Ronald Reagan vs. Sarah Palin

For those who say that Ronald Reagan is an example of a successful president with an average IQ, I say that you have incorrectly assessed Reagan’s IQ.

Read this 1975 interview with Ronald Reagan, in which Ronald Reagan discusses his libertarian philosophy. In Reagan, we see a man who thought carefully about the issues, and took a minority position. This is evidence of a thinker. It’s impossible to imagine Sarah Palin giving this type of an interview.

Comments

[Reagan a Pedantic Mind]

Sig -

What IQ would you tag Reagan at?

I caution you in making claims about the IQ of politicians based on what they might say in an interview.

We all know that politicians surround themselves with true "thinkers" - consultants and advisors who do the "heavy lifting" on intellectual issues such as the ins and outs of political philosophies. And then break it down into a convenient "Cliff Notes" version for their above average but NOT elite IQ politician clients. Especially governors who were seen as promising talent for higher positions down the road, such as Reagan during this era.

Reagan was not an idiot. But are you claiming we're supposed to think he read - and grasped it all its complexities - a libertarian like Robert Nozick? Hard to believe.

Further, the true mark of an "intellect" is a temperament under the psychologist David Keirsey's schema of "Rational." But Keirsey has Reagan tagged as a temperamental "Artisan"
which is really the antithesis of any type of an "intellect." (see Presidential Temperaments or the Keirsey website) Highly capable of theatrically articulating certain basic points to crowds, on TV, etc.

Definitely NOT an intellectual however.

[James Miller]

Will you at least admit that Palin has very high executive function.

[ResidentCynic]

"For those who say that Ronald Reagan is an example of a successful president with an average IQ, I say that you have incorrectly assessed Reagan’s IQ. "

In this age of Bushes and Palins, that interview seems to have come from the mind of a genius. I cannot imagine in a thousand years Palin or Bush giving an interview like that.

That said, it was well understood that Reagan was not an "intellectual", but that he hired very bright people to carry out his philosophies. The standards have been lowered so much that a guy like Reagan seems brilliant. I'm almost reminded of the movie "Idiocracy".

[ResidentCynic]

Oh and stop saying IQ when you no longer believe in it. What's wrong with using "intelligence"?

[Half Sigma]

"[Reagan] hired very bright people to carry out his philosophies"

That's right. Dick Darman and John Sununu both had perfect scores on their SATs.

Reagan didn't load up his staff with graduates from a bogus Christian Bible law school.

Palin is a conservative in the mold of George W. Bush and not Ronald Reagan. Except that she's not as smart as George W. Bush.

Let's not forget the Harriet Miers pick. She was so bad that even Bush's own party turned against him.

[Outrageous Claims - No Proof]

We see Half Sigma specializes in making outrageous claims with no solid proof. And ignores contrary points (see my point about temperament above - Reagan clearly not meeting description of intellectual)

It's very easy to make outrageous statements. But can you hang your hat on them intellectually? Not quite.

See this guy's claims about Obama having a 133+ IQ because he was an affirmative action mascot at Harvard and wrote two books.

Apparently, Sigma is about to claim Reagan was an intellectual giant in disguise. Undetected until today, Sept. 13, 2008 by some blogger.

Reagan could have easily loaded up on advisors, despite humble origins. Circa 1975 Ronald Reagan was clearly on the national radar of the GOP for higher office. It is not out of the question that he was formulating a political philosophy with the help of strategists who saw where the national winds were blowing and wanted to position him accordingly (a GOP turning toward individualism - see the BBC documentary "The Politics of Fear," for this story, as well as how Irving Kristol and the neoconservatives tapped into Reagan and the coming "conservative revolution" at that time).

It's entirely possible that Reagan - with a 115-120 IQ - could have had a passing interest in ideas by reading something like National Review, along with Op-Ed pieces in newspapers. An intellectual this does not make, nor an elite level IQ.

