We’re still near the bottom of the list of presidents, with an IQ of 140.6. Lyndon Baines Johnson, also known as LBJ, is the 36th President of the United States. He was President of the United States from 1963 to 1969, and he left an unmistakable impression. He has received accolades for his efforts to help the country advance in several crucial areas. He signed various civil rights, firearms, and welfare laws while president of the United States. Of course, his contributions to the enactment of the Social Security Act, as well as the expansion of Medicaid and Medicare, must not be overlooked.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Herbert Hoover – 141.6
Herbert Hoover served as President of the United States during a period of great difficulty for the country. The 31st President of the United States grew up in Iowa and Oregon before enrolling in Stanford University in its inaugural year. Later in life, he married Lou Henry, his college love. You may not be aware that Herbert Hoover’s IQ was assessed to be 141.6. While this is a high amount overall, it is rather normal when it comes to presidents. He was in office from 1929 to 1933, at the height of the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression. Despite the challenges, Hoover tried a variety of strategies to assist his fellow citizens, including decreasing taxes and urging businesses to keep their employees.
Herbert Hoover
Calvin Coolidge – 141.6
After President Warren Harding’s tragic death in 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge was the next in line. He was elected president the following year and served until 1929. He had a 141.6 IQ, which was below average for presidents. By the end of his time, he had become a popular political figure because he campaigned for a laissez-faire foreign policy and small government. Even though the White House had been beset by scandal for years, many people considered his administration a period of dignity for the country. His placid manner belied his commitment to racial equality and civil rights. Regardless, he didn’t always have the support of his colleagues in the government, especially when it came to making lynching a federal crime.
Calvin Coolidge
Ronald Reagan – 141.9
Ronald Reagan served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He became well-known for his Reaganomics economic policies, among other things. Reduced social spending, deregulation of domestic markets, greater military spending, and tax cuts for the middle class were all highlighted. Reagan scored midway between the bottom quarter and half of his fellow presidents with an IQ of 141.9. He oversaw the Iran-Contra incident as well as the end of the Cold War. During a speech at the Berlin Wall, he memorably told Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!”
Ronald Reagan
Reagan’s Assassination Attempt
On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. Contrary to common opinion, the would-be assassin did not target the president to impress young actress Jodie Foster. A ricocheted bullet struck the president, but he was unhurt. “I forgot to duck,” he’d later confess to his wife.
Reagans Assassination Attempt
Ronald Reagan’s Death
Ronald Reagen, a former president of the United States, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when a complication led to pneumonia. Ronald Reagan died on June 5, 2004, from Alzheimer’s disease and pneumonia. He died at the age of 93 after a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s. He is interred in California’s Ronald Reagan National Library.
Ronald Reagan’s Death
Richard M. Nixon – 142.9
The 37th President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, was noted for his ability to negotiate foreign affairs. He served as President from 1969 to 1974, and the country’s involvement in the Vietnam War came to an end during his tenure. He also returned the POWs and signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union. He was President Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower’s vice president from 1953 to 1961, and he completed several amazing exploits throughout his tenure. He is credited with helping to fund the Environmental Protection Agency, beginning the “War on Cancer,” and signing a bill to combat crime. He stood for re-election in 1960 but lost to Democrat John F. Kennedy. Nixon would have gotten a higher ranking if the Watergate incident hadn’t happened.
Richard M. Nixon
Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
There isn’t a single American who hasn’t heard about the Watergate scandal. Richard Nixon was forced to resign as President of the United States as a result of this incident. He was the first president to do so in the United States. President Gerald Ford, on the other hand, acquitted him.
Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
George H. W. Bush – 143
From 1989 until 1993, George H.W. Bush, Sr. was President of the United States. Younger generations, on the other hand, will most certainly remember him as George W. Bush’s father. The elder Bush served as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President for eight years before being elected to the presidency. He was well-known for his ability to lead in difficult situations. He was an excellent negotiator, particularly on foreign issues. He wasn’t foolish, even if he was a contentious character. George H. W. Bush, with an IQ of 143, was in the middle of the pack of US presidents.
George H. W. Bush
H.W. Bush’s Big Accomplishments
The Cold War ended, the first Gulf War began, and the Berlin Wall collapsed during George H.W. Bush’s administration. He was in charge of the Clean Air Act, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the Americans With Disabilities Act, among other things. In addition to these accomplishments, he has the record for the longest presidential marriage, with a 73-year marriage!
H.W. Bush’s Big Accomplishments
George H.W. Bush’s Death
Bush, who had battled vascular Parkinson’s disease for years before succumbing to it on November 30, 2018, barely seven months after his wife, Barbara, died, died of it. He was the first president to die in nearly a decade, with Gerald Ford, the previous president, dying in 2006.
George H.W. Bush’s Death
James K. Polk – 143.4
From 1845 to 1849, James K. Polk served as the 11th President of the United States. He had a 143.4 IQ score. His inauguration was the first in history to be broadcast live on television through the telegraph. The Mexican War was won by the United States under Polk’s leadership. During his presidency, the Mexican Cession of 1848 and the acquisition of Texas aided the United States in expanding its territory.
