At one point in time, being considered tall was a sign of wealth, and therefore power. Over time, the US has had some incredibly tall presidents. This got me thinking, who are the Tallest Presidents we’ve ever had?

History has shown us that the tallest presidential candidates are often the ones that win. Even before the invention of things like the TV, height was often one of the leading factors in who became president.

This is a trend that has similarly continued in recent years as well.

15. John Tyler

John Tyler is the “shortest” of out tall presidents. Nevertheless, compared to many of our shortest presidents, the tenth president was a giant! In total, he Stood at 6 ft (183 cm).

In 1840, John Tyler stood as William Henry Harrison’s vice-president. Here, they faced off, and won against Democrat Martin Van Buren. In 1841, Harrison died, and Tyler became president.

Despite towering over many of his own party members (whichever party it was! He had four in his time as president…) as well as his opponents, his steadfast belief in his views made him hard to get along with.

As such, John Tyler’s presidency is often seen as one of the worst in history, and is generally blamed by historians as helping to ignite the flame that would become the American Civil War.

14. James Monroe

James Monroe is remembered for having done many things during his presidency. Chief among these was creating the Monroe Doctrine, which helped keep the US’s sovereignty following its independence.

In 1816, James Madison’s presidency was coming to an end, and his Democratic-Republican Party needed a new presidential candidate. For this, they chose Madison’s fellow Founding Father, James Monroe.

Here, he would face off against Rufus King. Although historians debate King’s height, King was said to have been considerably shorter than Monroe’s 6 ft (183 cm).

In 1820, Monroe became one of only two presidents (with the other president being George Washington!) to have ran unopposed. Naturally, Monroe would win the presidency for a second term.

13. Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan’s presidency was fueled by fiscally and socially conservative policies that make many conservatives today, nostalgic. On top of this, Reagan was also one of the tallest presidents we’ve had to date!

In 1980, Ronald Reagan won the Republican nomination for president, where he’d face off against incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Carter stood at a mere 5 ft 9 1/2 in (177cm) compared to Reagan’s 6 ft 1 in (185 cm).

Reagan would beat Carter in 1980, with him serving as president until 1984. Here, he would face Carter’s former vice president, Walter Mondale, a man who stood at only 6 ft (183 cm). Reagan would subsequently be re-elected.

For much of his presidency, Reagan would tower over other world leaders, especially the UK’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who stood at a mere 5 ft 5 in (166 cm). Reagan would also tower over many of his American counterparts.

12. John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy, more commonly known by his initials JFK, is arguably the US’s most famous president ever. He is known mostly for his numerous extramarital affairs and his his high-profile assassination.

However, many people tend to forget that JFK was extremely tall, being one of the tallest presidents in US history, and one of the taller ones in recent years!

JFK spent much of his adult life in public service before being nominated for the Democratic Presidential candidate in 1960. In the end, the Democrats chose to elect JFK as their party’s candidate for president.

Here, he would face off against Richard Nixon, a man who stood at only 5 ft 11 1/2 in (182 cm). This would be the first use of “height policy”, with JFK being noticeably taller than his opponent, and people pointing it out all across the country!

11. Andrew Jackson

Today, Andrew Jackson is remembered for having been one of the first “Man of the people” presidents. He was also one of the first to recognize the tensions between the North and South, and tried to fix them.

In 1828, Andrew Jackson faced off against incumbent president John Quincy Adams. Jackson was noticeably taller than Adams, standing at 6 ft 1 (180 cm) compared to Adams’s 5 ft 7 1/2 in (171 cm).

This is fact that many newspapers and magazines of the era picked up on. Eventually, Jackson won, and stood for re-election in 1832 ,where he stood against then two-time presidential candidate Henry Clay.

Both Clay and Jackson were the same height, but Jackson’s policies appealed to most Americans. As such, Andrew Jackson would win re-election and remain in office until 1836.

10. Barack Obama

Whether you love him or hate him, Barack Obama was one of the most influential presidents in recent years. On top of that, Barack Obama is also extremely tall, having been among the tallest politicians in the world.

Barack Obama would serve in many capacities in US politics before running for president, which he did in 2008. Here, he would face off against John McCain, who was noticeably shorter, at 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) compared to Obama’s 6 ft 1 1/2 in (187 cm).

Obama would win in 2008 and would stand for re-election in 2012. Here, he would face off against Mitt Romney, a man who was actually slightly taller than he was, standing at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).

Regardless of his height, Obama’s policies seemed to appeal to more members of the American public. Here, Obama would would be re-elected before leaving the White House in 2016.

9. Donald Trump

Whether you love him or hate him, Donald Trump is one of the tallest presidents in US history. All in all, Donald Trump clock in at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) tall.

On both the 2016 and 2020, Donald Trump has used his height as a sticking point, mostly as a way to belittle his political opponents. In particular, this was used by Trump in 2020 to call Michael Bloomberg “Mini Mike”.

In 2016, Trump faced off against several members of his own party and the Democrats. In the end, Trump faced off against Democrat Hillary Clinton who stands at a mere 5 ft 5 in (165 cm).

However, in a surprising turn of events, the much shorter (by a grand total of three inches) Joe Biden won against Trump in the 2020 Presidential Election. This is one of only a few times in history the shorter candidate has won!

8. Bill Clinton

Despite former Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton standing at a relatively short 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), her husband, former president Bill Clinton is the complete opposite. Bill Clinton is actually one of the taller presidents!

