The president of the United States is the only person who is fully accountable for the safety and well-being of each and every citizen of the country at all times, in any and all circumstances. Some presidents of the United States took their oath of office seriously and did everything they could to serve their country, but others did not carry out their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. The finest and worst presidents in the history of the United States are all included here. One or two of these may take you by surprise!
Presidents Of The United States: Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
Ulysses S. Grant – 130
Even though he is considered to be the “least smart” president, his IQ is still 15 points above the national average, so we’ll give him a break. Later in life, after serving as a Union Commanding Officer during the American Civil War, he was elected President of the United States of America. Many people admired him throughout his presidency, which lasted from 1869 to 1877. In 1846, he graduated from West Point and went on to make a name for himself as a result of his service in the Mexican-American War. In 1972, he was elected president at the age of 47, making him the youngest president in history at the time! Many people believed he had brilliant ideals about equality and justice for all, especially when he criticized the KKK and attempted to make everyone on an equal footing. It’s also worth noting that he was the first president to select both African-American and Jewish-American public officials to serve in his administration.
Ulysses S. Grant
George W. Bush – 138.5
On September 11, 2001, George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, was serving as Commander-in-Chief when the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center took place. He was initially elected in 2000, and then he was re-elected for a second term the following year. Bush was president throughout the invasion of Afghanistan and the second Gulf War, both of which took place in the same year. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush established the Department of Homeland Security. President Bush served as governor of Texas for five years prior to being elected to the White House in 2008. However, despite losing the popular vote, he was still elected president because he received a majority of the electoral votes. George W. Bush is another president who has a presidential IQ that is lower than the national average, scoring only 138.5 points.
George W. Bush
Bush Hears About 9/11
Al Qaeda launched an attack on the United States on the morning of September 11th 2001, and everyone who was old enough to remember it remembers it well. Thousands of citizens died in the assaults on the Twin Towers in New York City, in which two airplanes were flown directly into the buildings. In Sarasota County, Florida, at the time of the incident, President Barack Obama was doing a guest reading to a young school at Emma E. Booker Elementary School.
Bush Hears About 911
James Monroe – 138.6
Among America’s founding fathers, James Monroe also served as the country’s 5th president, from 1817 to 1825, and was a member of the Continental Congress. He actually won the election with a landslide, thanks to widespread popular support for him among the general public. It should come as no surprise that his presidency has been dubbed the “Era of Good Feelings.” The “Monroe Doctrine” which was his take on foreign policy after fighting in the American Revolutionary War, made him a household name once he returned from the war. Despite the fact that he has an IQ that is about equal to that of George W. Bush, many people thought him to be something of a genius.
James Monroe
Andrew Johnson – 138.9
Andrew Johnson was not only the first president of the United States to be impeached (after Abraham Lincoln was slain), but he was also the first president of the United States to be elected. In short order, he was impeached because he wanted to restore the suceeded states to the Union without guaranteeing the safety of former slaves, which did not sit well with Congress, which was understandable given the circumstances. His IQ was only 138.9, which was below the national average.
Andrew Johnson
William Howard Taft – 139.5
Even now, William Howard Taft remains the only president to have served in both the judicial and executive branches of the federal government throughout his presidency. He served as President of the United States for eight years, beginning in 1909, and then as the 10th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, beginning in 1913. As the 27th president, he was the only one who continued to work in the court system after leaving the presidency office. Taft’s primary interests throughout his presidency were in East Asia and South America, where he worked to destabilize or establish new regimes.
William Howard Taft
James Buchanan – 139.6
When it came to his ambitions as President of the United States, most people would agree that James Buchanan tried to bite off more than he could chew. His vow to the country was to uphold George Washington’s legacy, but he didn’t actually get very far with it in the end. James Buchanan possessed an IQ of 139.6 points, which was comparable to that of a few previous presidents.
