In order to become president of the United States of America you need to be pretty darn smart. Granted it takes more than just a political background and charisma to get the title. Here is a list of the smartest U.S. presidents to ever take to the White House.
George W. Bush (IQ 124)
When Bush Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps and became president, the media was at full attention. We learned a new word- “Bushism” and we loved what it meant. But despite the comical quirks of George Bush, you should know that his IQ is higher than most college grads.
George W. Bush
Gerald Ford (IQ 127)
Who could forget the 38th U.S. president? Well we certainly can’t forget the two attempts made on his life in the 1970’s. Aside from being a learned student, Ford was also an All-state football player.
Gerald Ford
Herbert Hoover (IQ 129.7)
31st U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, was a successful mining engineer before he took office. His presidency however was cursed by the “Great Depression” – not an easy time for the American people.
Herbert Hoover
Ronald Reagan (IQ 130)
It’s no surprise that President Reagan was an intelligent man. He was well known for his jokes (usually about the Soviets) and his quick and sharp sense of humor.
Ronald Reagan
George H.W. Bush (IQ 130.1)
Father of George W. Bush, Bush Sr. today is 93 years old. He graduated from Yale University which means he’s definitely worth his salt. His presidency saw only one term after which Bill Clinton took his place.
George H. W. Bush
William McKinley (IQ 130.2)
Who would have thought that a U.S. president could have been a college drop-out? President McKinley dropped out of Allegheny College, but later got a degree in law from Albany Law School. McKinley was assassinated after only serving six months as president. He was the 3rd U.S. president to be killed while in office.
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William McKinley
James K. Polk (IQ 130.2)
For some reason, this president is often overlooked. He made a massive influence during the Mexican–American War by gaining more land for his country. He also turned America’s financial standing into one of the best it has known.
James K. Polk
Grover Cleveland (IQ 130.9)
Money isn’t everything. Grover Cleveland didn’t have enough money to attend college as he was growing up, but that didn’t prevent him from obtaining a law degree and then a U.S. presidency. He was noted for his ethics and honesty.
Grover Cleveland
Richard Nixon (IQ 131)
Who can forget the Watergate scandal? Richard Nixon put the lawyer skills he acquired from Duke University to work during the ordeal that would eventually get him impeached.
Richard Nixon
Dwight D. Eisenhower (IQ 131.9)
It takes someone with a genius mind to be able to hold the rank of 5-star general in the U.S. Army. President Eisenhower was also a strong activist for the equal rights of African-Americans and used his office to desegregate public schools.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Benjamin Harrison (IQ 132.2)
President Harrison was a successful attorney before he became the head-of-state. He graduated from Miami University with a degree in law and then put it to good use as Grover Cleveland’s successor.
Benjamin Harrison
George Washington (IQ 132.5)
Here is a man who didn’t have more than elementary school education, but he became the first president of the United States of America. He is a shining example of what determination can achieve.
George Washington
Martin Van Buren (133.4)
The 8th U.S. president didn’t attend college, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing success. He started reading law books when he was just 14 years old and seven after that, he entered the bar.
Martin Van Buren
Rutherford B. Hayes (IQ 133.9)
As the 19th U.S. president, Rutherford B. Hayes did not by any means have an easy presidency. He graduated from Kenyon College where he proved his intelligence.
Rutherford B. Hayes
William Henry Harrison (IQ 133.9)
How the times changed. This president, who was first a military man before he came to office, died only 32 days after taking oath. The cause of his death? Pneumonia.
William Henry Harrison
Franklin Pierce (IQ 134.8)
He may have been a very smart man, but that doesn’t mean that he always knew what he was doing. Since his ideas on slavery were not shared by everyone, his country broke out into a civil war.
Franklin Pierce
Millard Fillmore (IQ 136)
Here is another president who didn’t make it through doors of a university. Despite having said that it must be noted that he helped establish a university – the University of Buffalo.
Millard Fillmore
John Tyler (IQ 136.2)
John Tyler became the first vice-president to come into power after the death of a sitting president – William Henry Harrison. He graduated from the College of William & Mary and was a lawyer and politician.
John Tyler
Franklin D. Roosevelt (IQ 139.6)
Here is a man who served a 12-year presidency, and faced some of the world’s toughest times, like the Second World War. Sadly Roosevelt died just months before the war came to an end, which was only 11 months into his 4th term.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln (IQ 140)
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” These are the words of President Abraham Lincoln, and they couldn’t possibly ring truer for him. He scraped together an education that would eventually bring him to a presidency that fought tirelessly to end slavery.
Abraham Lincoln
James Madison (IQ 141.3)
We can all agree that James Madison was one of the brightest and most influential presidents the U.S. has ever seen. He is the “Father of the Constitution” and he was a Princeton University graduate.
James Madison
Chester Arthur (IQ 141.5)
Chester Arthur became president after James Garfield was assassinated. Arthur graduated from Union College and National Law School. He was America’s 21st president.
Chester Arthur
James Garfield (IQ 141.5)
President Garfield became the second sitting president to be assassinated after Charles J. Guiteau shot him. Before the assassination, Garfield was the salutatorian of his class at Williams College. There were even rumors that he could write Latin with one hand and Greek with his other.
James Garfield
Theodore Roosevelt (IQ 142.3)
He is only one of four American presidents to have their face depicted on Mount Rushmore. He graduated from Harvard University and became one of the fiercest and most influential presidents America ever saw. When he died in his sleep at 60 years old, then-vice-president, Thomas R. Marshall, said that “Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight.”
Theodore Roosevelt
John Adams (IQ 142.5)
He was a graduate of Harvard College as well as the first ever vice-president. Following George Washington, he became America’s second ever president. Ironically, he died on July 4th – Independence Day.
John Adams
Barack Obama (IQ 145)
Elected as the first black president in 2009, Barack Obama served two terms but not without facing many difficulties. He achieved his undergrad degree from Columbia University before moving on to Harvard where he finished in the top 15%.
Barack Obama
Jimmy Carter (IQ 145.1)
Many Americans can’t forget the major translation blunder that came out of Jimmy Carter’s speech in 1977 while visiting Poland. Other than that, he did receive a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Jimmy Carter
Woodrow Wilson (IQ 145.1)
Entering the White House would be the second time Woodrow Wilson became a president in his lifetime. First he was the president of Princeton University. He knew a thing or two about knowledge, and even said, “I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.”
Woodrow Wilson
Bill Clinton (IQ 148.8)
Being very intelligent doesn’t always mean that you’re very smart. The ex-governor of Arkansas bit off a little more than he could handle with Monica Lewinsky in the 1990’s. Eventually he would be impeached.
Bill Clinton
John F. Kennedy (IQ 150.7)
The fourth and last sitting president to be assassinated was John F. Kennedy. His presidency saw difficult times like the Cuban Missile Crisis. We all wonder where he could have taken America had he not been killed.
John F. Kennedy
Thomas Jefferson (IQ 153.8)
In order to author the Declaration of Independence you’ve got to be pretty intelligent. He served as one of the founders of the America we all know today.
Thomas Jefferson
President Donald Trump (IQ 156)
The 46th and current president of the United States of America, Donald Trump. It’s no surprise that this man is a genius; just look at the empire he has built for himself. Despite having said that he probably wouldn’t run for president, he has and he’s taking the job on with all his strength.
Donald Trump
John Quincy Adams (IQ 168.8)
President Adams took care of ending the War of 1812. He served as America’s president for one term, but he served his time in the House of Representatives for 18 years.
John Quincy Adams