James K. Polk
William McKinley Jr. – 143.4
William McKinley Jr., the 25th President of the United States, had an IQ of 143.4 and served from 1897 to 1901. He served as the final president of the United States during the Civil War and also helped the US win the Spanish-American War. During his presidency, the United States saw substantial changes, with Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico all becoming territories. Despite doing little to assure that all Americans were treated properly, he was well-liked for his efforts to strengthen the economy.
William McKinley Jr.
McKinley’s Assassination
On September 6, 1901, anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot President William McKinley twice in the belly. The concert was held at the Temple of Music in Buffalo. Ironically, the president’s secretary was successful in convincing him not to return to the trip because he was concerned about this particular occurrence. McKinley died eight days after the assassination.
McKinley’s Assassination
Grover Cleveland – 144
Grover Cleveland, who scored a 144 on the IQ scale, was on his way to becoming one of the top halves of presidents. Grover Cleveland was president for two terms, the first of which lasted from 1885 to 1889. He did not serve consecutive terms, however, because he was defeated for reelection in 1892 and then reelected in 1893. Conservatives welcomed his fiscal strategy and ambition for political reform. The Panic of 1893, which grew into a serious economic disaster, and the countrywide Pullman Strike of 1894 were both dealt with during Cleveland’s second term. When his progenitors landed in Massachusetts, he was a descendent of one of the first families to migrate from Europe to the new world.
Grover Cleveland
Cleveland’s Marriage
It’s a big deal to be the first (and only) president to marry in the White House. On the other hand, many people were more concerned about who the president was marrying. She was a vivacious 21-year-old woman 28 years his junior. She wasn’t just pretty, personable, and proficient in French; she was also popular with the general people.
Cleveland’s Marriage
Andrew Jackson – 145
Andrew Jackson had an IQ of 145, which was average for presidents but much higher than the general population. Andrew Jackson was the first and only president of the United States. He was in charge from 1829 to 1837. We’re not surprised if you remember him from the twenty-dollar bill! Isn’t it fascinating that he opposed paper money and instead campaigned for silver and gold coins? He was taken by the British when he was 13 years old during the Revolutionary War. That’s true; he’s the only President who has served as a prisoner of war. He was able to prevent South Carolina from seceding and pay off the full national debt during his presidency.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration Party
President Andrew Jackson had a charisma that made people believe he was one of them. After making his inauguration speech, he and his supporters rushed to the executive house to start the festivities, but things went wrong. The group was encircled by a big throng, which attacked the residence. Several people consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, raided the kitchen, defiled the venue, and raised a ruckus. After the booze was transferred outside, the crowd dispersed.
Andrew Jacksons Inauguration Party
Dwight D. Eisenhower – 145.1
Dwight D. Eisenhower was the United States’ 34th President. From 1953 until 1961, he was President of the United States. One of Truman’s most well-known moves was to reverse his policy and desegregate the army. He was given the nickname “Ike” and went on to become one of America’s most popular politicians. Did you know that he has a 145.1 IQ?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Benjamin Harrison – 145.4
Benjamin Harrison served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was the 23rd President of the United States. He is recognized as one of the best presidents in American history because of his excellent international ties and working relationship with Congress during his presidency. The enforcement of African-American voting rights and the entrance of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming to the Union were two of his administration’s most major accomplishments. Benjamin Harrison had a higher IQ than Eisenhower and Jackson, at 145.4, although he was only in the top half of the population. Because he was the great-grandson and namesake of founding father Benjamin Harrison, he was given the moniker “Little Ben.”
Benjamin Harrison
Martin Van Buren – 146
Martin Van Buren was president for only one term, from 1837 to 1841. During the Panic of 1837, also known as the Great Depression of 1837, he was in government. The “first great depression” in American history began three months after he assumed office and lasted until 1933. Martin Van Buren was dubbed “the Little Magician” for lobbying for the US Treasury to become an autonomous institution to keep finances separate while political tides ebbed and flowed. With an IQ of 146, he had the average IQ among presidents. Andrew Jackson served as Secretary of State during Andrew Jackson’s presidency before succeeding him as President and eventually becoming the “minister to Great Britain.”
Martin Van Buren
Rutherford B. Hayes – 133.9
From 1877 to 1881, Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States, serving as a Republican politician. After months of fighting, he won the electoral vote but not the popular vote, comparable to George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election. Mark Twain, the author, surprised everyone by expressing his support for Hayes. He was a member of the now-defunct Whig party and served three terms as governor of Ohio before becoming president. Hayes pushed for further black civil rights, but his attempts were blocked by the Democratic majority in Congress. With a score of 133.9, Rutherford B. Hayes had a lower IQ than the other presidents.