James Buchanan
The Only Bachelor
According to the available records, James Buchanan is the only president to have never married a wife, out of all 45 presidents. He never went into great depth about why he had never married anyone, but it’s possible that it was because he was too preoccupied with his political work to think about anything else.
The Only Bachelor
Zachary Taylor – 139.8
Even though Zachary Taylor had a moniker that means “Old Rough and Ready” you’d think he’d be prepared for anything. However, we have a feeling he wasn’t prepared for his brief tenure in the White House. Prior to becoming president, he was a decorated combat hero with a memorable moniker. A member of the Whig party, he was the party’s last presidential candidate to be elected. His administration, which began in March 1849, was characterized by a strong emphasis on slavery. Despite the fact that he held slaves of his own, his political ideas were more anti-slavery than pro-slavery in nature. During his presidency, he was successful in convincing both New Mexico and California to secede and become independent states. Taylor, unfortunately, died in July 1850 as a result of Cholera.
Zachary Taylor
Unexpected Death
Before the official cause of his untimely death could be determined, several people began spreading speculations about the possible reasons for his demise. Some speculated that he may have consumed contaminated ice water or milk, while others speculated that the high amount of cherries he consumed during a Fourth of July celebration was the cause.
Unexpected Death
Harry S. Truman – 139.8
With his eight-year tenure in office, Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States, having taken office just as World War II was coming to an end. He served in the military during World War I, and he is the only president to have actually utilized nuclear weapons in his administration. One of Harry S. Truman’s most well-known characteristics was his intransigence.
Harry S. Truman
Warren G. Harding – 139.9
Warren G. Harding was formally recognized as the president of the United States after winning the election on November 29, 1920. Historically significant, because it was the first time that women were allowed to vote for themselves in a presidential election. Harding was the one who declared the end of the First World War by announcing that the United States had reached a peace treaty with Austria, Germany, and Hungary and that the war had come to an end. He instituted a “return to normalcy” policy, which included efforts to improve the economy. His government was embroiled in a number of controversies, but the most serious issue was that Harding died of a heart attack while in office, which was not reported immediately after the event occurred.
Warren G. Harding
George Washington – 140
George Washington was not just a founding father, but he was also the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 until 1797. Following his service as commander-in-chief of the United States Army during the Revolutionary War, George Washington served as president from 1789 to 1797, during which time he worked relentlessly to construct a government for the United States. Were you aware that George Washington has been ranked as the second-best president of all time (so far) in a comprehensive poll? It makes sense when you have an IQ of 140.
George Washington
Gerald R. Ford Jr. – 140.4
As a result of Richard Nixon’s resignation from the presidency, Gerald R. Ford was elected President of the United States and served from 1974 to 1977. Detroit-born Ford is best known for his work with the Helsinki Records, through which he attempted to alter ties between the United States and the Soviet Union. Ford is well-liked by the public because of his commitment to the country during difficult economic times. Ford holds the distinction of being the only person to have served as vice president and president without being elected to either position, and he has an IQ of 140.4.
Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Ford’s First Assassination Attempt
An unidentified woman named Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme attempted to shoot Gerald Ford on September 5th, 1975, as the president-elect was going past a joyful crowd in Sacramento, California. He resisted her attempts to shoot him, and she was armed with a Colt M1911 pistol, which did not fire properly. She was apprehended, and it was later discovered that she was a member of the cult led by Charles Manson, which led to her arrest.
Ford’s First Assassination Attempt
Ford’s Second Assassination Attempt
Is it possible that, just a little more than two weeks after Ford’s first assassination attempt, someone else attempted to shoot him? Sara Jane Moore was the target of the attempted assassination this time. She drew her revolver and fired one shot at Ford, striking him in the leg. When her bullet didn’t hit him, she was caught by a former marine before she could fire another. Fortunately, the bullet did not strike the president, but it did strike and hurt a cab driver.
