Who was the physically strongest POTUS?
April 27, 2024 10:01 AM Subscribe
Who was the physically strongest President of the United States of America, and would he be stronger than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?
I was talking to my son (10) about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's apparent presidential ambitions, and I said I thought he would at least be the strongest US President ever. However my son says that Abraham Lincoln was a keen wrestler and might have been stronger.
I was talking to my son (10) about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's apparent presidential ambitions, and I said I thought he would at least be the strongest US President ever. However my son says that Abraham Lincoln was a keen wrestler and might have been stronger.
At the time of election, or at the age the Rock is now?
posted by praemunire at 10:11 AM on April 27
posted by praemunire at 10:11 AM on April 27
Roosevelt springs to mind, certainly one of the more athletic ones. He wasn't a very large man, though, whereas Lincoln was quite tall. A Mortal Combat game with US Presidents...
However, none of them have devoted the time and effort that The Rock has to being physically strong-- I'm quite sure Mr. Johnson could throw any past president out of the ring and into the stalls, and I would pay good money to see him do it to at least a couple of them...
posted by The otter lady at 10:11 AM on April 27 [11 favorites]
However, none of them have devoted the time and effort that The Rock has to being physically strong-- I'm quite sure Mr. Johnson could throw any past president out of the ring and into the stalls, and I would pay good money to see him do it to at least a couple of them...
posted by The otter lady at 10:11 AM on April 27 [11 favorites]
Gerald Ford played college football and gave off strong "80s movie jock who would totally shove your head in a toilet" vibes his whole life.
posted by phunniemee at 10:14 AM on April 27 [12 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 10:14 AM on April 27 [12 favorites]
I'm quite sure Mr. Johnson could throw any past president out of the ring and into the stalls
I sincerely hope Mr. the Rock will understand when I say that he is definitely strong and has serious physical skills, but they're not actually fighting skills. They're keyfabe skills. It's hard to separate from a general height, weight, and reach advantage, but I'm not sure the average wrestler would beat the average boxer/martial artist/MMA dude in a fight.
posted by praemunire at 10:41 AM on April 27 [5 favorites]
I sincerely hope Mr. the Rock will understand when I say that he is definitely strong and has serious physical skills, but they're not actually fighting skills. They're keyfabe skills. It's hard to separate from a general height, weight, and reach advantage, but I'm not sure the average wrestler would beat the average boxer/martial artist/MMA dude in a fight.
posted by praemunire at 10:41 AM on April 27 [5 favorites]
President and sociopath Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson had superhuman endurance.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:13 AM on April 27 [9 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:13 AM on April 27 [9 favorites]
I’d think any who were alive before cars, electricity, etc.. but do you mean strongest while in office or at any point in their lives?
One site’s opinions.
posted by Ideefixe at 11:53 AM on April 27 [2 favorites]
One site’s opinions.
posted by Ideefixe at 11:53 AM on April 27 [2 favorites]
A Mortal Combat game with US Presidents...
A game like this would be HILARIOUS.
posted by jdroth at 12:12 PM on April 27 [4 favorites]
A game like this would be HILARIOUS.
posted by jdroth at 12:12 PM on April 27 [4 favorites]
President Taft was 6'1" and weighed as much as 330lbs during his presidency. He wins the strength contest hands down on the basis of sheer mass.
posted by BadgerDoctor at 12:19 PM on April 27 [4 favorites]
posted by BadgerDoctor at 12:19 PM on April 27 [4 favorites]
Best answer: About Abe:
Inside Abraham Lincoln’s Surprising Career As A National Wrestling Champ
In 12 years of wrestling, Abraham Lincoln was known to have lost only one match out of 300 on his way to being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame...
The young 185-pounder eventually won Sangamon County’s wrestling championship. One bout saw Lincoln so embroiled that, after he defeated his opponent, he screamed at the crowd:
“I’m the big buck of this lick. If any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns!”
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:22 PM on April 27 [28 favorites]
Inside Abraham Lincoln’s Surprising Career As A National Wrestling Champ
In 12 years of wrestling, Abraham Lincoln was known to have lost only one match out of 300 on his way to being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame...
The young 185-pounder eventually won Sangamon County’s wrestling championship. One bout saw Lincoln so embroiled that, after he defeated his opponent, he screamed at the crowd:
“I’m the big buck of this lick. If any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns!”
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:22 PM on April 27 [28 favorites]
The book about this is not age-appropriate - but you could read it and discuss with the kid or save it for later.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 12:26 PM on April 27 [2 favorites]
posted by Lesser Shrew at 12:26 PM on April 27 [2 favorites]
Best answer: What does "strongest" mean for you?
I expect that Johnson could lift a heavier weight than any president... once, or a set of 10.
But I expect that Ford or Lincoln could move a fuck-you big pile of 80 pound concrete sacks notably faster than Johnson could, and that they could carry concrete sacks around waaaaay longer than Johnson could.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:54 PM on April 27 [4 favorites]
I expect that Johnson could lift a heavier weight than any president... once, or a set of 10.
