The Real Deal On The IQs Of Our Presidents?

Question

Some you guys seem to be hung up on Presidential IQs.

The truth is that a higher than average IQ does not guarentee you will be a good leader or businessman. Thomas Edison had an average IQ and just look at the great gifts he gave the would.

But here is what I found after doing a basic serch:

147 Franklin D. Roosevelt (D)
132 Harry Truman (D)
122 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)
174 John F. Kennedy (D)
126 Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
155 Richard M. Nixon (R)
121 Gerald Ford (R)
175 James E. Carter (D)
105 Ronald Reagan (R)
98 George HW Bush (R)
182 William J. Clinton (D)
91 George W. Bush (R)

Or from another reliable source:

14 Franklin D. Roosevelt (D)
132 Harry Truman (D)
122 Dwight D. Eisenhower (R)
174 John F. Kennedy (D)
126 Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
155 Richard M. Nixon (R)
121 Gerald Ford (R)
175 James E. Carter (D)
105 Ronald Reagan (R)
098 George HW Bush (R)
182 William J. Clinton (D)
091 George W. Bush (R

These results seem to be the same, but I found this list from three sources.

http://www.presidentmoron.com/moroniq.html

Again, as these guys mention, higher IQs are not always the best way to judge leadership qualities.

Answer 1

I'm a liberal, but it was actually Clinton's alleged IQ that roused my suspicions. I also have a background in psychology and gifted education, so my familiarity with IQ tests likewise made me suspicious about all of these scores and how they were obtained.

So, sure enough, I quickly learned that the "Lovenstein Institute" is bogus and that this list is a hoax. Check out the authoritative Snopes/ Urban Legends Reference Pages site for the story:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/presiq.htm

It's true that a "higher than average IQ" does not guarantee that one will be a good leader, however that's based on outmoded ideas of intelligence. The Standford-Binet Intelligence Scale measures what is commonly known as "school smarts," and therefore doesn't even cover the traits that fall under leadership skills. Howard Gardner's theories of "Multiple Intelligences" appear to be more on the right track, even though there is still much work that needs to be done to support them. However, brain research HAS shown that there are more specialized mechanisms in the brain (such as those dealing with muscle memory and music abilities) that coincide with the different forms of intelligence.

Also, it is highly unlikely that Thomas Edison ever took an IQ test. Alfred Binet only came out with the first version in France in 1905 when Edison was 58 years old. Lewis Terman refined it at Stanford University in 1916 when Edison was 69. Given Edison's accomplishments IN ADDITION TO his reported behavior in grade school, it is actually quite likely that he would have tested as highly gifted, which only proves that regular school teachers rarely know how to identify giftedness.

If I had to guess, I'd say all of our presidents' IQs would fall between 120 and 140. Exceptionally high IQ is actually often a handicap when it comes to social and leadership skills due to the social isolation that these people feel. (The Bell Curve pretty much maxes out at 145. People above that are in the 99.9th percentile and above and most IQ tests do not have the capacity to measure accurately at that point.)

Answer 2

In the second list, Franklin D. Roosevelt 14 ???

Answer 3

Am I surprised the Bushes are below the standard mean? No.
Thanks for sharing.

And while I agree that IQ is not the end-all-be-all of human existence, I'd like it if my president wasn't a complete idiot.

Answer 4

That can not be right. I mean I'm not a fan of either George or Georgie Jr, but that just can't be right, though it would explain alot.

Answer 5

in view that she's in opt for of amnesty for illegals, I heavily doubt that she has any genuine favor to guard the border. @Aussie The Berlin wall became made to keep human beings IN. to keep them from ESCAPING. i desire you will discover the version.

Answer 6

Let's see....... the two most absolutely worst Presidents EVER have the lowest IQs ...... makes sense to me!

Answer 7

Maybe you should worry about ur own IQ?

Answer 8

I'm not surprised at the 'LOW' #'s for both bushes.....

Answer 9

interesting...although I don't know how accurate.....also, what's the question?

Answer 10

yeah I dont think so.