Fords Second Assassination Attempt
Lyndon B. Johnson – 140.6
Following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the presidency of the United States, and one of the first things he did was boost the United States military presence in Vietnam. He was in the military from 1963 to 1969, and he made a lasting effect throughout his time there. As a civil rights activist, he was well-known for pushing the country and not taking anything lightly, as well as for putting civil rights, gun, welfare, and social security legislation into effect.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Herbert Hoover – 141.6
During his administration, Herbert Hoover presided over one of the most difficult periods in American history. His early years were spent in Iowa and Oregon, and he went on to attend Stanford University, where he met and married his college love, Lou. Did you know he possessed an IQ of 141.6 points? That’s an ordinary score for a president, but it’s a really high score for a normal individual. Prior to commencing his political career, he spent a significant amount of time in China, and he was in Europe at the time of the outbreak of the First World War on a business trip. He assisted approximately 120,000 Americans in their escape from France and Germany, which gained him a great deal of respect. He served as president from 1929 to 1933, which coincided with the stock market crisis that brought the country to the brink of the Great Depression. During these difficult circumstances, Hoover did the best he could, and his perseverance was clearly visible.
Herbert Hoover
Calvin Coolidge – 141.6
Following the death of Warren Harding in 1923, Calvin Coolidge was the next in line to become President of the United States. He was then re-elected president the following year and served in that position until 1929. His IQ was 141.6, which was still below normal for a president, but above average for a general. He was a proponent of limited government, which many people admired and supported him all the way to the conclusion of his term as president. Despite the fact that the White House was embroiled in crisis after scandal throughout his presidency, many people regarded his administration as a breath of new air. Sometimes he did not win the hearts of his colleagues in the office, such as when he attempted to make lynching a federal crime, but for the most part, people admired and respected him. In addition, he signed the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to Native Americans who were on reservations at the time.
Calvin Coolidge
Ronald Reagan – 141.9
In office from 1981 to 1989, Ronald Reagan served as the 40th President of the United States. Reagan was best known for “reaganomics” which was his emphasis on the economy, notably lower social spending, deregulation of domestic markets, increased military spending, and widespread tax cuts. He also contributed to the conclusion of the Cold War and should be credited for the Iran-Contra scandal. The president of Germany delivered a speech in which he yelled, “tear down this wall!”
Ronald Reagan
Reagan’s Assassination Attempt
On the 30th of March in 1981, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. The motivation for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan was somewhat different from what you might expect; the would-be assassin wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster. Despite being struck by a ricocheted bullet, he lived and subsequently admitted to his wife that he had “I forgot to duck.”
Reagans Assassination Attempt
Ronald Reagan’s Death
He was diagnosed with pneumonia in the middle of his Alzheimer’s disease battle, which occurred as Ronald Reagan was battling the disease. Ronald Reagan died on June 5, 2004 as a result of his ailments. He was 89 years old. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 93, more than a decade after he began his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is interred at the Ronald Regan National Library in California, where he worked as a librarian.
Ronald Reagan’s Death
Richard M. Nixon – 142.9
Richard Nixon was well-known for his ability to negotiate on foreign affairs issues. President Richard Nixon served from 1969 to 1974, during which time the United States’ involvement in Vietnam came to an end, diplomatic ties with China were established, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union was signed, and the prisoners of war were repatriated. The Vice President of the United States, he was able to do many wonderful things even while serving as Dwight Eisenhower’s deputy As the face of desegregation in the Southern states, he has also contributed to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), began the “War on Cancer,” and signed legislation to combat crime. He attempted to seek a second term in office but was defeated by John F. Kennedy in the election. Many individuals feel that his approval ratings would have been far better if the Watergate affair had not occurred.
Richard M. Nixon
Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
Every American is familiar with, or at the very least has heard of, the Watergate controversy. Because of the scandal’s scope, Richard Nixon was forced to resign from his position as President of the United States of America. He was the first president to do so, however, Gerald Ford followed suit.
Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
George H. W. Bush – 143
While his son was president for two terms, George H.W. Bush was only president for one term. You may not have known that George H.W. Bush served as Ronald Reagan’s vice president for the entire eight years of Reagan’s presidency prior to becoming president himself. He was a skilled mediator, which made him particularly helpful during times of national crisis in the country.
George H. W. Bush
H.W. Bush’s Big Accomplishments
Cold War and first Gulf War ended during H.W. Bush’s presidency, while the Berlin Wall was demolished during his administration. Furthermore, he deserves credit for groundbreaking legislation such as the Clean Air Act, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. He also holds the record for the longest presidential marriage, which lasted 73 years and was the longest in American history.
H.W. Bush’s Big Accomplishments
George H.W. Bush’s Death
Bush had been battling vascular Parkinson’s disease for many years when he died on November 30, 2018, just seven months after his wife, Barbara, passed away. Bush had been suffering from the disease for many years. The president passed away in 2006, making him the first president to pass away in 12 years. The last president to pass away was Gerald Ford in 2006.
George H.W. Bush’s Death
James K. Polk – 143.4
James K. Polk was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. Did you know that his inauguration was the first to be broadcast live over the telegraph line in history? Polk was president at the time of the United States’ declaration of victory in the Mexican-American conflict. In addition, during his presidency, Texas was legally recognized as a state when Mexico was granted sovereignty over the territory.
James K. Polk
William McKinley Jr. – 143.4
William McKinley Jr. possessed an IQ of 143.4, which suited him well during his four-year administration, which spanned 1897 to 1901. He was instrumental in America’s victory in the Spanish-American War and also played a part in the American Civil War. During his presidency, Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico all gained independence and became independent countries. Despite the fact that he did not make significant attempts to provide equality for all American residents, he did make significant efforts to strengthen the country’s economy, which was positively received by many individuals in this country.
William McKinley Jr.
McKinley’s Assassination
President William McKinley was shot twice in the abdomen on September 6, 1901, at the Temple of Music in Bufflo, New York, by Leon Czolgosz, a self-described anarchist who claimed responsibility for the attack. McKinley died eight days after being shot in the head. Observers noted that this episode was rather ironic in light of the fact that President McKinley had been persuaded twice previously not to proceed with this same trip out of fear of something like this occurring to him.
McKinley’s Assassination
Grover Cleveland – 144
Grover Cleveland has an IQ of 144, which places him close to the top half of all presidents in terms of intelligence. Despite the fact that Grover Cleveland spent two terms as president, they were not consecutive terms. He ran for re-election after his first term and was defeated, but he eventually won a second term as a result of conservatives’ enthusiasm for his policy. During Cleveland’s second term, he dealt with the Panic of 1893 as well as the Pullman Strike of 1894, both of which were events that affected the entire country. Cleveland’s biographer had the following to say about him: “The qualities that distinguished him were: honesty, courage, firmness, independence, and common sense. However, he possessed them in a way that other men did not “….. Many people believe that Cleveland was one of America’s greatest presidents, despite the fact that his second term was less successful than his first.
Grover Cleveland
Cleveland’s Marriage
Isn’t it interesting to know that Grover Cleveland was the first and only president to have his wedding ceremony inside the White House? His new wife was 28 years younger than he was, which made people’s heads turn and piqued everyone’s interest, as she was quite attractive. By all accounts, the French-speaking woman was a huge hit with the general population.
Cleveland’s Marriage
Andrew Jackson – 145
Andrew Jackson served as President of the United States for only one term, from 1829 to 1837, which implies he only had one term in office. Is he someone you’re familiar with from somewhere? Perhaps it is due to the fact that his image appears on the twenty-dollar bill. Many people find it amusing that his likeness appears on a bill, given that he was a vocal opponent of the development of paper money and advocated for all currency to be in the form of coins. While serving as a prisoner of war in the American Revolutionary War, he was only 13 years old at the time. Andrew Jackson’s presidency was notable for two things: not only did he prevent the secession of South Carolina, but he also managed to pay off the entire debt of the United States at the time.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration Party
There was something about Andrew Jackson that made people think he was just another regular guy. Immediately following his inauguration ceremony, a party was held in the executive house, but things quickly got out of hand when a large number of people showed up and rummaged through the kitchen after having too much to drink.