But I expect that Ford or Lincoln could move a fuck-you big pile of 80 pound concrete sacks notably faster than Johnson could, and that they could carry concrete sacks around waaaaay longer than Johnson could.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:54 PM on April 27 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Gerald Ford's college football team won two national championships after undefeated seasons, and he got offers from NFL teams. He gets my vote for strongest president, but I doubt he was anywhere near as strong as Johnson, because strength training has evolved so much.
When Ford was playing college football in the '30s, the world record heavyweight bench press was around 293 pounds.
One of Dwayne Johnson's college football teammates estimated his (Johnson's) max bench press at 400+ pounds, and he once said he could lift 425.
posted by box at 2:27 PM on April 27 [5 favorites]
When Ford was playing college football in the '30s, the world record heavyweight bench press was around 293 pounds.
One of Dwayne Johnson's college football teammates estimated his (Johnson's) max bench press at 400+ pounds, and he once said he could lift 425.
posted by box at 2:27 PM on April 27 [5 favorites]
Taft, you old dog
posted by el_presidente at 2:29 PM on April 27
posted by el_presidente at 2:29 PM on April 27
Weightlifting? Probably Johnson.
Who I wouldn't want to fight in a dark alley? Jackson or Grant
posted by Jacen at 3:43 PM on April 27 [2 favorites]
Who I wouldn't want to fight in a dark alley? Jackson or Grant
posted by Jacen at 3:43 PM on April 27 [2 favorites]
I think Andrew Jackson would have made up for whatever he lacked in physical strength with sheer meanness.
posted by adamrice at 4:00 PM on April 27 [5 favorites]
posted by adamrice at 4:00 PM on April 27 [5 favorites]
President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho might give the Rock a run for his money
posted by kokaku at 4:20 PM on April 27 [13 favorites]
posted by kokaku at 4:20 PM on April 27 [13 favorites]
Best answer: No one's mentioned Washington or Grant? Career soldiers both.
Washington apparently beat a group of (half-naked) visitors to Mt Vernon at an improvised javelin contest with an iron bar:
Washington apparently beat a group of (half-naked) visitors to Mt Vernon at an improvised javelin contest with an iron bar:
He requested to be shown the pegs that marked the bounds of our efforts; then, smiling, and without putting off his coat, held out his hand for the missile. No sooner … did the heavy iron bar feel the grasp of his mighty hand than it lost the power of gravitation, and whizzed through the air, striking the ground far, very far, beyond our utmost limits. We were indeed amazed, as we stood around, all stripped to the buff, with shirt sleeves rolled up, and having thought ourselves very clever fellows, while the colonel, on retiring, pleasantly observed, ‘When you beat my pitch, young gentlemen, I’ll try again.’posted by Pallas Athena at 4:50 PM on April 27 [8 favorites]
I submit Theodore Roosevelt may or may not have been stronger, but absolutely had personal beliefs more centred on fighting and personal physical strength.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:01 PM on April 27
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:01 PM on April 27
Best answer: George W. Bush thought he might have been the strongest president:
from Bush at War by Bob Woodward :
President Bush had recently asked [Richard] Armitage, who was well known for his obsessive weight lifting, what he was bench pressing these days. Armitage answered, "330/6," which meant 330 pounds, six repetitions in a row. At his peak, years earlier, Armitage had pressed 440.
That's good, the president had replied. I'm doing 205 pounds. Isn't that the best for any president?
Yes, Armitage had replied, he thought it must be.
posted by metadave at 5:41 PM on April 27 [1 favorite]
from Bush at War by Bob Woodward :
President Bush had recently asked [Richard] Armitage, who was well known for his obsessive weight lifting, what he was bench pressing these days. Armitage answered, "330/6," which meant 330 pounds, six repetitions in a row. At his peak, years earlier, Armitage had pressed 440.
That's good, the president had replied. I'm doing 205 pounds. Isn't that the best for any president?
Yes, Armitage had replied, he thought it must be.
posted by metadave at 5:41 PM on April 27 [1 favorite]
The physically weakest president (if we measure by average strength during the presidency) was surely William Henry Harrison, who spent his entire presidency dying of pneumonia. I suppose FDR would probably be next, courtesy of polio.
