A smart president

richlevy · 05-19-2003, 07:48 PM

I was wondering how much intelligence is needed to be a *good* president. Of course leadership and charisma are important, but is it possible to lead smart people effectively if you yourself are not smart?

I only had ten choices out of 42, so choose the smartest in the list.

Torrere · 05-19-2003, 08:14 PM

Woodrow Wilson. I'm not sure who would come in first on that list.

Radar · 05-19-2003, 08:19 PM

Woodrow Wilson said on his deathbed that he single-handedly ruined America. He was president when the 16th amendment was illegally ratified and helped create the Federal Reserve System. He got us into WWI, because he was HEAVILY influenced by Colonel Edward Mandell House (lived in the white house) who was associated with the Fabian Society. He is among the worst presidents America has ever had.

juju · 05-19-2003, 09:16 PM

Heh heh heh.

Scred · 05-19-2003, 09:34 PM

Smartest == "best"? "most competent"?

i think not. so i voted for the most psychotic, but quite possibly the smartest.

juju · 05-19-2003, 10:15 PM

Hey, speaking of the 16th amendment, the government gave me $2085.30 yesterday for turning in my tax forms. It's sort of like winning the lottery.

elSicomoro · 05-19-2003, 10:19 PM

Clinton did some not-so-smart things, and he was by no means the best president. But smartest? I'd give it to him.

Radar · 05-19-2003, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Hey, speaking of the 16th amendment, the government gave me $2085.30 yesterday for turning in my tax forms. It's sort of like winning the lottery.

That's hilarious! Someone who thinks they've won the lottery because the theif who robbed them at gunpoint returned a bit of the stolen loot.

Tobiasly · 05-19-2003, 10:34 PM

I wouldn't put up too much of a fight against declaring Clinton the most <I>intelligent</I>. But there are different kinds of smart, and intelligence is only one of them.

I agree with Scred. Intelligence doesn't necessarily make for a good president, and the lack thereof doesn't necessarily make for a bad one.

Radar · 05-19-2003, 10:45 PM

Technically Carter had the highest IQ of any president who was measured. But judging from writing, I believe Jefferson was the most intelligent president followed by Adams.

juju · 05-19-2003, 11:27 PM

I thought you'd like that. :)

View Poll Results: Whos is the Smartest President
Hoover	0	0%
FDR	0	0%
Truman	1	8.33%
Eisenhower	3	25.00%
Kennedy	2	16.67%
Nixon	2	16.67%
Reagan	1	8.33%
H.W. Bush	0	0%
Clinton	3	25.00%
G. W. Bush	0	0%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

05-19-2003, 07:48 PM	#1
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	A smart president I was wondering how much intelligence is needed to be a good president. Of course leadership and charisma are important, but is it possible to lead smart people effectively if you yourself are not smart? I only had ten choices out of 42, so choose the smartest in the list. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama Last edited by richlevy; 05-19-2003 at 07:59 PM.

05-19-2003, 08:14 PM	#2
Torrere a real smartass Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kirkland, WA Posts: 1,121	Woodrow Wilson. I'm not sure who would come in first on that list.

05-19-2003, 08:19 PM	#3
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	Woodrow Wilson said on his deathbed that he single-handedly ruined America. He was president when the 16th amendment was illegally ratified and helped create the Federal Reserve System. He got us into WWI, because he was HEAVILY influenced by Colonel Edward Mandell House (lived in the white house) who was associated with the Fabian Society. He is among the worst presidents America has ever had.

05-19-2003, 09:16 PM	#4
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Heh heh heh.

05-19-2003, 09:34 PM	#5
Scred Wharf Rat Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Galaxy Seven, near Phoenixville Posts: 71	Smartest == "best"? "most competent"? i think not. so i voted for the most psychotic, but quite possibly the smartest.

05-19-2003, 10:15 PM	#6
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Hey, speaking of the 16th amendment, the government gave me $2085.30 yesterday for turning in my tax forms. It's sort of like winning the lottery.

05-19-2003, 10:19 PM	#7
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Clinton did some not-so-smart things, and he was by no means the best president. But smartest? I'd give it to him.

05-19-2003, 10:34 PM	#9
Tobiasly hot Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jeffersonville, IN (near Louisville) Posts: 892	I wouldn't put up too much of a fight against declaring Clinton the most <I>intelligent</I>. But there are different kinds of smart, and intelligence is only one of them. I agree with Scred. Intelligence doesn't necessarily make for a good president, and the lack thereof doesn't necessarily make for a bad one.

05-19-2003, 10:45 PM	#10
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	Technically Carter had the highest IQ of any president who was measured. But judging from writing, I believe Jefferson was the most intelligent president followed by Adams.

05-19-2003, 11:27 PM	#11
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	I thought you'd like that. :)

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