The Most Intelligent U.S. Presidents: See Who Ranks The Highest

Published on 07/29/2021
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Rutherford B. Hayes – 133.9

Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States, serving from 1877 to 1881 as a Republican politician. After months of wrangling, he won the electoral vote but not the popular vote, much as George W. Bush did in the 2000 presidential election. Mark Twain, the author, surprisingly expressed his support for Hayes. He served three terms as governor of Ohio and was a member of the now-defunct Whig party before becoming president. Hayes supported the expansion of black civil rights, but the Democratic majority in Congress thwarted his efforts. With a score of 133.9, Rutherford B. Hayes had a lower IQ than the other presidents. Hayes was another well-known supporter of the civil service exams, believing that it was more important and just for government employees to be hired based on merit rather than political connections. The Pendleton Act later codified this. His wife was the first First Lady to have a college education, and she vouched for the White House’s first alcohol-free term.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes

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William Henry Harrison – 146.3

The record for the shortest term in office belongs to William Henry Harrison. Most people remember him for his tragic death while still serving in the military. From March 4, 1841, to April 4, 1841, he was in office for a total of 31 days. After a rainy inauguration day, the 9th president died of pneumonia. The president, it appears, refused to wear a coat and instead gave his speech while riding a horse. William Henry Harrison, another average president, had an IQ of 146.3. William Henry Harrison was remembered primarily for tragedy, as he died while in office, setting the record for the shortest term in office. He was the last president to witness the American Revolution, and he is best known for leading the military to victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. He earned the nickname “Old Tippecanoe,” and he was the first US head of state to be photographed. Regrettably, the photo had not been found. He is the grandson of Benjamin Harrison, the founding father of the United States, and the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States.

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison

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