In total, Bill Clinton stands at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) or about the same as the aforementioned Donald Trump.

In 1992, Clinton faced off against incumbent President George H. W. Bush. However, the two had quite a bit in common, both politically and otherwise, in particular: their height. Both men stood at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).

Clinton subsequently became the first Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson to be elected as President. In 1996, Clinton once again vied to become the most powerful man in America.

With this, Clinton faced off against Republic Bob Dole. Dole stands at a relatively tall 6 ft 1 1/2 in (187 cm), making him only half an inch shorter than Clinton. Clinton would win the election and remain President for four more years.

7. George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush is known for many things, including being the father of future president George W. Bush, as well as founding “neoconservatism” which is one of the newest forms of conservatism.

In 1988, following the presidency of Ronald Reagan, Bush was elected by the Republicans to be their nominee for the presidency. Here, Bush would face Democrat Michael Dukakis.

Dukakis was noticeably shorter than Bush, as Dukakis stood at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) compared to Bush’s monstrously tall 6 ft 2 in (188 cm). Bush would subsequently beat Dukakis and become president.

Bush would run for re-election in 1992, facing off against Bill Clinton. Both men were the same height, but Clinton’s policies were attractive to the majority of Americans. As such, Clinton was elected.

6. Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, more commonly known as FDR, is known for many things, including being the guiding hand of the US throughout WWII and for being one of the richest presidents in American history.

However, many tend to forget that FDR, despite being wheelchair-bound from 1921 onwards, was among the tallest presidents in US history! When he “stood up” (held up by braces and the Secret Service) he stood at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).

In 1932, FDR would face off against incumbent President Herbert Hoover, who stood at a mere 5 ft 11 1/2 in (182 cm). FDR would win, and would return for re-election in 1936 against Alfred Landon, who stood at 5 ft 11 in (180 cm).

In 1940, FDR would face off against the taller Wendell Wilkie, who stood at 6 ft 2 1/2 in (189 cm). FDR would win, and return again in 1944 against the incredibly short Thomas Dewey, who stood at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm).

5. Chester A. Arthur

Chester A. Arthur’s presidency is generally remembered for being one of the least impressive of its era. Most people have forgotten Chester A. Arthur for precisely that reason.

However, a few do remember Arthur as being one of the tallest presidents in history! Chester A. Arthur stood at 6 ft 2 in (188 cm).

During the 1880 presidential election, Arthur was the running mate of the similarly tall James A. Garfield (who stood at 6 ft/183 cm). Here, they ran against Democrat Winfield Scott Hancock, who stood at 6 ft 1 1/2 in (187 cm).

However, President Garfield was assassinated in March 1881, only four months after becoming president. As his vice president, Chester A. Arthur would become president, becoming one of the US’s tallest presidents.

4. George Washington

George Washington is known for a great many things, including being arguably the most important Founding Father and first (and best!) president of the nation that he founded.

However, Washington was also extremely tall, standing at around 6 ft 2 in (188 cm). This makes him one of the tallest presidents the US has ever had, even 45 presidents later!

Throughout much of his presidency, Washington towered over just about every other politician, with many of them being well below 6 feet tall. However, Washington rarely needed to use his height to get a point across.

For the most part, this latter fact was down to the fact that Washington was loved by both the people and his few political rivals. Even those who disliked him would often listen to what he had to say.

3. Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson is known for being one of the US’s earliest presidents, as well as a Founding Father. On top of that, he was the tallest president of the US for about 60 years after he was first elected!

In 1796, Thomas Jefferson had faced off against fellow Founding Father John Adams. However, Jefferson lost. In 1800, Jefferson returned and one again faced off against Adams.

Adams was a man who stood at only a mere 5 ft 7 in (170 cm), which was incredibly short compared to Jefferson’s 6 ft 2 1/2 in (189 cm). Jefferson would use this fact vivaciously on the campaign trail.

In 1804, Jefferson would stand for re-election, where he would face off against Charles C. Pinckney. Once again, Pinckney was a man of comparably short stature, standing at only 5 ft 9 in (175 cm).

2. Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson only became president after the aforementioned John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. As with his predecessor, Johnson was incredibly tall, similarly being among the tallest presidents in US history.

Johnson, otherwise known by his initials LBJ, stood at a staggering 6 ft 3 1/2 in (192 cm). This makes him the tallest president in recent history.

In 1968, LBJ would win the nomination as the Democratic candidate for the presidency, after having served as president since 1963. Here, he would face off against the shorter Barry Goldwater, who stood at a much shorter 5 ft 11 in (180 cm).

Throughout much of his presidency, LBJ would use his height to his advantage. He was known for squaring up to his opponents and leaning into them, using his height to seem much taller than he actually was.

1. Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln is known for many things, for being one of the best presidents as well as for being one of the poorest presidents. However, people tend to forget that he was also one of the tallest presidents too!

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln ran for the presidency of the US against Southern Democrat candidate John C. Breckinridge. Breckinridge stood at a relatively tall 6 ft 2 in (188cm), however, was much shorter than Lincoln, who stood at 6 ft 4 in (193 cm).

Lincoln would win the 1860 presidential election, and would serve as president in a politically turbulent US. Lincoln would run again in 1864, this time against famed Union General George B. McClellan.

McClellan stood at a noticeably shorter 5 ft 8 in, something that newspapers of the era noticed and reported on vehemently. Lincoln would win in 1864, but would be assassinated in 1865 by John Wilkes Booth.

Which of the tallest presidents are your favorite? Tell me in the comments!