The Brightest U.S. Presidents Ranked by IQ Score

Is it possible to rank someone’s intelligence level accurately? And the million-dollar question is that- is it necessary to exhibit an above-average level of intelligence to become the nation’s leader?  There indeed is a formula to check the intelligence quotient of every individual, including national leaders. We don’t mind having the world’s smartest person as our leader, but we cannot expect them to have extremely high IQ levels, can we?

The country has had some brilliant presidents so far, many of whom have made remarkable strides towards making America the best in the world in every respect, or did they? To find it out, Dean Simonton, a University of California at Davis psychologist and researcher quantified the intelligence quotient (IQ) of all US presidents to date. And the results are somewhat shocking. Let’s have a look at the varying IQ levels of US presidents thus far.

Although according to some critics, Ulysses Grant-18th U.S. president, who held the office from 1869 to 1877, was an average IQ level president among the other US presidents Known for his courageous military expeditions during American Civil War, he led the Union Army’s Vicksburg campaign to victory and recaptured the Mississippi River.

Later on, he was given the command of all US armies. As a US president, his prime focus was to abolish the distinction between South and North. He joined hands with Radical Republicans, worked for improved public credits, and strengthened the US Navy up to the level of the Spanish Navy. Despite being a military man, his reconciliatory approach to foreign policy was phenomenal in resolving international conflicts. Regardless of his gallantry and hard work, corruption allegations followed by the great depression of the late 1880s put a big question mark on his effective performance as an American president.

Joe Biden, the 46th U.S. President has a long-serving political position in the American government. He remained 47th Vice President of America during the tenure of Barack Obama and represented Delaware for nearly half a century in the Senate. Born in Pennsylvania and raised in Delaware, Biden is among the 5th youngest senators and oldest president in US political history.

He was an average student and even faced plagiarism scandals in law school and yet earned double majors in history and political science from the University of Delaware and a law degree from Syracuse University. After practicing at a law firm for few years, Biden took a keen interest in national politics. He joined the Democratic Party as a councilman in 1971. His strong stance on the healthcare plan was driven by his personal setbacks of the sad demise of his wife and daughter from a car accident while brain cancer took away the life of his eldest son, Beau.

President, George Walker Bush is the 43rd President (2001-2009) of The United States. He was born in the famous Bush family of New Haven, Connecticut, whose father, George H.W. Bush, was also a President. Initially, his academic career was quite challenging. Bush narrated how a straight C-student eventually became one of the most successful presidents in US history. After receiving a business degree from Harvard University, he got into the oil exploration business following the patterns of his father.

In his incumbency, a terrorist attack at the Twin Towers of World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, was the worst nightmare for his administration. He showed an immediate reaction by launching the War on Terror against the AL- Qaida group of terrorists. He was simultaneously the most popular and the least popular president in American history and received much criticism over the Iraq War and his administrative actions during the devastating Hurricane Katrina. 

Andrew Johnson was the only president after Abraham Lincoln who had little formal education. After the assassination of Lincoln, he assumed the presidential position from 1865 to 1869. He remained the Vice President during Lincoln’s tenure.  Born in an underprivileged family in North Carolina, Johnson started work as a tailor at a young age.

The dispute between Andrew and Radical Republicans over the lenient reconstruction of the union and Freedmen’s Bureau created political turmoil and made him the first American president to be impeached. His decision of pardoning Confederate leaders at a large scale reinstated their representations in the House and allowed them to set up “Black Codes,” providing a legal way for slavery and racial prejudice. He was also against the provision of rights to African-Americans. His worst government policies extended the period of national strife than to heal the wounds of wars.

The 12th  president of America, Zachary Taylor, was known as “Old, Rough and Ready” because of his brave military tactics during the American-Mexican War and the War of 1812. Before attaining the highest position of The White House in 1849, he served the army for almost 40 years. Despite being born in an aristocratic family of Virginia and a  plantation owner in Mississippi, Taylor was against the expansion of slavery.

During his tenure, slavery and Southern secession were the most prominent national issues. His “outsider” philosophy in government policies made him more a military man than a political one. Taylor tried his best to keep slavery out of California, Mexico, and Utah. Besides, he advocated statehood for California and Mexico. Before his early death from cholera in 1850, he led the troops against Native Americans and served as the commander of US troops in five battles, including the Mexican-American War, and won all five.

