11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—
12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)
13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—
14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?...
18 O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.
19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.

Moroni:9:11-14,18,19

I was driving through eastern Oregon a few years ago, on a desolate stretch of road, when I came upon an elderly couple who had run out of gas. I drove them to the nearest gas station, which was 30 miles away and then drove them back to their car. During the drive they mentioned that they were Mormons from Salt Lake and they had been visiting their daughter in Seattle. The wife, in her late 70s, mentioned that when she was a child she was sent to live in NYC for a few years. She told me how mean the other kids were to her and that they asked her several times to see her "horns," because they had heard that Mormons were evil and had horns like the Devil.

They thanked me for being so kind and invited me to visit any time I was in Utah. This was five years ago and every Christmas I still recieve a card from them with a wish for a blessed Christmas.

As far as judging presidents of yesteryear as lacking in political ability is concerned, witness the savaging of James Buchanan as our worst (i.e. "dumbest") president by historians, simply because he didn't want to wage a bloody war against his own people to keep them from pursuing the freedom to govern themselves. Who wouldn't prefer a "dummy" like a James Buchanan over the mediocre lot we have for presidential candidates these days?

Yes, 'unintelligent' is not a term I used. Perhaps 'naive' would be the best word to use for the Adams presidency, rather than 'dumb'.

Dr. Wilson, point taken. The Republicans, with only a couple exceptions, have had what amount to dumb puppets as their presidential candidates since day 1.

But I would draw attention to the fact that a combination of high intelligence and malevolence is the worst possible combination of traits in a person with power. Examples of people with these these two traits come to mind for anybody who thinks about it.

Unfortunately, intelligence in such people not only facilitates evil schemes but often causes admiration in other who value intelligence for its own sake.

The pernicious acts of Lincoln, for instance, are often excused by amoral people because of his rhetorical skills and clever political strategies.