Who Was The Most Intelligent President Of The Twentieth Century?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Poll question: Who Was The Most Intelligent President Of The Twentieth Century?

A couple of interesting tidbits...

Woodrow Wilson is the only pres to have a PHD in Political Science....


Herbert Hoover had a PHD in Engineering from Stanford....


John Kennedy had an I Q of 117.... Bright but hardly a genius...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. These Polls Are A Great Way To See How Many People Are On The Board

NT

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Carter was a nuclear engineer.......

That's pretty smart.....

JFK had a M A in history.....


Did FDR have an advanced degree?

[G_j]

12. I've also heard that Carter

was the most "well-read" president, for what its worth.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. He Read War And Peace As A Young Boy...

It wasn't part of a prescribed course...

[Terran]

15. Gotta love the Big Dog but...

Jimmy was smart enough to keep his zipper zipped. That alone makes him smarter than Bill.

Dirk

[sybylla]

38. I'm with ya there

Jimmy's my choice. And obviously this poll isn't asking about what kind of smarts we are grading on because Hoover would never make the list if judged by common sense.

[magnolia]

50. By his own words....

...he did lust in his heart!

I voted Clinton...but Carter would be second.

[maha]

3. I'd say it's between Clinton and FDR.

... based on what they accomplished, not on what degrees they earned. Smarts is a many-faceted thing; my ex-husband had a Ph.D. in chemistry but was quite dense whenever he wandered off the periodic table.

Wilson may have had a Ph.D., but the more one learns about him the less bright he seems. He was an outrageous racist even by the standards of his own time, for example.

On the other hand, Truman didn't go to college, but he had "street smarts." Teddy R. was way up there in the smarts department, also.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. For One Thing

Folks in the "hard" sciences tend to be more conservative....

[maha]

7. Not always true.

My ex had a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry, and him and his doctorate in chemistry buddies were all moderate to liberal, believe it or not.

[FlashHarry]

4. Clinton for sure, although...

...it still doesn't seem to be very smart to be playing 'hide the cigar' with an intern in the freakin' Oval Office! Especially, when you're already under the spotlight for your alleged philandering ways.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Big Dog. I just can't understand why he'd do something so stupid. Phew. I feel better. Sorry about that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Some of the brightest men had a zipper problem....

I was reading a review of Madeline Albright's book in the New York Times...

She comes off as very human... I thought she got a bad rap as Secretary of State... I think alot of it had to do with the residue of a patriachal society in it's final death throes...

Anyway, she said she wasn't suprised by the revelation that Clinton had an affair after denying it to his Cabinet...

She said... "He's a man..."

[maha]

8. LOL! n/t

[bitchkitty]

16. Maddy is one smart woman! n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. She said she

was the first Sec of State to sew her own buttons...

She also was involved in Ed Muskie's 72 campaign and writes about being the victim of the Nixon teams's dirty tricks...

She had a party and started getting all kinds of unordered stuff delivered to her....

She also writes of meeting Kim Jong 11....

Kim Jong knew of her busy intenerary and said " you are very energetic for a woman of your age" -LOL

Madeline said she's only a couple of years older than Kim Jong...

Also, her crititue of Korean style communism is spot on... Anytime you deny the right of the individual in the name of the group or collective you are opening the door to all kinds of abuse...

Madeline Albright is my favorite Sec of State.... At least in my lifetime...

[LTR]

18. That's called

"thinking with the wrong brain".

[FlashHarry]

20. The main-vein brain?

LOL! (Sorry. Couldn't resist...)

[libertad]

24. I bet more Presidents have done something like that in the

Oval Office than haven't.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. I read that Warren G Harding Had The Unmentionable Kind Of Sex

with a seventeen year old girl in a White House broom closet....

Wasn't Harding the ex newspaper publisher who used to have his friends over to play cards during the day while he was pres?

