# Who was the stupidest US president? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 27, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968 "2015-05-27T18:03:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/21 "2015-06-01T23:48:55Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > Well, he had [all that brush to clear from his ranch](http://jaxairnews.jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/12297521.jpg). That takes a lot of time and effort. You know, putting on the right hat, cool looking shades, and getting them boots on – that in itself can take a few hours. To be fair, they _were_ lace-up boots. He could’ve knocked a couple hours off his time if they were cowboy boots. And if he put them on the right feet first try. Sorry, it was a cheap shot laid before me. I couldn’t help myself. I never thought him remarkably dumb. Maybe even on the right-hand side of the bell curve. Never could see JFK’s brilliance, myself. Teddy was probably the smart one. If Joe, Jr had survived… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/22 "2015-06-02T03:54:58Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > …Never could see JFK’s brilliance, myself… Watch one of his press conferences or interviews. Read any of his aides’ memoirs. Study his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He had many personal failings, but being a dummy wasn’t one of them. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/23 "2015-06-02T12:29:34Z")
Milton Friedman who personally knew and advised many presidents and as such was in a unique position to know regarded Richard Nixon as having the highest raw intelligence of any president he knew. Unfortunately Nixon had a habit of knowing what was right and instead doing what was politically expedient. IE he knew that wage and price controls wouldn’t work but did them anyway. Oftentimes I believe presidents get called stupid not because they lack intelligence but because they go against the opinions of self proclaimed intellectuals even if their actions are superior in result. Actually I should say especially if their actions have superior results. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/24 "2015-06-02T13:08:56Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Most historians aren’t buying it. Harding had the luck to preside over a boom time he had nothing to do with. He wasn’t corrupt, but he allowed his pals to run free and pollute the whole government. His personal life was the pits and he was a congenial sort but not a very nice man. > > He won office only because the Democrats were sunk, and didn’t even have a live candidate to offer. (Wait. Cox was alive? Who know?) An almost perfect example of why having a figurehead in the White House is just as bad an idea as having a dolt, and evidence that one might imply the other. You’ve basically just described the Reagan administration. Not that I think Reagan was stupid but I do think he also suffered from the same flaw ascribed to Bush above: > [@XT](#): > > My own take is that Bush is one of those guys who see things in black or white/good or evil type terms. They simplify the world so that all problems have easy, cut and dried answers. Bush also was confident in his own take on things and didn’t seem to enjoy gray areas or others opinions when they were radically different than or conflicted with his own world view. Those are definite flaws, but I don’t think they made him stupid in the real sense of the word (i.e. lacking cognitive abilities). And since both Reagan and Bush Jr surrounded themselves with similar people (in some cases the same people), they ran into problems when reality didn’t jibe with their view of it. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/25 "2015-06-02T18:33:58Z")
> [@Powers](#): > > Trying to ensure it doesn’t happen again. There is another Bush available. > [@drewder](#): > > Oftentimes I believe presidents get called stupid not because they lack intelligence but because they go against the opinions of self proclaimed intellectuals even if their actions are superior in result. Actually I should say especially if their actions have superior results. Many people get called stupid simply because their opinions differ from the one talking, especially in politics. Even if they are better. ---
**Author:** ![qazwart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/26 "2015-06-02T18:37:34Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > Milton Friedman who personally knew and advised many presidents and as such was in a unique position to know regarded Richard Nixon as having the highest raw intelligence of any president he knew… Often times I believe presidents get called stupid not because they lack intelligence but because they go against the opinions of self proclaimed intellectuals even if their actions are superior in result. People have accused Nixon of many, many things, but being stupid was never one of them. For high intelligence, I’d have to say Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and Obama all would make the cut. Unfortunately, intelligence doesn’t make you an effective president. Carter was a middling president at best. He simply didn’t understand the power game. However, he has shined since his presidency. I can’t think of another ex-president who had done so much (maybe the exception of John Quincy Adams). Reagan may have been more intelligent than people might give him credit, but his main power was his excellent ability to persuade and to explain how he saw things. As for the Bushes… My father knew both Bushes and was not impressed with either one. He once said to me _Pappy has the brains in the family, and unfortunately, that’s not saying too much_. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/27 "2015-06-03T00:35:45Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Watch one of his press conferences or interviews. Read any of his aides’ memoirs. Study his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. He had many personal failings, but being a dummy wasn’t one of them. > **['I was willing and he was unbelievably handsome': JFK's teen intern mistress...](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097287/JFK-intern-Mimi-Alford-elaborates-White-House-affair.html)** > > After claims of his overpowering, the former White House intern who had an 18-month affair with the ex-president has revealed that she actually wanted to have sex with him. An intelligent man would never do this. He was just another rich empty suit. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/28 "2015-06-03T00:55:27Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [JFK intern Mimi Alford elaborates on their White House affair | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097287/JFK-intern-Mimi-Alford-elaborates-White-House-affair.html) > > An intelligent man would never do this. He was just another rich empty suit. As would no true Scotsman. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/29 "2015-06-03T02:15:00Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [JFK intern Mimi Alford elaborates on their White House affair | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097287/JFK-intern-Mimi-Alford-elaborates-White-House-affair.html) > > An intelligent man would never do this. He was just another rich empty suit. I’ve actually read the Alford book; it’s very interesting and surprisingly affectionate towards JFK after all these years, and considering the gap in their ages at the time. Intelligent people have ill-considered affairs all the time. JFK had more than most. