Which US President spoke the most languages and which languages did he speak?

Question

Which US President spoke the most languages and which languages did he speak?

Answer 1

Honestly, I'm not sure. But we know it wasn't George Bush. He has enough trouble with English.

Answer 2

It had to be Thomas Jefferson. He was brought up on the classics: Greek and Latin and was already tackling French at the early age of 9. He spoke Welsh.



According to various accounts he was fluent in 5 languages and could read 2 more...or he spoke 6 or 7 languages.



As President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962, saying, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

Answer 3

President Bush speaks a Tex-Mex kind of Spanish — some of this language, some of that one. Polished, it's not.He's the first U.S. president reasonably proficient in another language since Bush's ability to converse in Spanish is an oddity. The second-language skills of U.S. presidents have declined as America's position in the world has risen.

In the late 1800s, President Garfield, a former classics professor, knew many languages. He amused friends by putting an English book in front of him and writing tablets to his left and right.



"He would simultaneously translate the English into Greek with his left hand and into Latin with his right hand," McDonald said.



Early in the 20th century, President Wilson was fluent in Latin, Greek and French, and President Hoover translated a Latin manuscript on the history and techniques of mining into English.

Answer 4

John Quincy Adams was reported to have spoken seven languages. He was appointed senior secretary to the ambassador of Paris (his father John Adams (only other father son presidents besides the Bush's)) when he was a mere 11 years old. John Quincy Adams was home schooled by his mother and father. He was a devout christian all his life even encouraging his own father in his later years. He was what we would today call a republican. He devoted his life to public service and actually collapsed on the floor of the house of representatives and died a few days later. He is the only man to have served as President then gone back to serve again in Congress. Fool in the rain is exactly that, a fool. The empty discourse purported by him is evidence to our national degradation and downfall. What's probably worse, he and his associates probably consider him an intellectual.

Answer 5

Thomas Jefferson spoke 6 languages.

Answer 6

Thomas Jefferson spoke 6 languages.

Answer 7

You know what? I never respond to questions that I don't know just for the sake of getting points. This time I have to make an exception just so I can tell Missinglincoln, "that was an awesome remark!" I needed a good laugh today. Thank You. I hope all the people who did really know it and answered it correctly give up Best Answer nod this one time just so Missinglincoln can get the KUDOS for an incredibly cleaver answer.

Answer 8

missinglincoln panders to the lowest common denominator, and those of you who think he's so brilliant are part of his club.



Bush bashing is so tired. Maybe none of you noticed but the country picked him TWICE over the bozos who were the "best the democratic party had to offer." You're all just a bunch of sore losers. Grow up and move on.



It sounds like Jefferson wins the vote on languages.

Answer 9

I want to say Michael Dukakis (English, French, Greek, Italian, Korean and Spanish, I think), but (merci diue!) he didn't quite make it to the Presidency. I believe that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison spoke quite a few languages, but I'm not sure.

Answer 10

Didn't know until i started reading the answers. I am impressed, daily, by the intelligence & knowledge of the people who respond on this site & their willingness to share what they know. And i am, furthermore, reassured by the morality exhibited in response to questions about cheating on spouses, boyfriends & girlfriends, etc...People here really seem to care and don't want the world to be over run by cads & cadesses. All this and incredibly witty souls. I'm having a good time. Hope you are as well.

Answer 11

President Martin Van Buren? He spoke Dutch, and English?

Answer 12

Clinton definitely had skills when it came to language. Whenever he spoke, it was an art form. Whenever he had to defend himself, his words were like jabs coming at you from a thousand different directions. That "the definition of is, is" still has me reeling today. Beautiful. I loved the man, he was the best president ever. He should teach a speech class, I'd pay anything to learn from him man.

Answer 13

In the late 1800s, President Garfield, a former classics professor, knew many languages. He amused friends by putting an English book in front of him and writing tablets to his left and right.



"He would simultaneously translate the English into Greek with his left hand and into Latin with his right hand," McDonald said.



Early in the 20th century, President Wilson was fluent in Latin, Greek and French, and President Hoover translated a Latin manuscript on the history and techniques of mining into English.

Answer 14

Thomas Jefferson was fluent in six languages: English, French, Italian, German, Latin, and Greek. His library had books in all of these languages.

http://www.poplarforest.org/newsltr/PFSpring05.pdf



Just a bit of very interesting trivia. "Both ambidextrous and multilingual, 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand while writing Latin with the other."

http://ca.encarta.msn.com/list_uspresidents/10_Things_You_Didn't_Know_About_U_S_Presidents.html



Note: before being President, Garfield was a professor of ancient languages.

Answer 15

Vote for Jefferson, 6 languages:



http://www.mistergworld.com/12-002.htm



Note: Hoover could speak Chinese and Garfield could write with both hands in foreign languages.

Answer 16

John Quincy Adams a learned man, the first son of a former president and a accomplished linguist himself

Answer 17

I know of one that speaks a foreign language from the rest of the world.

Answer 18

John Quincy Adams spoke 7 modern languages and latin.

Answer 19

GWB, he speaks: Dumb, dumb, and dumber! I can't understand anything he says. By far the dumbest Resident of the White House. PERIOD!!!!!!!!!

I would say, JFK was the one. If not, Jimmy Carter. If not those two, CHUCA CON, or Patty labell. Um a pa pa la la oww a little lady a lallllllllllla Ow a little lady a la la al all

Answer 20

missingLincoln u've got my vote 4 president as well



i don't know which president spoke many languages but garfield was ambidexterous

meaning he could write with both hands at da same time he could write greek with his left and latin wit his right

Answer 21

hmm would have to say Jimmy Carter, as he was duly noted for his work, of world projects, degrees in science and a a great humanitian. Yet he has been quite under rated, in time ppl will realize what a great president and person he really is.