[sujan]

9. Tie between Nixon/Clinton/Johnson

[emad]

10. Clinton was smart, but not THAT smart....

I think there are a few things that may bounce back on him, that he bluffed his way around, viz Marc Rich :

<snip>:

"The pardon freed one of the world's richest men from prosecution on more than 50 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, income tax evasion and illegal oil trading with Iran."

<snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1163917.stm

[AP]

47. That pardon made New York State 50 million dollars

I think.

By pardoning rich for the criminal offenses, Rich's lawyers negotiated a settlement for the civil charges which resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement for the State of New York.

To put that in perspective, Clinton MADE New Yorkers millions AFTER he left office. Bush STOLE millions from New York since he became president.

Smart cookie, that Bill, if you ask me.

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. I say Nixon

Anyone can say anything they want to about how evil Nixon was at his core.

But they can't deny the fact that he was an astounding mental giant. Probably the smartest man the GOP has ever nominated for president.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. Nixon Was Bright

for sure...

He received a LLB from Duke.....

He had street smarts and was a fighter....

I define intelligence as someone who has thought about the "big ideas"...

[Terwilliger]

17. Say what you want about Ike...

before he left he gave us warnings about commercialism and the military/industrial complex

[screaming_meme]

19. Clinton was intelligent but foolish and undisciplined

Intelligence and wisdom aren't necessarily dependent.

[FlashHarry]

22. Only in one aspect of his life.

An aspect, by the way, that should've remained private. Until it was dredged up by the Repukes, it had no bearing on policy.

I do agree, however, that his 'escapades' were foolish. Had it not been for the Lewinksy matter, I believe he would already be regarded as one of the top three presidents of the 20th century. He may still--though it will take time.

[G_j]

33. Clinton's gift is more along the lines of

a sixth sense for politics, IMO, although he is obviously very bright'

His remark about "not inhaling" was also pretty dumb...

[denverbill]

21. I voted for Hoover, honest.

I read a book about him long ago, where someone who had been involved with virtually every President from Hoover to Reagan talked about Hoover. It said he could sit in meetings and listen to really complex issues and seemingly immediately comprehend the crux of the issues, etc. It also speaks well of Hoover that every President who followed him, except FDR, called on him for advice up to the time of his death.

[Yupster]

41. I'm also impressed with Hoover

I would have voted for him for hardest working man ever to become president or best resume ever to become president.

I haven't voted yet on smartest. Can't decide.

Anyway, toward the end of his life, Hoover lived in the same apartment as former VP Nixon and Douglas MacArthur, and supposedly the three of them would sometimes have dinner together. Hoover lived very long, maybe into his nineties?

[LTR]

25. Jimmy Carter

Was the real intellectual of the White House.

Clinton is no fool. He had ideas that totally came out of the blue.

Guys like Truman, Nixon and LBJ got by because they're aggressive fighters. They may have some intelligence, but they used the 'pit bull approach' to get what they wanted. Truman did it with a 'plain folks' style. Nixon was a snake that knew how to manipulate the system, and Johnson used bullying and intimidation to get his desired effect. Street smarts, perhaps.

Dumbest president? Well, isn't it obvious? ;)

[noonwitch]

26. Clinton

You've got to be pretty smart to be a Rhodes Scholar.

[mitchum]

27. Clinton, Nixon, Wilson

[Donna Zen]

29. Repost:

I posted this in the ranking of the candidates thread, and think that it needs to be added to this conversation:

Linguistic intelligence involves sensitivity to spoken and written language, the ability to learn languages, and the capacity to use language to accomplish certain goals. This intelligence includes the ability to effectively use language to express oneself rhetorically or poetically; and language as a means to remember information. Writers, poets, lawyers and speakers are among those that Howard Gardner sees as having high linguistic intelligence.

Logical-mathematical intelligence consists of the capacity to analyze problems logically, carry out mathematical operations, and investigate issues scientifically. In Howard Gardner's words, in entails the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively and think logically. This intelligence is most often associated with scientific and mathematical thinking.