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/30 "2015-06-03T14:34:05Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > An intelligent man would never do this. He was just another rich empty suit. You are confusing intelligence and good judgment. Plenty of intelligent people do things because they can, not because those things are smart. They think the rules don’t apply, or they’re smart enough to get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/31 "2015-06-03T16:52:59Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [JFK intern Mimi Alford elaborates on their White House affair | Daily Mail Online](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2097287/JFK-intern-Mimi-Alford-elaborates-White-House-affair.html) > > An intelligent man would never do this. He was just another rich empty suit. Albert Einstein would never have affairs! Wait. [He did?](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/3653763/Brilliant-men-always-betray-their-wives.html) Well, he wasn’t very smart, was he? And neither were Bertand Russell, Picasso, and Gaughin, also mentioned in that article. I like the image of Gaughin as a rich empty suit. However, that doesn’t apply to Kennedy since he did it for health reasons. > [@](#): > > During a presidential visit to Britain, John F. Kennedy once shocked an elderly Harold Macmillan when he complained to him that if he didn’t have sex with a woman every day he suffered from severe headaches. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/32 "2015-06-04T17:18:09Z")
Bottom line: if you’re a liberal, you’re assumed to be an intellectual, even if there’s absolutely no evidence that you know very much about anything. Conversely, if you’re a Republican, you’re assumed to be a dolt no matter how many degrees you earn. Adlai Stevenson was widely viewed as an egghead, though he never said or did anything to suggest he had anything more than an average IQ, while Eisenhower was constantly held up as a moron to be laughed at, despite leading the winning coalition in World War 2. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/33 "2015-06-04T17:33:50Z")
On the political front, I’m not even willing to agree it was poor judgment that JFK had affairs. Everybody looked the other way in those days. Was FDR in any political danger because he had affairs? I just can’t see anyone’s political downfall in the early 1960’s because of an affair. Now, JFK may have had poor judgment because he had Jackie Kennedy at home and still went chasing skirts. But what he was risking was never getting busy with Jackie again - separate bedrooms. He wasn’t risking political scandal or even divorce. ---
**Author:** ![Theturkeydidit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19b73/32.png) [@Theturkeydidit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theturkeydidit)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/34 "2015-06-04T20:12:46Z")
Definitely not the most recent Bush. He had b###s! Now the whole Middle East is even more of a bigger disaster then before. Like that was possible . . . We need a Texan in the white house in these times. ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@Ralph\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ralph_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/35 "2015-06-05T00:44:19Z")
> [@qazwart](#): > > People have accused Nixon of many, many things, but being stupid was never one of them. > > For high intelligence, I’d have to say Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and Obama all would make the cut. Unfortunately, intelligence doesn’t make you an effective president. Carter was a middling president at best. He simply didn’t understand the power game. However, he has shined since his presidency. I can’t think of another ex-president who had done so much (maybe the exception of John Quincy Adams). > > Reagan may have been more intelligent than people might give him credit, but his main power was his excellent ability to persuade and to explain how he saw things. As for the Bushes… My father knew both Bushes and was not impressed with either one. He once said to me _Pappy has the brains in the family, and unfortunately, that’s not saying too much_. In 1979, I was at SAC headquarters planning SR-71 and U-2 missions. Every SR mission plan, because the airplane was definitely **not** covert, had to go to the Carter White House for approval before we could launch. Sometimes the White House approved, sometimes they had last minute changes to make, which were rather nerve-wracking, since they often came in while the crew was in pre-launch rest, meaning the crew had to be briefed, “While you were sleeping, we had to change the mission you studied…” Soon after Reagan came into office, we got tasked for another mission, and as usual sent it back to our contact in the Pentagon to have it routed to the White House. Days passed, and the designated launch date approached. I called my contact, “What have you heard about that mission?” “Oh, yeah. I’ll check.” He called back the next day: “White House says if you want to fly it, go ahead.” “Uhh, what do you mean, ‘If we want to fly it, go ahead?’” And that was the last mission we ever had to send to the White House for pre-flight approval. Reagan really loved the Sled, too. Seems like his motto was “Never let a Commie have a good night’s sleep.” There was one mission the White House ordered purely for ground effect…no sensors aboard. Just to let them know we were watching… ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/36 "2015-06-05T01:17:59Z")
The Sled? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/37 "2015-06-05T07:08:32Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > The Sled? The most common nickname for the SR-71 was the Blackbird, but it was also sometimes called the Lady in Black or the Sled. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/38 "2015-06-05T08:19:48Z")
Ralph Kirk writes: \> Every SR mission plan, because the airplane was definitely not covert, had to go to \> the Carter White House for approval before we could launch. Jimmy Carter was known for being a micromanager. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/39 "2015-06-05T09:42:46Z")
> [@Theturkeydidit](#): > > Definitely not the most recent Bush. He had b###s! Now the whole Middle East is even more of a bigger disaster then before. Like that was possible . . . We need a Texan in the white house in these times. We’re not discussing “balls” (which I assume you meant and which you are allowed to spell out here); we’re discussing brains. Given that quite a lot of the current mess is a direct result of actions taken under the Bush administration, I’m not convinced your argument about the state of the Middle East holds any water. You’d have a better argument with fellow Texan\* LBJ who not only had balls but was willing to discuss them. Frequently. Actually, I’m not sure that’s a recommendation. Plus he also had a little “quagmire of a war” problem. But he was definitely a shrewd feller. \*although the Bush clan seem to be transplanted Texans; their base is in New England really. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968/40 "2015-06-05T21:35:39Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The most common nickname for the SR-71 was the Blackbird, but it was also sometimes called the Lady in Black or the Sled. Ah, I didn’t parse that sentence well. I was reading “too” to indicate something besides the SR-71, not emphasizing how much he loved it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-stupidest-us-president/720968.md?page=3)