Andrew Jacksons Inauguration Party
Dwight D. Eisenhower – 145.1
In office from 1953 to 1961, Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower served as the nation’s 34th president. Desegregation of the army was one of the most popular things he accomplished during his administration, which was something that Truman had put in place and that Eisenhower had to reverse. As a result, he rose to become one of the most well-liked and respected presidents in history. Did you know he has an IQ of 145.1?
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Benjamin Harrison – 145.4
His service in the Union army during the Civil War has earned him the distinction of being one of the finest presidents in the country’s history. His excellent rapport with Congress during his presidency has earned him the title of one of the best presidents in the country. During his tenure as president, he expanded voting rights for African-Americans and welcomed the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming into the Union. His IQ was 145.4, which was higher than Eisenhower’s and Jackson’s, and placed him in the top 50 percent of presidents, surpassing both of those men. His great-grandfather was Benjamin Harrison, who was the founding father of the United States, earning this Benjamin Harrison the nickname “Little Ben” Not only was his great-grandfather a founding father, but his grandpa was William Henry “Old Tippecanoe” Harrison, who was also a president of the United States during the American Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Harrison
Martin Van Buren – 146
As President of the United States during Martin “The Little Magician” Van Buren’s one-term presidency, he faced the Panic of 1837, which is frequently referred to as the first great depression because it began just three months after Van Buren was brought into the office. For the United States Treasury to become independent, Van Buren proposed that finances be kept separate from the government so that they would not be affected by political ups and downs. He had an IQ of 146, which put him well in the middle of the presidents in terms of intelligence. Unfortunately, he was held accountable for the closure of a huge number of firms and banks during a period when the economy was deteriorating, despite the fact that, after his time, people understood that he was also responsible for repairing the economy.
Martin Van Buren
Rutherford B. Hayes – 133.9
Rutherford B. Hayes had a similar scenario to George W. Bush in that he won the electoral vote but not the popular vote during his election, and it had to be debated whether or not he should have been declared the winner of the presidency. In the years before becoming president, he served three terms as governor of Ohio, during which time he was a member of the Whig party, which no longer exists. Even though Hayes was in favor of extending civil rights to the African-American population, Democratic opponents stood in the way of his efforts. His wife was the first First Lady of the United States to get a bachelor’s degree.
Rutherford B. Hayes
William Henry Harrison – 146.3
With only 31 days between March 4 and April 4, 1841, William Henry Harrison still maintains the record for serving as president for the shortest period of time in history. He succumbed to pneumonia after being caught in the rain on inauguration day, and he died as a result of the illness. Because he died shortly after taking office, it was difficult for people to remember him for anything other than sorrow, but he is also recognized for being the last president to have lived during the American Revolutionary War. He was known as “Old Tippecanoe” because he led the forces to victory during the Battle of Tippecanoe, which earned him the nickname. Did you know that he was the world’s first head of state to have his picture taken? Unfortunately, the photo did not make it very far before being destroyed.
William Henry Harrison
Franklin Pierce – 147.4
Franklin Pierce came with a great deal of baggage, which went hand in hand with his political beliefs. Among other things, he described the abolitionist movement as “a fundamental threat to the unity of the nation” at one point. Aside from that, Franklin Pierce is also known for signing the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which gave each state the right to decide for themselves how they felt about slavery.