Musical intelligence involves skill in the performance, composition, and appreciation of musical patterns. It encompasses the capacity to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms. According to Howard Gardner musical intelligence runs in an almost structural parallel to linguistic intelligence.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence entails the potential of using one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems. It is the ability to use mental abilities to coordinate bodily movements. Howard Gardner sees mental and physical activity as related.

Spatial intelligence involves the potential to recognize and use the patterns of wide space and more confined areas. 

Interpersonal intelligence is concerned with the capacity to understand the intentions, motivations and desires of other people. It allows people to work effectively with others. Educators, salespeople, religious and political leaders and counsellors all need a well-developed interpersonal intelligence.

Intrapersonal intelligence entails the capacity to understand oneself, to appreciate one's feelings, fears and motivations. In Howard Gardner's view it involves having an effective working model of ourselves, and to be able to use such information to regulate our lives.

This list is also why I voted for Clinton...zipper problems being more a problem of his personality as opposed to his mental ability.

We live in a culture which hardly values some of these intelligences, thus, we accept the cruel idea that there are "throw-away" people.

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

[ElsewheresDaughter]

30. Presidential IQ's

http://www.robertcanagagallery.com/Gallery_Links/Portland_Gallery/Presidential_IQ/presidential_iq.html

Since 1973, the Lovenstein Institute has published it's research to the education community on each new president, which includes the famous "IQ" report among others. According to statements in the report, there have been twelve presidents over the past 70 years, from F. D. Roosevelt to G. W. Bush who were all rated based on scholarly achievements, writings that they alone produced without aid of staff, their ability to speak with clarity, and several other psychological factors which were then scored in the Swanson/Crain system of intelligence ranking. The study determined the following IQs of each president as accurate to within five percentage points:



Democratic

Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) = 147
Harry A. Truman (D) = 132
John F. Kennedy (D) = 174
Lyndon B. Johnson (D) = 126
James E. Carter (D) = 175
William J. Clinton (D) = 182

Democratic presidents have had
an Average IQ of 156

Republican

Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) = 122
Richard M. Nixon (R) = 155
Gerald Ford (R) = 121
Ronald Reagan (R) = 105
George HW Bush (R) = 098
George W. Bush (R) = 091

Republican presidents have had
an Average IQ of 115.5

[DemocratSinceBirth]

31. I'll Go With Stanford Binet

JFK had an 1Q of 117....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. I Love JFK

but he had alot of help with Profiles In Courage and that's being generous....

[LTR]

36. The neocons would claim

that "Profiles in Courage" was mostly ghostwritten.

But I won't stoop to that level.

[LTR]

37. From Snopes.com

Claim: According to a study by the Lovenstein Institute, President Bush has the lowest IQ of all presidents of past 50 years.

Status: False.

<snip>

Origins: No, this isn't a real news report, nor does it describe a real study. There isn't a "Lovenstein Institute" in Scranton, Pennsylvania (or anywhere else in the USA), nor do any of the people quoted in the story exist, because this is just another spoof that was taken too seriously.

The piece is simply a political jibe, made obvious by its ranking all the Democratic presidents of the last several decades as having high (even exceptionally high) IQs -- note that Bill Clinton's IQ is listed as being exactly twice George W. Bush's -- while ranking all the Republican presidents from the same time frame as average to moderate in intelligence, with the current president and his father assigned below-average figures placing them at the very bottom of the list. (President Nixon is the sole exception, presumably because his reputation is still so tarnished that not even a high IQ measurement can yet redeem him in the court of public opinion.)

(snip>

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/presiq.htm

Bummer, I was hoping this was true.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

48. damn it...thanks rat terrier

[Liberal Classic]

34. Bully for Teddy!

I know most Democrats like to put Franklin Roosevelt on a pedistal, but the contributions of his cousin Theodore cannot be overlooked. In addition to the presidency, TR was a vice president, New York's govenor, a NY state assemblyman, a sheriff's deputy, police commissioner, assistant secretary of the navy, and a cavalry officer. Not only a politically adept man, but he was also known as an author and natralist, and president of the American Historical Association.

