Under all circumstances, the president of the United States is accountable for the well-being and growth of his population. While some of these presidents lived up to their oaths of office, others fell short of their commitments. This list contains both the finest and worst presidents the United States has ever had. Some of these will surprise you.
Here Are The Facts About These U.S Presidents You Might Know
Ulysses S. Grant – 130
Considering that the ‘least smart’ president on this list still has an IQ of 130, which is 15 points above average, you can get an idea of how smart American presidents are. After graduating from West Point, he proved himself during the Mexican-American War. At 47, he became the country’s youngest president. On moral authority, international relations, public persuasion, and seeking justice for everyone. The public remembers him as an honest man who opposed the KKK. His appointment of African-American and Jewish-American officials was equally notable.
Ulysses S. Grant
George W. Bush – 138.5
George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States, and he served as Commander-in-Chief during the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. He was Texas governor for five years before campaigning for president in 2000. In Florida, he received barely 0.5% of the popular vote, and the election resulted in a lengthy recount of the votes. Despite losing the popular vote, Bush was eventually declared president after winning the electoral vote. George W. Bush, with an IQ of 138.5, is another president with a lower-than-average IQ.
George W. Bush
Bush Hears About 9/11
September 11th, 2001, on a Tuesday morning. The day Al Qaeda attacked the US is a day that everyone remembers. The World Trade Centers in New York City were hit by two planes, killing thousands of people. President Obama was at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota County, Florida, at the time of the incident.
Bush Hears About 911
James Monroe – 138.6
James Monroe served as President from 1817 to 1825. He was a popular candidate for the position, and he easily won the election. His time in office was later dubbed the “Era of Good Feelings”. Monroe fought during the American Revolutionary War and is known for his foreign policy, “The Monroe Doctrine.” Monroe barely beat George W. Bush for the third-lowest IQ score, with a score of 138.6. Still, a score of 138.6 isn’t bad. According to the Wechsler IQ categorization, it is considered “very superior” intelligence.
James Monroe
Andrew Johnson – 138.9
Andrew Johnson became president after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. He was, however, the first US President to be impeached. His efforts to reunify the seceded states without providing protection to former slaves were the reason for this. In Congress, this approach was criticized. His IQ was only 138.9, to top it off.
Andrew Johnson
William Howard Taft – 139.5
William Howard Taft, whose IQ was 139.5, was the only person to have presided over both the executive and judicial branches of government. William H. Taft was the 27th President of the United States and the only President to become the Chief Justice of the US. He grew up in Ohio and went to Yale to study law. He allegedly belonged to the secret society Skull & Bones while at the university. He practiced law and ultimately became a judge in his 20s. During his presidency (1909–13), East Asia received greater attention than any other region.
William Howard Taft
James Buchanan – 139.6
The 15th president didn’t make much of a difference from his predecessor. Most historians will recall that President James Buchanan set some great aspirations for himself. During his presidency, Buchanan promised to achieve the same heights as George Washington. With an IQ of 139, James Buchanan joins a select group of presidents. He didn’t quite make it.
James Buchanan
The Only Bachelor
Only one president in the history of the United States, James Buchanan, never married. The 15th president never stated why he never married, but it’s possible he was too preoccupied with his profession and presidency to bother about his personal life!
The Only Bachelor
Zachary Taylor – 139.8
“Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States, is remembered for his brief tenure. His military leadership skills earned him the title before he entered politics. As president, he was recognized for his bravery throughout the Mexican-American War. He took office in March 1849 and despite owning slaves, he embraced anti-slavery arguments. New Mexico and California became states during his presidency. Taylor died of cholera in July 1850, while still in office. Despite being a combat hero, Zachary Taylor had a low IQ compared to other presidents, at 139.8.
Zachary Taylor
Unexpected Death
Zachary Taylor’s untimely death sparked a flurry of speculation about the origin of his sickness. Some speculated that he drank contaminated ice water or milk, while others speculated that a large number of cherries he consumed at the Fourth of July party was to blame. Can you believe that in the 1800s, something as simple as eating too many cherries was a suspected cause of death?
Unexpected Death
Harry S. Truman – 139.8
Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, served from 1945 to 1953. He was elected to power just after the Second World War ended. He was a member of the army during World War I and is the only president to employ nuclear weapons. He was known for his stubbornness, and he reportedly exercised his veto power 180 times! Harry Truman’s IQ of 139.8 places him in the bottom quarter of all US presidents.
Harry S. Truman
Warren G. Harding – 139.9
Warren G. Harding won the 29th election. This was a historic presidential election because it was the first in which women could vote. Warren Harding began his newspaper career in Marion, Ohio, as the owner of the Marion Star. During his presidency, Harding declared the end of WWI by signing peace treaties with Austria, Germany, and Hungary. He had to deal with a “return to normalcy” that included economic growth. His cabinet was involved in multiple scandals, but Harding died of a heart attack before they were known. His IQ is 139.9, which is lower than most presidents.