Franklin Pierce
John Tyler – 148
Following the death of William Henry Harrison, John Tyler was appointed President of the United States. Did you know that John Tyler was the first president to hold the position of president who was not elected in a formal election? As opposed to making decisions for the states on how slavery should be handled and a variety of other concerns, he delegated authority to each state. This was a remarkably apathetic response to something as severe as slavery, which caused many people in Congress to hate him for his actions. He had an IQ of 148, so there was no doubt about whether he was brilliant or not. However, many people believed that he could have handled things better. He was the first president to have an impeachment proceeding brought against him, albeit it was ultimately unsuccessful.
John Tyler
Fifteen Children
Among his numerous firsts during his presidency, John Tyler was the first president to have as many as 15 children, making him the first president to have that many. They were born over a 45-year period to two different moms, resulting in a total of four children. During his first marriage to Lettia Tyler, he had eight children, and he had seven children with his second wife, Julia Gardiner.
Fifteen Children
Millard Fillmore – 149
Fillmore, the final president linked with the Whig party, was born into a low-income family, but he had a strong education that allowed him to rise to the positions of vice president and eventually president. Fillmore was elected President of the United States in 1850, following the death of Zachary Taylor from cholera. When Fillmore was elected president, every member of his government resigned, and he was forced to form a completely new cabinet. He enacted the 1850 Compromise in the hopes of alleviating some of the tensions between the northern and southern states, but it did not function as well as he had planned. At the time, Japan was the only country with whom they could connect successfully, and they did not have many other countries with which to converse.
Millard Fillmore
Abraham Lincoln – 150
Abraham “Abe” Lincoln accomplished a tremendous deal during his time as the 16th president of the United States. For starters, he was the driving force behind the abolition of slavery and served as the Union’s commander during the American Civil War. In addition, he signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which assisted enslaved people in the southern United States in achieving their freedom, and he ratified the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which made slavery illegal. His tragic death in 1865 meant that he would not live to see the completion of his masterpiece. With an IQ of 150, he was considered to be one of the most bright presidents in history.
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln’s Assassination
Many people believe that Abraham Lincoln’s assassination was one of the most significant events in the history of the United States of America. During a performance of Our American Cousin at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., he was shot and killed by actor John Wilkes Booth. He passed away a few hours later, little than a week after the end of the Civil War had been declared.
Lincolns Assassination
Franklin D. Roosevelt – 150.5
Former President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt (often known as FDR) served as president of the United States from 1933 to 1945. He was so beloved by the American people that he was elected to the position of president four times. As president, he presided over what appeared to be some of the most significant events in history, including the Great Depression, prohibition, and World War II, in addition to kicking off the New Deal. He possessed one of the highest IQs of any president, measuring 150.5, making him one of the smartest people in the world.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Roosevelt’s Death
Because so many Americans admired him and regarded him to be one of the greatest presidents in history, the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt was much mourned. Franklin D. Roosevelt passed away on April 12, 1945, as a result of an intracerebral hemorrhage, which is a type of stroke that is exceedingly harmful to the brain. Unfortunately, President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not live to witness the end of World War II.
Roosevelts Death
Chester Arthur – 152.3
Chester Arthur was born in Vermont to two parents who moved to the U.S. from Ireland. He always aspired to be a president, and those ambitions came true when he took over for James Garfield in 1881. He designed the Pendleton Act, which assured that Americans would win federal government positions through a system based on merit instead of their political associations and connections. Arthur also forefronted the first immigration statute which aimed to keep “paupers, criminals, and lunatics” from entering the country. With an IQ of 152.3, he obviously knew what he was doing.
Chester Arthur
James A. Garfield – 152.3
Fascinating fact: James A. Garfield was the first and only person in history to be elected to the presidency while simultaneously serving as a member of the House of Representatives. His previous experience includes serving as a major general for the Union during the American Civil War, where he participated in a number of battles. The corruption in the postal service was eliminated, and the navy was made stronger, during his six-month time as president. He was a staunch supporter of universal education and civil rights, and he even promoted some African-Americans to high-ranking positions, like Frederick Douglass, among others. Unfortunately, he was killed in an assassination attempt in 1881.
James A. Garfield