James Buchan, another wealthy president of America born in Pennsylvania. He was the 15th president of the USA who started his political journey as a Federalist and, after realizing the declining popularity of the Federalist Party, joined Democrats and took over the office during the troubling times of America from 1857 to 1861. Buchanan possessed incredible oratory skills and was a talented lawyer. These two distinctions helped him in entering politics.

He was part of Pennsylvania Legislature, US House of Representatives, and US Senator before the presidency. Crushing anti-slavery agitation and Fugitive Slave Act enforcement were the worst decisions of the Buchanan Administration. His disapproval of Wilmot Proviso in 1846 and approval of the Compromise of 1850 reflected his lean toward the South and fear of slaves being masters in the future. Buchanan’s competency as a lawyer succumbed to his inept judgments on North-South conflict. For many, his support for the expansion of slavery gave rise to Civil War

Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of America, who served two terms in office from 1829 to 1837. His leadership during the Battle of Orleans earned him national fame and commemoration on American currency. However, historical reconsideration of his presidential performance also remembers him as an ethnic cleanser.  He was a law graduate, served in the Tennessee militia, and represented Tennessee in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  

As a founder of the Democratic Party, his tenure experienced a flourishing democracy in which he raised individual liberty by enfranchising the common man in the political mainstream. Jackson was in favor of slavery and Native American removal. But for others, he was raising individual liberty and promoting Democratic principles by enforcing migration. One of Jackson’s most noteworthy achievements was that he brought the national debt to $0, which happened for the first time in American history.

He was born in Ohio, graduated from The Yale University with excellent results, and in 1880 passed the bar examination from Cincinnati Law School. Taft served as a lawyer, local and federal judge, the US solicitor general, and the US secretary of war. He was the 27th President of the United States from 1909 to 1913, later served the country as the Chief Justice of America. The only president who holds high positions in both the Executive and Judicial branches of United States history. 

Among the domestic policies, Taft Administration approved the Pane-Aldrich Tariff Act to reduce the tariffs. Under his government, for the well-being of average workers, he created the Department of Labor to ensure workplace safety, wage standards, work hours, and unemployment insurance. He also passed the 17th amendment bill, which gave US citizens the right to elect Senators. 

A Republican Congressman and the first unelected 38th president of America, Gerald Ford took over the office in 1974. His honest and flexible ideologies helped the disheveled nation revive people’s confidence in government policies marred by Richard Nixon’s Watergate Scandal. Rising inflation, unemployment, and wars were enormous challenges for Ford Administration. Gerald Ford started his political career in 1948 as a Republican congressman from Michigan, remained House minority leader, and was also the part of the Warren Commission that investigated the assassination of the president John F. Kennedy and was victim to 2 assassination attempts.

Ford took practical steps to stabilize the ailing economy and brought the inflation rate down from 12.2 percent to 4.6 percent. By the time of the recession, unemployment reached its highest point, which decreased within the first few months of his tenure. His notable achievements as a president include signing the Helsinki Accords, cutting the inflation rate by half, and getting nearly 4 million people employed. Still, his presidential pardon to Nixon generated controversies. 

Amid the rise of materialism in America, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as the 30th  US President and reduced the lavish federal spending. He was born in Vermont on July 4, 1872, making him the only president born on Independence Day. He maintained the reputation as conservative in economic affairs by limiting the Federal budget. He also was a progressive Republican for advocating women’s suffrage. 

Calvin Coolidge was a man of action and not words. “The words of a president have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately.” Therefore, in the American history of presidents, he is mainly known as “Silent Cal.” He took immediate actions for economic uplift, signed Immigration Act, and gave a boost to free-market capitalism. In foreign policy, a significant step was the Kellogg-Briand Pact, an agreement between United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, and Germany to abandon war for the national interest. He is one of the few presidents who left office with smaller national debt than his predecessors.