Warren G. Harding
George Washington – 140
George Washington is another founding father and the first President of the United States, as we all know. From 1789 through 1797, he was a crucial figure in establishing the nation’s government structure. In the American Revolutionary War, he also led the Continental Army. During the research, he was recognized as the 2nd best president in US history. Because he was one of the Founding Fathers and all, you might have assumed George Washington was some kind of genius. To some extent, you’re right. His IQ was 140, well above the average.
George Washington
Gerald R. Ford Jr. – 140.4
Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States after Richard Nixon resigned. From 1974 through 1977, he pardoned his predecessor. Ford was noted for his role in the Helsinki Accords, an attempt to repair US-Soviet relations. Ford, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, studied law before entering politics. He led the people through a difficult economic time, which helped him rise in the rankings. His IQ of 140.4 places him towards the bottom of the presidential list, but he does outperform a fourth of all other presidents. Ford is the only non-elected vice president and president.
Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Ford’s First Assassination Attempt
The events of September 5, 1975, were unexpected by President Gerald Ford. A woman with a Colt M1911 pistol attempted to shoot him as he walked past a cheering crowd in Sacramento, California. She was apprehended because the gun did not shoot. Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a disciple of Charles Manson’s cult, was the woman.
Fords First Assassination Attempt
Ford’s Second Assassination Attempt
It’s hard to believe that just 17 days after President Ford’s assassination attempt, another woman would try to take his life. Sara Jane Moore, who was in California at the time, pulled out a revolver and fired one shot at the president. A former marine immediately overcame her when she missed. Although the bullet did not hit the president, it did hit a cab driver. Who will be the next president on our list?
Fords Second Assassination Attempt
Lyndon B. Johnson – 140.6
After JFK’s death in 1963, this president became known for taking over. We’re still on the lower end of the list of presidents, with an IQ of 140.6. Lyndon Baines Johnson, popularly known as LBJ, is the 36th President of the United States. He served from 1963 to 1969, leaving a lasting legacy. He is praised for his efforts to drive the country forward in a number of important areas. During his presidency, he enacted civil rights, gun, and welfare legislation. Not to mention his part in establishing Social Security and extending Medicaid and Medicare.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Herbert Hoover – 141.6
Herbert Hoover served at one of the most challenging periods in American history. Unbeknownst to many, Herbert Hoover had an IQ of 141.6. While that’s high overall, it’s pretty average in terms of presidents. He spent time in China before entering politics and in Europe during the outbreak of the Great War. Helping 120,000 American tourists flee France and Germany made him famous. He served from 1929 to 1933, during the Great Depression’s stock market crisis. Although it was a difficult time, Hoover tried to aid his people by decreasing taxes and encouraging businesses to keep employment.
Herbert Hoover
Calvin Coolidge – 141.6
Vice President Calvin Coolidge was the next in line after President Warren Harding’s tragic death in 1923. The next year, he was elected president and served until 1929. He had a 141.6 IQ. He was a popular politician because he advocated for a laissez-faire foreign policy and small government. His kind attitude belied his deep commitment to racial equality and social rights. He didn’t always get along with his coworkers, particularly when he pushed to make lynching a federal crime. In addition, his government passed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to Native Americans residing on reservations.
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. It emphasized reduced social spending, liberalization of domestic markets, increased military budget, and broad tax cuts. When compared to his fellow presidents, Reagan scored somewhere between the bottom and quarter and half, with an IQ of 141.9. He is also responsible for the Iran-Contra scandal and the end of the Cold War. He famously told Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!” at a speech at the Berlin Wall.
Ronald Reagan
Reagan’s Assassination Attempt
On March 30th, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. Contrary to popular belief, the would-be assassin targeted the president in order to impress young actress Jodie Foster. A ricochet bullet struck the president, but he was unharmed. “I forgot to duck,” he’d later confess to his wife.
Reagans Assassination Attempt
Ronald Reagan’s Death
Ronald Reagen, one of the United States’ former presidents, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when a complication emerged, resulting in 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. In California, he is buried at the Ronald Reagan National Library.
Ronald Reagan’s Death
Richard M. Nixon – 142.9
Richard M. Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, was known for his skill in foreign affairs negotiations. He established diplomatic relations with China, signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union, and returned the POWs. Even as President Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower’s vice president from 1953 to 1961, he was able to accomplish a number of amazing feats. He is credited for desegregation in the South, assisting in the funding of the Environmental Protection Agency, launching the “War on Cancer,” and signing the anti-crime bill. He was said to have an IQ of 142.9.
