A measure of cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, logical reasoning, and comprehension is what means Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Regardless of all this, IQ scores aren’t definitive ways to measure somebody’s ability or potential, but they have been used to gauge the intellectual savviness of several famous people, including politicians. While high IQ often goes along with spectacular academic accomplishments and original thought, it does not have to affect the ability to lead in politics.
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John Quincy Adams (IQ: 175)
Other, more obscure, contenders aside, however, the person most commonly touted as having the highest IQ among US presidents is John Quincy Adams, the sixth US President. Adams, a Harvard graduate who spoke seven languages, had a long career in diplomacy, in the Senate and as secretary of state before becoming president. His intellectual achievements have been well documented as have his diplomatic skills.
Thomas Jefferson (IQ: 160)
Thomas Jefferson, our third President, was a man of many talents. He was the original drafter of the Declaration of Independence, an architect, and a political theorist. Though Jefferson’s estimated IQ is high, the diversity of his intellectual pursuits and his contributions to the founding of the nation paint an interesting picture.
James Madison (IQ: 160)
This is because James Madison was the fourth President of the United States which we commonly call the Father of the Constitution. His high estimated IQ was a result of his scholarly nature and great contribution to the nation’s founding documents.
John F. Kennedy (IQ: 159.8)
The 35th President of the United States was John F. Kennedy, with an IQ of 159.8. However, he had early academic problems and graduated from Harvard in 1940 before becoming the second youngest president ever. His reign was also responsible for several central events of the American 1960s among them being the Cuban Missile Crisis and the foundation of the Peace Corps.
Bill Clinton (IQ: 159)
The 42nd President of the United States — Bill Clinton — had an IQ of 159. He was born in Arkansas and went to Georgetown, Oxford, and Yale, where he met Hillary Rodham. He is notable during his presidency thanks to the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Barack Obama (IQ: 155)
The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama had an IQ of 155. But Obama, who left office in early 2017, was the first African American to occupy the nation’s highest office. He governed during a time of many important developments, the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the killing of Osama bin Laden, and trying to recover from the Great Recession.
Woodrow Wilson (IQ: 144)
For instance, President 28th of the United States, Woodrow Wilson had an IQ of 144. Served from 1913 to 1921; Peace was named president of the League of Nations and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his endeavors in that.
Abraham Lincoln (IQ: 144)
The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln’s IQ was 144. More than anything else, he is known for guiding the nation through the Civil War and providing the Gettysburg Address, stressing equality and national unity.
Georges Danton (IQ: 145)
Georges Danton (French revolutionary leader) IQ was 145. He had been a leading figure under the early French Revolution and was president of the first Committee of Public Safety. His role in the revolutionary government would help to shape France’s future.
Adolf Hitler (IQ: 140)
Hitler’s IQ was 140. Although his destructive policies and actions brought the death and destruction of Europe and the world, he is often assumed to have been a high-IQ man. Intelligence with a sense of strategic planning does not necessarily imply ethical leadership.
IQ and Political Leadership
Having high IQ scores means you have strong cognitive abilities, but does not mean you are a good leader. But there are many qualifications to be a leader — emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, and an ability to inspire and unite people. Adaptability, crisis management, and involvement with various outlooks are also required of political leadership. For one thing, any number of the most venerated political leaders in history, including Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, exhibited extraordinary wisdom and judgment, though their IQ scores may not have been the highest.
Additionally, governing well requires abilities beyond those that can be measured through traditional intelligence. Being able to make good decisions is determined by political acumen, the ability to negotiate as well as emotional intelligence — especially in high-stakes situations. As history tells us, the brightest people in politics are also those who can connect with the general public and can read between the lines of the complex socio-political landscape.