America’s 33rd  Harry S Truman was born in Missouri. An avid reader and blunt spokesman, Harry remained in the office of The White House from 1945 to 1953. He got little formal education. Because of poor eyesight, he was not allowed to join the army, yet he managed to cheat the physical tests and joined the army during World War I. During his 2 terms in office, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WW II, recognition of the Israeli State, Korean War intervention, formation of NATO alliance, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan are some of his notable action plans. 

The prime focus of his foreign policy was the containment of communism and Soviet expansion, which gave birth to the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the U.S. The famous social reform ‘Fair Deal,’ which comprised national medical insurance, federal housing programs, improved labor wages, agricultural reforms, etc. was under Truman’s watch.  In 2021, a C-Span Poll ranking of all US Presidents relevant, Truman was 6th behind Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt.

Being a part of a low-income household, Lyndon had experienced the impact of inflation, and therefore, he wanted to work tirelessly to become successful and influential in life. His ultimate target was to become the president and enter the White House. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th president of the U.S. after the then-president John F. Kennedy was assassinated. 

As the president, Johnson launched several progressive reforms to help the nation become a great and unified society where justice prevailed, and equal wages were a reality. Johnson’s initiatives in the country’s healthcare, education, and economic sectors had lasting positive impacts. Such as he implemented programs like Medicare, Head Start and signed the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. However, the only bad patch in his presidential tenure was during the Vietnam War, as historians agree that LBJ couldn’t lead the nation out of that predicament. LBJ retired in 1969 after just one term.

Hoover worked as a mining engineer in Australia after finishing college and became one of the key financiers of the country’s gold mining industry. He also was a respected investor, speculator and managed mining-related developmental works in Australia. Moreover, Hoover delivered lectures at different universities. Herbert Hoover founded the Hoover Institution as a library, which today has evolved into an influential conservation research organization. It now promotes conservation ideology.

Hoover amassed a considerable fortune through the gold mining business and also became famous worldwide. However, he may be the jack of all trades, but he indeed wasn’t the master of all because his presidential tenure wasn’t as remarkable or successful as his business ventures. Hoover was the 31st president of America and a somewhat unpopular president of his time. He held office between 1929 and 1933, a crucial time in American history as the nation went through the Great Depression.

He was the 40th president of the U.S. and occupied the office from 1981 to 1989. Although most of the policies implemented by Ronald Reagan received criticism and backlash, he remained faithful to the values instilled by his parents within him. Reagan left office with a staggering 68% approval rating. For your information, this is the highest rating ever received by a departing US president in the past few decades.

Some noteworthy achievements of Reagan include increasing the military budget, reducing domestic discretionary spending/taxes, and taking on the public-sector labor unions, apart from stimulating the much-acclaimed War on Drugs. Ronald Reagan also survived two assassination attempts. The highlights of his economic policy include reducing federal spending, federal income tax, capital gains tax government regulation, and a decrease in the inflation rate. His economic policy was so powerful that it was nicknamed Reaganomics. to date, his name is counted among the most popular presidents in US history.

George H.W. Bush was the 41st president of the U.S. and an IVY League school graduate. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Yale University and served the U.S. Navy later on. He is sadly ranked among the least intelligent presidents as his I.Q. is higher than his son by a few points. His entire presidential tenure is marred with controversies.

Vice President for two terms under Ronald Regan’s administration, Bush ran and became the 41st though he only lasted one term. Though Bush Senior has denied any involvement with the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1960s, it is speculated that he worked as an operative for the agency during this time. Under President Ford, Bush senior was appointed the Director of the C.I.A. in 1976.Bush senior is still resented for launching a military operation against Iraq in 1991 when Iraq invaded Kuwait and Panama. 

William McKinley, America’s 25th president, held office from 1897 to 1901. McKinley’s presidency was quite successful because he had the full support of Hayes every step of the way. Another aspect that contributed to his successful tenure was that he inherited a thriving and robust economy. William McKinley is remembered for leading the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War.