Richard M. Nixon
Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
There is unlikely to be a single American who is unaware of the Watergate scandal. Richard Nixon was forced to resign as President of the United States as a result of this occurrence. He was the first American president to do so. 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 likely remember him as the father of President George W. Bush. The elder Bush had served as Ronald Reagan’s Vice President for 8 years before being elected to the presidency. During times of crisis, he was known for his ability to lead. He was an excellent negotiator, particularly in international relations. He wasn’t stupid, even if he was a contentious character. George H. W. Bush had an IQ of 143, which put him in the middle of the pack of US presidents.
George H. W. Bush
H.W. Bush’s Big Accomplishments
The end of the Cold War, the first Gulf War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall all happened during George H.W. Bush’s presidency. He was also credited with the Clean Air Act, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the Americans With Disabilities Act, among other things. Aside from these accomplishments, he also holds the record for the longest presidential marriage at 73 years!
H.W. Bush’s Big Accomplishments
George H.W. Bush’s Death
Former President George H.W. Bush died on November 30, 2018, after a long battle with vascular Parkinson’s disease, only seven months after his wife, Barbara, died. Since Gerald Ford’s death in 2006, he was the first former president to pass away.
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 to be carried on the news by telegraph, which was unusual at the time. In the US-Mexican War, Polk is remembered for leading the country to victory. During his presidency, the United States expanded its territory thanks to the 1848 Mexican Cession and the annexation of Texas.
James K. Polk
William McKinley Jr. – 143.4
William McKinley Jr., the 25th President of the United States, served from 1897 to 1901 and had an IQ of 143.4. He was the last president of the United States during the Civil War, and he also helped the United States win the Spanish-American War. During his presidency, the United States saw significant changes, with Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico all becoming territories. He was also well-liked for his attempts to strengthen the economy, albeit he did not do much to ensure that all Americans were treated equally.
William McKinley Jr.
McKinley’s Assassination
On September 6th, 1901, anarchist Leon Czolgosz shot President William McKinley twice in the belly. The performance took place in Buffalo’s Temple of Music. Ironically, the president’s secretary was able to persuade him not to go on the trip on two consecutive occasions because he was concerned about this specific occurrence. McKinley died 8 days after the shooting.
McKinley’s Assassination
Grover Cleveland – 144
Grover Cleveland, whose IQ is 144, was on the verge of joining the top 50% of presidents. He was president for two terms, the first of which lasted from 1885 to 1889. He did not, however, serve consecutive terms because he lost his initial reelection effort in 1892, but won it again in 1893. During his second term, Cleveland had to deal with the Panic of 1893, a significant economic catastrophe, and the Pullman Strike of 1894, a nationwide train strike. He was a descendant of one of the first families to move 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. However, many people were more concerned about who the president was marrying. She was a 21-year-old woman (28 years his junior) with a lot of charisma. She was not only pretty, fluent in French, and personable, but she was also well-liked by the general population.
Cleveland’s Marriage
Andrew Jackson – 145
Andrew Jackson had a 145 IQ. He served only one term as President of the United States. He was in charge from 1829 to 1837. Isn’t it fascinating that he rejected the creation of paper money and instead advocated for the use of silver and gold coins? He was kidnapped by the British when he was 13 years old during the Revolutionary War. That’s right, he’s the only President who has served as a prisoner of war. During his administration, he was able to avert the secession of South Carolina and pay off the entire national debt.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration Party
President Andrew Jackson had a certain allure about him that made the public believe he was one of them. After delivering his inauguration speech, he and his supporters rushed to the executive residence to begin the celebrations, but things went wrong. The group was followed by a large crowd, which attacked the mansion. They drank a lot of alcohol, looted the kitchen, trashed the place, and caused a commotion. When the alcohol was taken outside, they slowly 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 the president of the United States. One of his most well-known actions was to reverse Truman’s policy and desegregate the army. He earned the nickname “Ike” and became one of the most well-liked politicians in the history of the United States. Did you know he had a 145.1 IQ score?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Benjamin Harrison – 145.4
During the Civil War, Benjamin Harrison served in the Union Army and became the 23rd President of the United States. During his presidency, he was regarded as one of the best presidents in US history due to his excellent international ties and close working relationship with Congress. The enforcement of African-American voting rights, as well as the admission of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming to the Union, were among his administration’s most notable accomplishments. With an IQ of 145.4, Benjamin Harrison was a genius.
Benjamin Harrison
Martin Van Buren – 146
President Martin Van Buren served from 1837 until 1841. Van Buren, dubbed ‘the Little Magician,’ called for the US Treasury to establish an independent institution to keep the finances separate as political tides changed. He served as Andrew Jackson’s secretary of state before becoming president and afterward became the “minister to Great Britain.” He inherited the Great Depression and was blamed for the closure of several businesses and banks due to economic issues. His measures did eventually revive the economy, albeit he was never credited for it because the impacts were only noticed after he left office.
