You've probably seen that viral graphic floating around Facebook or TikTok. The one that claims to show a definitive iq of presidents list with massive, triple-digit gaps between different political parties. It’s the kind of thing that makes people either feel smug or incredibly defensive, depending on which team they root for. Honestly, though? Most of those viral charts are total junk.
We like to think we can just plug a number into a historical figure’s head and know exactly how "smart" they were. But measuring the brainpower of a guy who died 200 years before the modern IQ test was even invented is, well, complicated. It’s more like historical detective work than a trip to the doctor’s office.
The Myth of the Official IQ List
Let’s clear the air: No president has ever sat down in the Oval Office and taken a proctored Mensa exam. Except for maybe Jimmy Carter, who is often cited as having an actual recorded score of around 156.8, these numbers aren't coming from school transcripts or secret government files.
Most of what we know about the iq of presidents list comes from a field called "historiometry." Basically, researchers look at a president's early accomplishments—like how fast they learned languages or if they were a child prodigy—and then estimate a score. The big name here is Dean Keith Simonton, a psychologist from UC Davis. In 2006, he released a massive study that estimated the IQs of the first 42 presidents.
He didn't just guess. He used variables like "intellectual brilliance" and "openness to experience" based on biographical data. But even Simonton would tell you these are estimates, not gospel.
Who Actually Tops the Rankings?
If we look at the data that historians actually take seriously, the top of the list is dominated by the "Founding Father" types. It makes sense. Back then, "education" meant reading Greek and Latin for fun while also being an architect and a lawyer on the side.
John Quincy Adams: The Gold Standard
Usually, John Quincy Adams is ranked as the smartest guy to ever hold the job. His estimated IQ sits around 175. That’s deep into "genius" territory. He was a child prodigy who traveled the world, spoke seven languages, and was basically a walking encyclopedia. He was probably the most prepared person to ever be president, even if his actual term was a political headache.
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Thomas Jefferson: The Polymath
Jefferson usually lands in the 160 range. The guy wrote the Declaration of Independence in his 30s, designed his own mansion, and founded a university. He had so many books he basically started the Library of Congress after the British burned the first one. If anyone deserves a high ranking on the iq of presidents list, it’s the guy who could invent a plow and translate ancient texts in the same afternoon.
The Modern Heavyweights
When we get into more recent history, Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy often pop up with scores near 150-159. Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar; Kennedy had that quick, sharp wit, though his actual school performance was a bit spotty (he reportedly scored a 119 on an Otis test as a kid, which is still well above average but not the "super-genius" level often claimed).
Why the "Dumb President" Trope is Usually Wrong
People love to pick on George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. You’ve seen the emails—the ones claiming "W" had an IQ of 91. That was a hoax that started in the early 2000s and just won’t die. In reality, Simonton’s study put Bush’s IQ somewhere between 120 and 138.
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Is that lower than Jefferson? Sure. But a 125 IQ puts you in the top 10% of the population. It means you’re definitely smart enough to graduate from an Ivy League school (which he did).
The same goes for Ulysses S. Grant. For decades, he was ranked at the bottom of the iq of presidents list, mostly because he was a quiet guy who didn't like politics. But look at his military strategy. Look at his memoirs—Mark Twain called them some of the best-written in the English language. Historians have recently been "rehabilitating" Grant, realizing he was much sharper than the old "drunk general" stereotype suggested.
The Connection Between Smartest and "Greatest"
Here is the weird part: being a genius doesn't mean you'll be a great president. James Madison was a brilliant thinker (IQ ~160), but his presidency was defined by the War of 1812, which didn't exactly go great at first. Meanwhile, George Washington is often estimated around 130-140. High? Yes. But he wasn't a philosopher-king like Jefferson. Yet, he’s almost always ranked #1 or #2 in terms of actual leadership.
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It turns out that "emotional intelligence" or just plain old "judgment" matters more than being able to solve a calculus equation in your head.
How to Spot a Fake IQ List
If you're looking at a list and it shows all the Democrats with 160+ and all the Republicans below 100 (or vice versa), it’s fake. Period. Politics is a high-level game. To even get into the room, you generally need a level of cognitive ability that far exceeds the average person.
- Look for the source: If it doesn't mention Dean Keith Simonton or the 2006 Political Psychology study, be skeptical.
- Watch for round numbers: Real IQ estimates aren't usually perfect 100s or 150s.
- Check the extremes: If a list says a president had an IQ of 80, they likely couldn't have passed the bar exam or commanded an army.
Actionable Insights for the History Buff
- Stop using IQ as a political weapon. It’s almost always based on flawed or "doctored" data when used in memes.
- Read the biographies. If you want to know how smart a president was, read their personal letters. Jefferson’s letters are vastly different in complexity than, say, Warren G. Harding’s.
- Understand the "Openness" factor. Simonton found that the most successful presidents weren't just "smart"—they were "open to experience." They were curious. They changed their minds when presented with new facts.
- Distinguish between IQ and Wisdom. A high score on an iq of presidents list reflects processing speed and logic, but presidential greatness usually comes from moral courage and timing.
The hunt for the "smartest" president is fun, but it's a bit like ranking the "fastest" cars from the 1800s—the measurements are shaky, and the road conditions matter more than the engine.