A significant achievement of president William McKinley is that he gained several territories, including Puerto Rico, Guan, and the Philippines, and signed a resolution for Hawaii’s annexation to the USA. As a president, McKinley’s main focus was on the expansion of the industrial sector. He was a huge supporter of an increase in protective tariffs to boost the industry. Resultantly, the Dingley Tariff Act was introduced. Furthermore, McKinley promoted the gold standard and denounced the free silver monetary policy. In addition to this, McKinley advocated for Sound Money and higher tariffs to restore economic prosperity

James K. Polk, the 11th  president of the U.S., served from 1845 to 1849. Polk was a diligent worker who became one of the most renowned, productive, and influential presidents of his time. He kept every significant policy promise he made to the people, and the country was soon en route to becoming a world power. Through the Mexican-American war, James K. Polk is acknowledged for increasing the U.S. territory.

In fact, with the acquisition of the Republic of Texas, the Mexican Cession after the war, and the Oregon Territory, the U.S. underwent significant territorial growth under his administration. During that period, he was the youngest presidential candidate to win. Just three months after leaving the White House, he died. Polk’s life and career are ideal examples of how to strike a healthy work-life balance. All of his efforts, he once said, were aimed at making up for the fact that he was once “the poor child, with pale cheeks, tormented and ravaged by sickness.”

The 22nd and 24th  president, Grover Cleveland, was dedicated to making American society progressive and stable. Throughout his two terms as the president, he worked towards making Americans a wealthy and influential nation. He was a conscientious person and never compromised upon his values, which is why today, he’s counted among the top 5 best presidents ever. Cleveland’s determination towards social progress is well-documented. he was a determined individual from a young age and strived to achieve what he aimed for.

Grover Cleveland later developed an interest in politics and soon became the mayor of Buffalo, NY, before being elected as the Governor of New York. During his first presidential term, Cleveland was highly respected and admired by the masses. But, during the second presidential campaign, he had some issues and couldn’t win the election. Being a determined person, Cleveland bounced back and re-entered the White House as the 24th president of the USA.

Nixon was the 37th president. He was a highly intellectual person, and his academic life was full of achievements and accolades. Nixon’s grades remained exceptional throughout, and he always remained a key participant in all the extracurricular activities of his school and college life

However, Nixon was a man of many talents, and academic excellence is just one of those unique gifts. Richard gave a stellar performance in WWII and received two commendations. He ran for the presidency twice and won it the second time. As a president, he achieved many remarkable targets. But the hallmark of his tenure is his fantastic foreign policy. By the later stages of Nixon’s presidency, he became engulfed in one controversy after another, which caused considerable reputational harm, and ultimately, he had to resign due to his paranoia amidst the Watergate scandal. Richard Nixon is the only president in US history to resign from office.

Dwight Eisenhower wasn’t a very studious kid in his youth and was more interested in sports. That’s understandable because Eisenhower was a great athlete. At West Point high school, Eisenhower was known as a delinquent. He joined the military soon after graduating and earned a good reputation.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor during WWII, at that time, Eisenhower was posted to Washington. So, Eisenhower was tasked to draft the plans to defeat Japan and Germany. he did that, and his work was highly appreciated. After leaving the military, Dwight Eisenhower joined NATO as its first Supreme Commander and eventually became the 34t president of America. Eisenhower was a pro-conservative party, and his presidential tenure is still remembered for expanding Social Security. It is remarkable how a below-average student became one of the most admired and intelligent of all US presidents so far.

A lawyer by profession, and a very successful one, Benjamin Harrison was a famous politician and a Church leader before he became the 23rd president of the USA in 1889. Harrison’s grandfather William Harrison, interestingly, was the country’s 9th president. This is the only grandfather-grandson duo ever to occupy the Oval Office in American history.

During his presidency, American society progressed significantly. He initiated national forest reserves and added six western states to American territory. he also significantly contributed to strengthening the U.S. Navy. However, if there are several hits in his presidential tenure, there are many notable misses as well. Such as, he couldn’t win the bill for educational funding and accepting the African American voting rights. by the time his tenure came to an end, Benjamin had become an unpopular and highly criticized president because he spent a considerable amount of the country’s money on personal luxuries, which made America economically unstable. 

George Washington wasn’t one of the most competent people in America during his presidency, which is evident from his IQ score. Compared to other American presidents of his generation, Washington was somewhat underprivileged among the lot as he didn’t receive any formal education beyond elementary school. Regrettably, his father passed away when he was young, and his family belonged to the low-income class, which is why he had to drop out of school.  