[the_alpha_male]

Milton Friedman stated that as far as IQ, Regan was one of the smartest Presidents he ever worked with (approx. 40:29):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wRMNhqKnBg

That's his personal opinion of course, but probably not off the mark.

[SFG]

It's possible to be very bright but totally unintellectual. That would fit an 'Artisan' (=Myers-Briggs SP = low openness to experience, low conscientiousness) personality. Just because you learn quickly doesn't mean you're intellectually curious; you might just quickly pick up people's names, interests, etc., and turn your intellect to other things, like advancing in society. No need to ponder political philosophy when it's better to be able to shift with the winds anyway.

To some degree I think Bush's anti-intellectualism, in addition to being a very smart political ploy for the large part of the country that hates the elite left, was the same sort of thing.

[Mr. Mercy Vetsel]

the_alpha_male
> Milton Friedman stated that as far as IQ,
> Regan was one of the smartest Presidents he
> ever worked with (approx. 40:29)

Yes, Friedman says that Nixon was "one of the smartest PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET" and that Reagan's IQ wasn't much below Nixon.

He also says, that Reagan was much maligned -- how could a B-movie actor be very smart?

What an understatement. Everyone in the media and academia hated the man. Reagan was portrayed as one of the stupid men alive.

- Attended Eureka College (higher acceptance rate than U of Idaho)
- Portrayed as a young-earth creationist (not true, but same smear as with Palin)
- Simplistic view of the world, good/evil, etc...
- Pure prole material (straight from Fusellbudget himself)

In fact 3/4 sigma, a ham radio operator of the time, was a relentless Reagan basher.

Incidentally, Palin strikes me as pure Reagan in a several important ways.

1) She has that magic ability to appeal directly to the American people over the heads of the media

2) She is so genuine, honest and principled that no one beleives the smears.

3) She has a serious libertarian streak. One of her first officials actions was to DEFEAT a measure to force bars to close earlier despite the fact that her church preaches teetotaling.

-Mercy

[James A. Donald]

If anyone doubts Reagan was an intellectual, and a very smart one, I recommend he reads Reagan's writings "In his own hand"

Comparing Reagan arguing the case against price control, with Milton Friedman arguing the case against price control, Reagan clearly makes the better and more intellectually coherent case. They were both very very smart guys, but Reagan was the great communicator, and Milton Friedman was not - and in this case Reagan was communicating something difficult to understand.

[Patrik]

It is long held tactic of the Left to smear anyone of the Right with whom they disagree with as 'stupid' or 'dumb'. The MSM and the Academy are all willing accomplices.

Bush. Quayle. (How dare you misspell potato?) Reagan. etc etc

The Left has since successfully branded Reagan as unintelligent. Ironically, Reagan was a thinker and intellectual, but not of the chin-stroking, latte-drinking, Volvo driving, NPR listening coastal elite variety.

He was well read had well-thought out positions on libertarianism, capitalism and communism --- and happened to be right on the Cold War when all of the Lefty so-called intelligentsia were wrong.

A Hungarian acquaintance of mine met him and had an in-depth conversation about the Hungarian revolution of 1956. My friend came away impressed with only of his interest in the subject, not only of his deep knowledge of the events, but his penetrating, germane questions.

I find it so ironic that many self-styled intelligent people takes Keirsey's stuff as bible.

BTW those of you convinced that Bush is moron should read this article --- it is likely his IQ is higher than Kerry's.

Gasp!

http://www.vdare.com/Sailer/kerry_iq_lower.htm

[anon]

Reagan attended college at a time when most Americans didn't.

His family wasn't at all rich either. His father ran a store.

He really wanted to go to college.

That indicates something important about his mind, I think.

[RevAaron]

+1 on "The Politics of Fear."

Watching an awesome interview Bill Moyers did, with some guy namd Andrew Balevic (sp?). Probably the one conservative on TV who actually does get it, and calls it like it is, without the political lens of folks like McCain, who at least are better than most.