The IQ Ranking of U.S. Presidents: Who’s Smarter Than You Think?


Andrew Johnson (IQ: 125-130)

Next up, we’ve got Andrew Johnson, who took over after Lincoln’s assassination. His IQ is also pegged between 125 and 130, but let’s be real—his presidency didn’t exactly shine. Johnson struggled big time with Reconstruction, and his inability to bring the country together during such a critical time didn’t do him any favors. Smart? Sure. The right guy for the job? Maybe not so much.

Zachary Taylor (IQ: 120-125)

“Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor, a military man through and through, rounds out the bunch with an IQ of around 120 to 125. He was more about action than deep political thought, and it shows. Taylor’s presidency was short-lived—he died just over a year into his term—but he made his mark by opposing the spread of slavery. We’ll never know what else he could’ve accomplished, but his brains were clearly more battle-ready than policy-focused.