Still, he managed to become the first president of the U.S. in 1789. Historians wrote that he was hesitant to take up this role as he wanted to live life as a private individual after the American Revolution. He was a crucial part of the revolution that kicked the British Army and King George out of the American territories. This achievement alone is enough to mark Washington’s political career as a remarkable one

Martin van Buren was the 8th president and held office from 1837 to 1841. Van Buren was the first non-British president. He was born and raised in New York in a traditional Dutch household with Dutch being his first language. This made him the first president of the USA to have English as his second language.

Martin was a pro-Democratic party and served numerous roles while associated with it. However, his tenure wasn’t a very successful one as the country underwent devastating economic instability while he was in office. One of the biggest blunders of Martin van Buren was refusing Texas from becoming a part of the union. People were so unhappy with this president that after his downfall, the press celebrated. He did run for the presidency for a second term but lost the election against William Henry Harrison. After entering the White House, Harrison blamed Martin for making the country economically unstable and gave him the nickname Martin van Ruin.

Hayes was the 19th president of the USA and held office between 1877 and 1881. Rutherford studied law at the prestigious Harvard Law School. Hayes was a staunch supporter of equality and was a known abolitionist as he believed that there wasn’t any distinction between people based on race and ethnicity and considered blacks and whites as equals. As a lawyer, Rutherford often fought cases for slaves who had run away. Hayes was also known as an idealist as he believed in meritocracy and preferred it over contacts and affiliations.

A 3 time governor for the state of Ohio, the newly formed Republican party nominated him for the Presidency. Rutherford implemented reforms in civil service and fixed the issues prompted by the Civil War and Reconstruction. He worked tirelessly for the civil rights of African Americans and tried his best to end the social and political divide that existed between the blacks and whites. Sadly, his attempts couldn’t yield favorable results as the divide was too deep-rooted to remove. Hayes decided against a 2nd term and returned to private practice focusing on Education and Prison reform. When Hayes died at the age of 70 from a heat attack, his son converted his father’s home into a library to commemorate his father. This became a trend to the Presidential library that exists today.

The 9th president William Henry Harrison belonged to an affluent household but didn’t inherit anything as he was the last one out of his seven siblings. Williams was quite intelligent, so he knew he would be better off on his own and didn’t push his family much for his share of the inheritance. He joined the military and had an illustrious career using his many talents. He led American infantry and cavalry in various battles.

After having a successful career as military personnel, Harrison decided to get involved in politics. His first influential position was as the first governor of Indiana, and eventually, he became the 9th president in 1841 after defeating Martin Van Buren. Unluckily, his tenure was short-lived, as after being sworn in, he got affected by a deadly cold and died just 30 and a half days later. His death sparked a brief constitutional crisis in the country.

The news of Pierce becoming the 14th president was no surprise due to his influential family background. He was considered a celebrity in New Hampshire.However, after joining the office, he was unable to win the consent of his people in his decisions. Overall, his term as a USA President lags far behind the other presidents the USA had. Even historians consider him one of the worst presidents of the USA. 

However, his presidency also had several achievements. He set up an accountability system within the government sector and wanted to initiate the railroad building project. However, the criticism he faced throughout his term from the people put his achievements in the dungeon. The Kansas-Nebraska Act is one of the unwanted decisions of his government that allowed the new territories to make their own decision regarding keeping slaves. The same Act is responsible for laying down the foundation of the Civil War.

Millard Fillmore, the son of a sharecropper, became the 13th president. His inspiring life seems to be a fiction where a man of no family background, no money, started from zero and reached the top. He first became an assistant of the judge, gained experience, and utilized all his learning to become a lawyer -without having any degree.

He lived in New York, Buffalo, where he earned respect both as a lawyer and a politician. Later on, he worked as vice president under Zachary Taylor. Both of them won elections. However, Taylor’s death made room for Fillmore to become the US president. When Fillmore joined the office, conditions were quite challenging for him, such as riots for slavery rights were taking place and many more. His policies regarding those issues did not earn recognition. Soon after his term ended, he became a founder of the State University of New York.