Historically several presidents had had long prior careers in the military, at a time when at all ranks that could be a grueling and physically demanding job, so particularly for those who went directly from military service to the presidency, there was a reasonable level of baseline physical fitness one could expect.
posted by jackbishop at 5:47 PM on April 27 [3 favorites]
Historically several presidents had had long prior careers in the military, at a time when at all ranks that could be a grueling and physically demanding job, so particularly for those who went directly from military service to the presidency, there was a reasonable level of baseline physical fitness one could expect.
posted by jackbishop at 5:47 PM on April 27 [3 favorites]
JFK was an invalid who still managed to have orgies in the White House pool, that needs to count for something.
posted by champers at 3:53 AM on April 28 [4 favorites]
posted by champers at 3:53 AM on April 28 [4 favorites]
This brings up the topic of medicine ball being played at the White House.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:37 AM on April 28
posted by SemiSalt at 4:37 AM on April 28
Best answer: Everyone is weirdly underestimating Dwayne Johnson! The Rock is 6'3", and in his prime was 260 lbs - way bigger than any president (Lincoln was 6'4" but built like a string bean). The Rock was also a professional wrestler - which isn't the same as "real fighting", sure, but it is definitely a sport that demands insane amounts of agility, stamina, calm thinking under intense pressure, unpredictable movements, and a very high pain tolerance. Plus, the Rock is a compulsive gym bro who eats 350 grams of protein a day.
There is no chance that any US president, even at his prime, could ever beat current day retired wrestler Dwayne Johnson in a thumb war, let alone a real fight or a weightlifting competition.
Let's step back and think of actor Mark Wahlberg, who's an average height at 5'8" and athletic enough to train as a boxer for years, play a boxer quite convincingly in the movies, and have entire ad campaigns rhapsodizing about his six-pack. Mark Walhberg is a beast, and he could certainly take down most US presidents in history, right? Ok now here's Mark Wahlberg with Dwayne Johnson towering over him.
The closest competition to Dwayne Johnson would be if Arnold Schwartzenegger had become president. But Arnold is 2 inches shorter at 6'1", and at his prime weight of 235, he was was 25 pounds lighter than The Rock's prime. Schwartzenegger was wider across the shoulders and chest, but look at the core strength on The Rock. And the Rock's dynamic movement history from wrestling will always beat the controlled stiff movements of bodybuilding.
The Rock would probably get his ass handed to him by a real fighter, like an MMA fighter or martial arts black belt whose mass and reach were at least in The Rock's ballpark. But for a normal man or college wrestler? The Rock would eat them like the 9 servings of cod he eats a day (PS, read that last link, it's hilarious).
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:00 AM on April 28 [10 favorites]
There is no chance that any US president, even at his prime, could ever beat current day retired wrestler Dwayne Johnson in a thumb war, let alone a real fight or a weightlifting competition.
Let's step back and think of actor Mark Wahlberg, who's an average height at 5'8" and athletic enough to train as a boxer for years, play a boxer quite convincingly in the movies, and have entire ad campaigns rhapsodizing about his six-pack. Mark Walhberg is a beast, and he could certainly take down most US presidents in history, right? Ok now here's Mark Wahlberg with Dwayne Johnson towering over him.
The closest competition to Dwayne Johnson would be if Arnold Schwartzenegger had become president. But Arnold is 2 inches shorter at 6'1", and at his prime weight of 235, he was was 25 pounds lighter than The Rock's prime. Schwartzenegger was wider across the shoulders and chest, but look at the core strength on The Rock. And the Rock's dynamic movement history from wrestling will always beat the controlled stiff movements of bodybuilding.
The Rock would probably get his ass handed to him by a real fighter, like an MMA fighter or martial arts black belt whose mass and reach were at least in The Rock's ballpark. But for a normal man or college wrestler? The Rock would eat them like the 9 servings of cod he eats a day (PS, read that last link, it's hilarious).
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:00 AM on April 28 [10 favorites]
A thumb war specifically? Ok, Washington was said to be able to crack walnuts in his hands, I'll take that bet
posted by Jacen at 8:37 AM on April 28 [1 favorite]
posted by Jacen at 8:37 AM on April 28 [1 favorite]
Here's The Rock repeatedly lifting 260 lbs with just his fingers. I cannot stress this enough - The Rock is a human beast like you cannot imagine if you haven't spent time around gym bros. The Rock exercises with 120 pounds of chains draped around his neck. <<For real, watch that video.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:50 AM on April 28 [1 favorite]
posted by nouvelle-personne at 8:50 AM on April 28 [1 favorite]
President Bush had recently asked [Richard] Armitage, who was well known for his obsessive weight lifting, what he was bench pressing these days. Armitage answered, "330/6," which meant 330 pounds, six repetitions in a row. At his peak, years earlier, Armitage had pressed 440.
So my discovery from this thread has been...Richard Armitage? Isn't that an actor? Oh, this is someone else who served as US Deputy Secretary of State? What does that guy look like?
Shaking hands, Standing, Sitting. He's giving real Marvel Kingpin vibes with his muscle bulk.
posted by Pryde at 10:30 AM on April 28 [3 favorites]
So my discovery from this thread has been...Richard Armitage? Isn't that an actor? Oh, this is someone else who served as US Deputy Secretary of State? What does that guy look like?
Shaking hands, Standing, Sitting. He's giving real Marvel Kingpin vibes with his muscle bulk.
posted by Pryde at 10:30 AM on April 28 [3 favorites]
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posted by mhoye at 10:11 AM on April 27 [11 favorites]