Answer 22

that would be George Bush. that man can speak so many different languages that no body can figure out what half of them are.

Thomas

Answer 23

Current GEORGE BUSH



he spoke many languages so much i can even count them they were because he could:



speak bullshlt

speak crap

speak as a retarded

speak as a coke head

speak as moronic

speak shlt

speak ****** up things

.





and so on

Answer 24

Bush

Answer 25

John F. Kennedy spoke at least five languages fluently.

Answer 26

George W. Bush:



He speaks Mexican, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Colombian, Venezuelan, Argentinian and, yes, even a little English once in a while...

Answer 27

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avEXi



George Bush speaks bad english and gibberish

Answer 28

Hey! Stop bashing Bush! He may be barely monolingual, but at least he's the ONLY President that has added a new word to our language: "nucular".

Answer 29

Martin Van Buren spoke Dutch, German, French & English. I don't know if that's the most but its pretty good.

Answer 30

MissingLincoln has my vote. But you forgot Dissembling, Prevarication, Doublespeak, and Oralpedia (the speech made when one puts one's foot in one's mouth)

Answer 31

If Hilary Clinton gets it it will be her bcz she speaks both Male and Female Human Language.

Other than that missinglincoln has my vote too.

Answer 32

Probably Jefferson but missing lincoln has my vote also.

Lawdy,lawdy,lawdy-----it's a shame G.W. Bush can't be

elected again. What in the world are we going to do for

comic relief??

Answer 33

Definitely the current U.S. President. He can speak American english, English English, Texan English, any other Southern drawl, and can speak English words that no else understands.

Answer 34

John F. Kennedy, spanish, english, french,and portuguese

Answer 35

Theodore Roosevelt



English, German, French

Answer 36

They all speak only one common language - which none understands!

Answer 37

They all spoke one language - Bullsh*t

Answer 38

okay not ur answering to ur question but Abraham Lincoln was the only non corrupt president of them all we freed the slaves basically ..he is a brave man and good...and then he gets shot for it....

Answer 39

Does speaking out of both sides of your mouth count?

Answer 40

G Bush would be the one, he speaks alot of languages :

bulls*it,crap, nonesense, rubbish, idiotasim talk, ha what, excuse me, well...ahhh...i mean...hhhh what ever bulls he use

Answer 41

im not too sure but i think it was JFK as he spoke English, French German and of course a little bit of Gaelic(irish) as his parents were from Ireland

Answer 42

Jefferson .. got the best record of spoken and written langiages

Answer 43

bush must be the one who must learn all the languages...he has got to negotiate with the heads of country he is planning to attack nxt

Answer 44

Well, we all know that JFK and Bill Clinton spoke the language of love !! ( or was it lust ??)

Answer 45

Missinglincoln should get 100 points for his answer! LOL

Answer 46

Benjimine Franklin- French, German, Englsh, Latin and not shure of what else.

Answer 47

MissingLincoln rocks!

Answer 48

George W. Bush has proven himself fluent in Gibberish, Blather, Incoherence, Gobbledegook, Babble, and whatever it is they speak in Texas.



Was it him????? Did i win?????

Answer 49

george w. bush...every time he speaks he makes up some new word...so to me its like a different language...god bless texas...dont mess with texas







" I GOT NEWS FOR YOU TEXAS...AS LONG AS THEIR IS A TEXAS SOMEONE WILL MESS WITH...SUCK IT UP"

Answer 50

*Applauds Missinglincoln* That was bloody brilliant!



As for answering the question...sorry, but I found nothing.

Answer 51

missing lincoln for president!

Answer 52

he alwas speek in a bloody language and his real lung is killing nothing more

Answer 53

I dont know. NOT BUSH!

EVERYONE! AFTER ANSWEREING THIS, answer at both or one of these 2 topics:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006060116292

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=1006053114722

Answer 54

george w bush

Answer 55

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE WITH MISSINGLINCOLN AND IF YOU DON'T WIN.... I DEMAND A RECOUNT...LOL

Answer 56

missinglincoln LOL, wth is Gobbledegook? must be a very rare Texan dialect ;-)

you have my vote!

Answer 57

missinglincoln has perfect 10.

Answer 58

Yea, missingLincoln nailed it

Answer 59

Yup... MissingLincoln gets our vote!!!

Answer 60

missinglincoln got my vote



I do believe however it is James Madison.

Answer 61

ronald reagan spanish

Answer 62

Missinglincoln that was wonderful. You have my vote.

Answer 63

missing lincoln

right on



u have my vote too

Answer 64

TJ BUT THE SLAM ON BUSH WAS GREAT!

Answer 65

missinglincoln got my vote

Answer 66

it is not GWB (George W. Bush) he is a retard. YA HEAR ME, YA FILTHY REPUBLICANS?!

Answer 67

all of them

Answer 68

gwb

Answer 69

i don't know anymore

Answer 70

missinglincoln

Answer 71

who knows, i think it was james madison...hmm

Answer 72

abraham lincoln?english is that so..

Answer 73

no one :(

Answer 74

missinglincoln has it spot-on! :)

Answer 75

JFK.

Answer 76

missinglincoln is RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 77

why?

Answer 78

GARFIELD

i dunno which languages

Answer 79

I KNOW IT'S NOT GEORGE W BUSH!!! DUH