John Tyler was a well-known lawyer by profession. His clients were quite impressed with him that they wanted him to become a politician. The death of President Harrison made John Tyler became the first vice president ever, who became president without winning any elections. The 10th president of the U.S. did not have a welcoming cabinet. Soon after he joined the cabinet, more than half of it quit. He received the title His Accidency.

Tyler believed in expanding American boundaries. He took most of his initiatives to expand the borders of America. He could not succeed well in this idea due to the presence of slave labor to push America’s boundaries. He is one of the least recognized US President who did not play a significant role in making America a great nation, nor could he make it to the top US presidents.

Barack Hussein Obama is the first-ever black African-American to become the president of the United States of America. The world was astonished to see a black man leading America after years of slavery, oppression, systematic racism, and hatred. He’s also a well known toker. “Marijuana no more dangerous than alcohol. When I was a kid, I inhaled. Frequently. That was the point.” Barack Obama commented on January 19, 2014. 

Obama won the Nobel Prize the same year he was elected president for simply being the first black U.S. President. He finish his undergraduate studies at Columbia University, then law degree from Harvard Law. Before serving just one term in the Senate for the State of Illinois, Obama taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School before becoming president. Obama belonged to the Democratic party, joined the office in 2009 as the 44th president. Most historians would agreed that his contribution as President has little significant value to America.

James Maddison, the fourth president of the United States, was exceptional in both appearance and intellect. Among the hall of US presidents, James had the shortest height of five feet and four inches but a staggering IQ of 141.25. 

Madison studied at the College of New Jersey. He had done a major in the classics, then in political philosophy. His interest in Political philosophy motivated him to pursue his career as a public servant. During his term, Maddison played a significant role in creating the US Constitution framework and the Bill of Rights. Rightly, he has earned the title of Father of the Constitution. Maddison also remained in office as a president for two full terms. He supported the establishment of a stable military and a national bank after the disorderly war of 1812. His wife also set the direction for the role of the First Lady in society and philanthropy. 

Chester Arthur became the 21st president of the United States after the sudden death of the previous President Garfield. Previously, Arthur was serving as his vice president. Arthur was a just president who trusted Merit as a decisive factor for getting government positions rather than through personal contacts, sources, and affiliations. 

Regardless of his good values and high intellect, he lost his next election. He got criminally charged for performing bribery and involving in corruption when he worked as a Collector of the Port of New York. Historians state that a bad reputation from a former job became the reason for not being elected. Although there were no sufficient proofs for these charges, nor he got a conviction. Still, the accusation was enough to stain his reputation to such an extent that he could not win the next elections and continue the second term as the US president. Another criticism of his credit is that he did not increase the country’s surplus.

James Garfield, the 20th president of the United States of America, lived an exciting life. He came from a financially unstable background with a low income while growing up. James worked as a boat worker, followed by a carpenter that helped him in getting into college. Next, from college, he applied for the Ohio state Senate. James did not become a part of the presidential race after doing any well-versed planning. He did not intend for this seat. He gave an impactful and well-appreciating nomination speech for John Sherman.

When the other hopefuls did not get enough support and hence were not picked, the name of Garfield was in the air for the presidential race. James spent one of the shortest presidential terms. Soon after six months of winning the presidency, James was murdered by a gunshot. When he started his office, his primary focus as a president was to abolish corruption from the post office. Furthermore, he wanted to expand the influence of the US Navy. He also became the voice of the Civil right of African-Americans and their livelihood in his short term. 

Theodore Roosevelt stands out as the youngest President America has ever seen. Roosevelt was a well-respected, well-learned, and intelligent man who strived hard to make America a better place for its citizens. He was serving as the vice-president for William Mckinley, who got assassinated in 1901. Soon after the sudden demise of President McKinley, Roosevelt took the responsibilities of the office and became the 26th president of America. He was just 42 at the time.

Even today, Roosevelt remains one of the most legendary presidents. His character and working pattern prove that he was worthy of becoming the leader of America. Some of his recognized works include the supply of clean food and water and medical aid. In addition, he established several national parks, extended the Navy, and started the building of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt also played the role of an international leader such that he led negotiations that resulted in the end of the Russo-Japanese war. He delivered a lot to his nation during his presidency, and in return, his people also appreciated him. He got several rewards and honors, which included the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his contributions. 