Martin Van Buren
Rutherford B. Hayes – 133.9
Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States, serving from 1877 to 1881 as a Republican politician. He served three terms as governor of Ohio and was a member of the now-defunct Whig party before becoming president. Hayes supported the expansion of the civil rights of the black community but the Democratic majority in Congress interfered with his efforts. Hayes was another well-known proponent of the civil service tests, believing that it was more vital and just for government officials to be hired on the basis of talent rather than political connections.
Rutherford B. Hayes
William Henry Harrison – 146.3
The record for the shortest term in office belongs to William Henry Harrison. From March 4, 1841, until April 4, 1841, he was in office for a total of 31 days. After a gloomy inauguration day, the 9th president died of pneumonia. William Henry Harrison was recognized primarily for tragedy, as he died while in office, setting the record for the shortest period in office. He was the last president to witness the American Revolution, and he is best known for guiding the forces to victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.
William Henry Harrison
Franklin Pierce – 147.4
The United States’ 14th president was a controversial figure in the political world. He called the abolitionist movement “a fundamental threat to the unity of the nation”. With this knowledge, it’s understandable that this Democratic president signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. With an IQ of 147.4, Franklin Pierce is barely one point higher than the average president. This measure effectively gave each state the authority to determine its own position on slavery.
Franklin Pierce
John Tyler – 148
Following the death of William Henry Harrison, John Tyler became the 10th President of the United States. He was the first president to succeed a president who died in office. He was the first president who was not elected, and he served as the country’s leader from 1841 to 1845. Tyler delegated authority over slavery and a number of other concerns to the states. Because of his submissive attitude, he made a lot of enemies in Congress and was dubbed “His Accidency.” During his term, he was also the subject of the first attempted impeachment, which failed.
John Tyler
Fifteen Children
John Tyler is the father of 15 children, in case you didn’t know. As a result, he is the president with the most number of children! They were all born between 1815 and 1860 and were the children of two separate marriages. His first eight children were born to his first wife, Letitia Tyler, while his last seven were born to Julia Gardiner, his second wife.
Fifteen Children
Millard Fillmore – 149
Fillmore became the 13th president after the incumbent president died of cholera in 1850. Following Taylor’s death, all of the White House cabinet members resigned immediately, leaving Fillmore to rebuild the White House from the ground up. He tried but failed to prevent tension between the North and the South by signing the 1850 Compromise from 1850 to 1853. He also assisted in the development of interaction with Japan, which was still isolated at the time. Japan began permitting American ships to dock in the country in the case of emergencies under his presidency.
Millard Fillmore
Abraham Lincoln – 150
Abraham “Abe” Lincoln achieved a lot as the 16th President of the United States. He commanded the Union during the Civil War and initiated the long road to abolition during his presidency from 1861 to 1865. In 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which laid the groundwork for the abolition of slavery in the United States by granting free status to slaves in the South. By adding the 13th amendment to the constitution, he also made slavery illegal. Unfortunately, his assassination in 1865 cut short his tenure and prevented him from seeing the fruits of his labors.
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. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by actor John Wilkes Booth while watching a production of Our American Cousin at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Only 5 days after the Civil War ended, the president died just hours afterward.
Lincolns Assassination
Franklin D. Roosevelt – 150.5
Franklin D. Roosevelt, also known as FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. He was so popular back then that he was elected four times in a row! FDR guided the United States through the Great Depression, Prohibition, and WWII. He also started the New Deal, which ushered in a slew of social and economic changes. 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
He was regarded as one of the greatest presidents in American history, and his passing will be felt across the country. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, from an intracerebral hemorrhage. Unfortunately, the president would not live to see the war come to a conclusion.
Roosevelts Death
Chester Arthur – 152.3
Chester Arthur was the 21st President of the United States. The vice president-turned-president served from 1881 to 1885 and is primarily remembered for enacting the Pendleton Act. He ensured that Americans would be appointed to federal government positions based on merit rather than political ties and connections. Exams were also used to screen applicants under the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. During Arthur’s presidency, he also enacted the first federal immigration legislation, which prohibited “paupers, criminals, and lunatics” from entering the country.
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 the House of Representatives to be elected for the presidency? He was able to do excellent things throughout his time, which lasted from March 4, 1881, to September 19, 1881, including eliminating corruption in the postal service and strengthening the navy. His nomination of various African-Americans to official positions, like Fredrick Douglass, was also remarkable. In July 1881, he was assassinated, and his time was cut short as he battled several infections.
James A. Garfield