Rutherford B. Hayes
William Henry Harrison – 146.3
The record for the shortest term in office belongs to William Henry Harrison. Most people remember him for his terrible death while still serving in the military. From March 4, 1841, to April 4, 1841, he was in office for 31 days. After a gloomy inauguration day, the 9th president died of pneumonia. The president, it appears, declined to wear a coat and instead spoke from the back of a horse. William Henry Harrison, another ordinary president, had an IQ of 146.3. William Henry Harrison is mainly remembered for dying in office, setting a new record for the shortest term in office. He was the last president to witness the American Revolution, and he is best known for heading the army to victory.
William Henry Harrison
Franklin Pierce – 147.4
President of the United States 14th, Abraham Lincoln, was a contentious figure in American politics. Given this, it’s reasonable that the Kansas-Nebraska Act would be signed by this Democratic president, who called the abolitionist movement a “fundamental threat to the nation’s unity.” Franklin Pierce has a 147.4 IQ, which is only a tenth of a point higher than the typical president. This act effectively gave each state the power to decide how they felt about slavery.
Franklin Pierce
John Tyler – 148
After William Henry Harrison died, John Tyler was elected the 10th President of the United States. He was the first president to take over from a president who had died while in office. To put it another way, he was the country’s leader from 1841 to 1845, and he was the country’s first non-elected president. Tyler ceded leadership of the state in exchange for his support of slavery and other concerns. Because of his meek demeanor, he earned the nickname “His Accidency” in Congress. John Tyler had an IQ of 148 and was no doubt smart. During his reign, he was also the subject of the first unsuccessful impeachment effort.
John Tyler
Fifteen Children
John Tyler has a LOT of children, 15 to be exact, in case you didn’t know. As a result, he is the president with the most children! They were born between 1815 and 1860 and were the children of two separate marriages. Letitia Tyler, his first wife, gave birth to his first eight children, and Julia Gardiner, his second wife, gave birth to his last seven.
Fifteen Children
Millard Fillmore – 149
Before the Whig Party was disbanded, Millard Fillmore was its president. He was born into an impoverished household and ascended through the ranks of the government to become Vice President during Zachary Taylor’s reign. Fillmore was elected president after the incumbent president died of cholera in 1850. Following Taylor’s death, all of the White House cabinet members resigned, leaving Fillmore to reconstruct the White House from the bottom up. He signed the 1850 Compromise to try to prevent tension between the North and the South from 1850 to 1853, but he failed. He also assisted in the establishment of contact with Japan, which was still isolated at the time. Japan allowed American ships to dock in the country under his reign.
Millard Fillmore
Abraham Lincoln – 150
Abraham “Abe” Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, did a surprising number of things throughout his tenure. He led the Union during the Civil War and created the way for the abolition of slavery while in office from 1861 to 1865. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which created the foundation for the abolition of slavery by granting slaves in the South the status of free persons. He also made slavery illegal by ratifying the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. His reign was cut short by his assassination in 1865. With an IQ of 150, he was not just one of the smartest presidents, but also one of the smartest persons on the planet.
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s Assassination
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is likely to be remembered as one of the most significant events in American history. Actor John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln while watching a performance of Our American Cousin at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The president died only five days after the Civil War ended, only hours after the war finished.
Lincolns Assassination
Franklin D. Roosevelt – 150.5
Franklin D. Roosevelt, better known as FDR, served as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. He was so popular at the time that he was elected four times! FDR was the president of the United States throughout the Great Depression, Prohibition, and WWII. He was also the driving force behind the New Deal, which resulted in a series of social and economic reforms. With an IQ of 150.5, he was among the top quarter of American presidents in terms of intelligence.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Roosevelt’s Death
Because he was recognized as one of America’s greatest presidents, his death would be felt across the country. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, from an intracerebral hemorrhage. President Truman, however, would not live to see the war ended.
Roosevelts Death
Chester Arthur – 152.3
Chester Arthur, the 21st President of the United States, was born to an Irish immigrant family in Vermont. People stated he “looked like a president” after President James Garfield died in 1881 and he assumed the presidency. The vice president-turned-president is primarily renowned for implementing the Pendleton Act from 1881 to 1885. He made sure that individuals would be nominated to federal government jobs, rather than people with political affiliations. Exams were also utilized to screen applicants under the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. The country’s first federal immigration legislation was passed during Arthur’s presidency, forbidding “paupers, criminals, and lunatics” from entering. Chester Arthur had an IQ of 152.3, in case you didn’t know. Even for a president, that’s a lot of money.
Chester Arthur
James A. Garfield – 152.3
Did you know that James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States, was the first and only sitting member of Congress to be elected to the White House? He fought as a Union major general in the American Civil War, engaging in engagements including Chickamauga, Middle Creek, and Shiloh before his election. He was able to do excellent things throughout his time, which ran from March 4, 1881, to September 19, 1881, including eliminating corruption in the postal service and strengthening the navy. Among other things, he advocated for civil rights and universal education. In July 1881, he was assassinated, and his time was cut short owing to various diseases.
James A. Garfield