John comes second in the row of US Presidents. Formerly, he served Thomas Jefferson as his vice president for two full terms. He was also a prominent figure of the American Revolution and led this agitation and kicked the British out from America.

He had a well-respected family background and good education. Moreover, he was a lawyer, a politician, plus a diplomat. He graduated from Harvard University. Many people think that Adams’s IQ suffered miscalculations, and his intelligence level may be even above Einstein’s IQ! Adams strived hard to create an American Naval military to drive the British out who had colonized America. He achieved his goal of setting up a Navy within just eight months. The new Navy consisted of ten gun carriages, eight sailing ships, and many swivel guns.  

Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, was once a low-performing law school dropout, yet he managed to breeze through the bar exam of Georgia. Next, he opened a law firm but did not continue it for the long term. Finally, he attended law school and studied Political Science that shaped his interest in this domain. Wilson received the degree of Ph.D. in the field of political science. I not only use all the brains that I have but all that I can borrow.

Though initially he rejected the Democratic nominee, he did eventually, in the long run, he was elected as USA president. Woodrow Wilson, a southern man who took on the presidency during the Mexican Revolution war was the first president who had the support of the African American demographics. Before this position, he was the president of the University of Princeton. Wilson died a young man at the age of 67.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, did not belong to any humble background. Though his family was wealthy, he did not get anything exceptional in his inheritance. He inherited a peanut business that was almost on its deathbed. Soon, Jimmy has to shift into public houses with his family. But, Carter did not surrender to his conditions. He did the necessary research about agriculture and accounting to restart the peanut business and grow it.

Then, Carter stepped into politics and became the governor of Georgia and then prepared his mind for the presidency. When he became the president, the country was facing tough times and going through the after-effects of the cold war as the conflicts were rising in the middle east. He did not get a second chance to become president since he lost the next election. Since his retirement, he wrote over twenty-five books. However, his writing has been important text.

Franklin Roosevelt joined the cabinet as 32nd president and remained one of the most influential and legendary presidents of modern times. His outstanding performance, leadership, and relief-providing techniques pushed him to continue as the President for three full terms. He is the only one with this credit. When he came into office, the U.S. was facing the Great Depression in full force. Right away, he worked to create relief for Americans to combat the economic disaster by launching programs through the New Deal and the current Social Security program.

He was also the first president to attempt expanding of the Supreme Court beyond nine seats. Roosevelt contributed to making America so strong that it could defeat Japan and Germany after the attack in the second world war by declaring war against them. He supervised the production atomic bomb. After the war, he even helped in laying the preliminaries for Europe. His connection and network with several countries helped him to create a framework for the United Nations.

Clinton served as the governor of Arkansas before becoming the 42nd president of the USA. Scandals mar his tenure, and perhaps, his presidency was the most infamous and controversial of all in recent history. His affair with a White House intern Monica Lewinsky made headlines worldwide and led to his impeachment. However, intelligence-wise, Bill Clinton is one of the most intelligent presidents America ever had. he was a bright student and had a stellar academic career. He even represented his school batch that met the then-president of the USA, John F. Kennedy. 

Clinton relied on scholarships throughout his academic career, which led him through college in Georgetown and helped him enter the Oxford University before ending up at Yale Law School. While studying at Yale, Clinton met his future wife, Hillary Rodham. Though Clinton didn’t obtain a degree from Oxford, the institution did hone him for being a “doughty and tireless champion of the cause of world peace,” when he became the president. he occupied the Oval Office from 1993 to 2001. Clinton started his political career in Arkansas and became the president in 1992. His most remarkable achievement as a president was the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. He remained in office from 1861 to 1865. He is arguably one of the most admired and loved presidents of U.S. history. Lincoln is fondly remembered as Honest Abe; he was indeed an epitome of humility and sincerity. Since he came from a humble background, Abe couldn’t receive formal training in an Ivy League school like other leaders of that era. This left a vacuum in his life, as Abe longed to learn throughout his life. Apart from this one regret, Abe had a pretty much well-sorted life. Due to his intelligence, he managed to get a steamboat patented at a very young age.

