Most qualified Presidents ever? And least if you want that too.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

When reading through that list of best to worst presidents in the other thread, I remember the mention of JQA and James Buchanan being two of the most qualified individuals to ascend to the Presidency. So I'd like to hear people's thoughts on who the most, and least, qualified Presidents we ever had were.

Most:
In my opinion, the first six Presidents are all worthy of mention. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and again Adams. Four of these served in the office of Secretary of State and in other diplomatic offices as well as legislative ones. Jefferson and I believe also Monroe had served as Governors. John Adams had served in the Continental Congress, as Ambassador, and as VP. As well, both Washington and Jefferson also served in the Continental Congress.

Martin Van Buren might be worthy of mention. He'd served as Ambassador, Governor, Secretary of State, Senator, and Vice President.

James Buchanan of course, despite his disastrous Presidency. He'd served as Ambassador twice, as Secretary of State during a very successful four years of American foreign policy, and both as a Senator and Representative.

During the Civil War Era and Gilded Age it doesn't seem there were many individuals with impressive on-paper resumes. Grant was a general, Lincoln was a one-term Congressman, Garfield a Rep, Hayes a Governor, etc.

Following the end of the Gilded Age, there are a few people who might qualify. But if so, barely. McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Taft deserves mention as well.

Entering into present day, the only ones that should be considered, IMO, are Nixon and H.W. Bush for obvious reasons.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

One thing would be the amount of time spent in each office, Yelnoc.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Your omission of Calvin Coolidge is a crime, good sir.

Other than that, really good analysis.

Except that both JQA and Buchanan served on national level, unlike Coolidge, who served exclusively on state level until becoming Vice President.

I mean, he mentioned Teddy Roosevelt as being "qualified".

Teddy Roosevelt, who by the way, was an army colonel and then a Governor for like one year before becoming VP and then President.  And before that he was a sheriff so some random North Dakota town.

So yes, it is a crime.

EDIT: Okay, so he was Asst. Sec. of the Navy from 1897-1899.  Still though, is two and a half years of federal service more weight than f***ing 20 years of state level?

I admit my error there. I was thinking his wide range of experience on a small scale, as a State Senator (Jan. 1882-mid-1884), as a Sheriff, as a Civil Service Commissioner (1889-1895), as Police Commissioner of New York (1895-1897), as Asst. Secretary of the Navy (1897), as a Colonel, and as a Governor. But yes, I would say Coolidge would be infinitely more qualified than he in terms of executive experience. (Though I daresay TR beats him at wordly experience)

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I'd agree that in recent years, the VP spot (for the successful tickets) has gone to experienced politicians. Cheney, Biden. Meanwhile, it seems for the losers it's gone to rising stars and whatnot. Edwards and Palin and whatnot.