Though he was a Republican, he adopted many of the policies of the Bull Moose Party and the populist movement. Though Franklin was known for the "New Deal," the first Roosevelt administration had a great deal of influence over the second from Theodore's "Square Deal." The square deal stood on the ideas of welfare for those in need and the establishment of uniform trade practices to encourage economic development while at the same time emphasizing fair competition. He was known for "trust busting" establishing the departments of Commerce and Labor. One of his greatest achievement is considered to be his policy of wildlife conservation.

In addition to domestic politics, he increased the U.S.'s involvement in foreign affairs and won the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating peace between the Russian Czar and the Japansese Empire. He also coined the phrase "Speak Softly and carry a Big Stick" and began construction on the Panama Canal, and advocated military preparedness for future wars, which turned out to be prophetic.

In none of this am I discounting Franklin Roosevelt's contribution. I have great respect for the president who lead us through the depression and world war 2. I don't necesarily agree with all of FDR's policies, but cannot deny FDR had a great intelligence. However, much of what FDR accomplised he could not have done without his cousin TR having blazed a trail. Intelligence by itself doesn't mean much without the drive and personal will to see your ideas made manifest. What good are ideas if one never acts on them? Not much. Theodore Roosevelt had not only the intelligence but the intestinal fortitude to carry them through. In this he had a unique intelligence and will, and believe he was if not the greatest president of the 20th c, then certianly one of the top five in history.

I would not discount the intelligence of other presidents. Carter may have been well read as Wilson was earlier, and Clinton may have been politically astute as Nixon, and FDR may have been eloquent and inspiring as Reagan was years later, but none of them in my opinion can match the intelligence and fighting spirit of Teddy Roosevelt. Our country is what it is in the modern world because of TR, and I do not believe that FDR could have succeeded in waging WW2 without the foundation build by TR.

[soupkitchen]

35. I go with TR too

I think he had a first class intellect and the broadest range of interests. Along with a very nimble, very visionary political mind.

[ElementaryPenguin]

39. Kennedy's IQ was considerably higher than 117!

I'd say the Big Dog and Kennedy were comparable - with FDR certainly not far behind!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. I Forgot What Book I Read It In...

117 is bright... That would put him in what, the 70%, 80% range...

[rasputin1952]

40. Tough choices, really...

I will tell you this though;

The most intelligent president, would have, or will, put people in place around him, that will pick up where his/her weaknesses are apparent. The most intelligent president, (or individual, for that matter), realizes that they do not have all of the answers, to all of the problems. Therefore, like FDR and Truman, the find people of extraordinary expertise in certain areas, and rely on them for their intelligent input. George Marshall come to mind for FDR and Truman.

In any case, the dumbest people that have come to the office of president, have the uncanny ability to believe they know everything, and are placed there by God to do whatever THEY see as best. Invariably, this has led to catastrophe.

Just my 2 cents.

:kick:

[George_Bonanza]

42. JFK wasn't even the smartest in his family

He was always in older brother Joe's shadow, before he was killed in Britain in WW II as a test pilot. I hardly think a man of 182 IQ could be so intellectually underrated throughout his younger pre-political years. I don't trust those IQ numbers, I think they're just made up.

Who's the smartest president this century? Well, Nixon had to be smart if he almost pulled off what he tried to do. From what I hear, Bill Clinton is extraordinarily intelligent. Jimmy Carter too.

[reachout]

45. I'd Say Carter

Based mainly on reading the writings of several former presidents before and after their terms. Carter really impressed me.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. JFK and RFK Were Bright

and arguably visionaries but not towering intellectuals....

That being said they were infinitely more rounded than many of their contemporaries...

[bhunt70]

44. Woodrow, Jimmy and Bill.

those are my three

[Loyal]

49. Richard Nixon

As much as I didn't like his politics, there is no debating the fact that he was a brilliant man, and arguably the most intelligent of the 20th century.