Abraham Lincoln faced many challenges early on. He tried to establish a business but miserably failed. Then he decided to enter politics as he possessed exceptional public speaking skills and leadership capabilities. Abe could showcase these skills during the Blackhawk War in which he was a captain. Lincoln learned law all by himself and went on to become a successful lawyer. Although he failed in the Illinois General Assembly, Abe eventually became the 16th U.S. president. As a president, Abe Lincoln worked tirelessly to abolish slavery in the country. His decision led the nation into the Civil War, which ultimately paved the way for Emancipation Proclamation and ensured a free and equality-based American society.

Fondly remembered as JFK, he is perhaps among the most charming and ingenious presidents in the country’s history thus far. Moreover, he is also the youngest and the only Catholic president the US ever had. JFK attended Princeton University briefly but had to leave due to his illness. Despite being smart and intelligent, JFK was a below-average student and was more interested in extracurricular activities, especially sports. Eventually, he turned things around for the better and graduated from the prestigious Harvard University in 1940. He joined the US Navy and won a Purple Heart for his heroism in the South Pacific during WWII.

Before entering the White House, Kennedy was elected to the House and Senate. The highlight of his brief presidential term was the Cuban Missile Crisis, while JFK was also responsible for allowing the Bay of Pigs invasion. He created the Peace of Corps and passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. JFK received a Pulitzer Prize for his efforts, something no other president has achieved to date. As the 35th president of the USA, JFK signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and along with the Civil Rights Act, he paved the way for a more just and equality-based society. Sadly, he was assassinated, and America lost a very promising and progressive young president. 

Jefferson was the 3rd president of the USA and remained in office from 1801 to 1809. Thomas Jefferson was a man of many talents as he had extensive knowledge of mathematics, architecture, mechanics, he could speak several languages, and was a successful planter, lawyer, and politician. When Jefferson was just 16, he enrolled in the College of William & Mary in metaphysics, mathematics, and philosophy. He graduated within 2 years. There’s no doubt that Jefferson was brilliant. He had a wide range of hobbies and interests, which is why he always had a busy schedule. His day started as soon as the sun rose. He used to have breakfast at 8.am. lunch at 3 a.m., and always chronicled the events of the day in a journal before going to bed.

 As the country’s president, his notable achievements were in sectors like economics, food and wine, astronomy, agriculture, writing, music, and paleontology. Thomas Jefferson was an intelligent surveyor and wrote the Declaration of Independence. after making the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson doubled the country’s size in 1893. historians agree that he was a true leader and played a phenomenal role in the country’s progress in almost every department. He was also responsible for developing American trade and negotiating a peace agreement with France, apart from founding the University of Virginia.

Donald Trump reportedly has an IQ score of 156, which makes him smarter than around 99% of the US population. This score makes him the 2nd brightest president in the history of the USA. But many claim that it is a false and inaccurate score because his actual intelligence quotient ranges between 120 and 130. The average IQ score of former president Donald Trump is 125. A graduate of the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, Trump supposedly is a smart man. However, the fact that he never received an MBA degree, which is why the university is famous worldwide, makes his tall claims about his smartness questionable. Trump did earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, and Anthropology.

But let’s not ignore that Donald Trump didn’t go through the conventional admission process and was transferred to Wharton from the main university in the first year at Wharton. However, not earning a Wharton degree doesn’t make Trump any less intelligent than the lot as it’s not even a criterion for smartness. he did graduate from an Ivy League school, which is no ordinary feat. One thing that is confirmed was that he didn’t graduate with any honors, and as per one of his classmates, ‘Trump wasn’t one of the brightest students in class.’

Adams, the 6th president of the USA, is also the smartest and most intelligent of all presidents. He remained in the office between 1825 and 1829. John Quincy Adams was a Harvard graduate and a successful lawyer in the court. Adams attended academic institutions around the globe, which helped him get fluency in numerous foreign languages.

While studying at Harvard, John had an affair with a local female, but after his parents opposed their union, he decided to focus on his career. Historians agree that the country was the most progressive under his regime as John possessed incredible diplomatic skills. He was responsible for settling the Treaty of Ghent and ending the War of 1812. another noteworthy achievement of president Adams was the purchase of Florida from Spain.