US Presidents Sorted Into Hogwarts Houses

In J. K. Rowling’s hit fantasy series Harry Potter, the characters at the magical school of Hogwarts are sorted into four different houses.

These houses are:

Gryffindor- The house of courage, daring, nerve and chivalry. They are brave, sometimes hot-tempered, bold, and adventurous.
Hufflepuff- The house of loyalty, patience and fair play. They are hard workers, just, team players, and support equality.
Ravenclaw- The house of learning, wisdom, wit and intellect. They are logical, creative, sometimes eccentric, and curious.
Slytherin- The house of ambition, resourcefulness, determination and cleverness. They are shrewd, proud, self-preserving and resilient.

Now, let’s apply these to the US Presidents.

George Washington- Gryffindor
George Washington is a hero of the American Revolution and considered by many as one of the best presidents. As a young man, he was excitable and eager to enter battle. He became more stoic and rigid as he was older, but was well known for his chivalry and solid morals. Washington never hid from a battle but was perhaps overrated as a soldier.

John Adams- Ravenclaw
John Adams was a huge part of the American Revolution, both intellectually and politically. He was also a huge part of building the new America, particularly with his contributions to the Treaty of Paris and Declaration of Independence. He was wise and very logical, but not an easy man to live with.

Thomas Jefferson- Ravenclaw
Thomas Jefferson was a true polymath- writer, politician, linguist, religious scholar, architect, planter, philosopher and more. He was always looking at ways to learn new things and how to apply them to life. Like Adams, he worked on the Declaration of Independence

James Madison- Ravenclaw
James Madison was the Father of the Constitution and part writer of the Federalist Papers. Like Adams and Jefferson, Madison was essential in building the new nation. He was reserved and quiet, but studious and intelligent.

James Monroe- Gryffindor
James Monroe left education to join the American Revolution and bravely served, even after nearly dying during the Battle of Trenton. He left writing the Monroe Doctrine to John Quincy Adams, but is principally remembered for it.

John Quincy Adams- Ravenclaw
John Quincy Adams was incredibly serious and cold, but also extremely intelligent, a polyglot and well-educated. He was one of the finest Secretaries of State and essentially wrote the Monroe Doctrine. Few were as prepared for the presidency as Adams was.

Andrew Jackson- Gryffindor
Andrew Jackson was a fiery man who never backed away from a fight. You also knew where you stood with him. He went from an orphan during the American Revolution to President, showing his daring and nerve.

Martin Van Buren- Slytherin
Martin Van Buren was nicknamed ‘The Little Magician’ and ‘The Red Fox’ due to his wily political ways. He was shrewd and determined, quite opposite to his public persona as a soft man. Whilst Jackson may have been the feisty public face, Van Buren was the smooth operator behind the scenes.

William Henry Harrison- Gryffindor
William Henry Harrison was only in office for a month, but his life before the presidency showed why he was a Gryffindor. He was a respected and successful soldier unafraid of the battlefield.

John Tyler- Slytherin
John Tyler seized the presidency with both hands after Harrison’s death, choosing to be the actual president as opposed to simply the acting president. He was ambitious and unafraid of being disliked, as evidenced by him being thrown out of his party. Tyler was nevertheless determined to get through his accidental presidency.

James K. Polk- Gryffindor
James K. Polk was nicknamed ‘Young Hickory,’ and perhaps not because of his politics. He was a tough, brave man who set out his policies and managed to actually accomplish all of them. His victory in the Mexican-American War expanded America’s landscape.

Zachary Taylor- Gryffindor
Zachary Taylor was a war hero in his own right, having enjoyed a storied career as a soldier. Many believe that he embodied what was expected of a military man in his honour and heroics.

Millard Fillmore- Ravenclaw
Millard Fillmore received no formal education for much of his early life, but worked hard in order to get to school and learn. He also worked hard in order to become a lawyer, thus improving his family’s circumstances.

Franklin Pierce- Hufflepuff
Franklin Pierce was a pleasant and charismatic fellow who had a hard life. He genuinely wanted peace and for harmony among the nation, but was not brave or wise enough to realise the issues at hand.

James Buchanan- Slytherin
James Buchanan was shafted off to remote ministerial positions, but used this to advantage by making himself look qualified. He showed clear drive and ambition in becoming president, but lacked the wisdom or bravery to tackle the growing gulf between the North and South.

Abraham Lincoln- Gryffindor
Abraham Lincoln bravely led the nation during perhaps its most turbulent time in history. He was bold in his decisions but never seemed to back down, knowing the fate of the US was sitting firmly upon his shoulders. Freeing the slaves was also a great risk.

Andrew Johnson- Slytherin
Andrew Johnson was hard to categorise. He lacks the wisdom and wit of Ravenclaw, the bravery and boldness of Gryffindor and the fairness and patience of Hufflepuff. One supposes he was a Slytherin as he was a self-taught politician who climbed the ranks.

Ulysses S. Grant- Hufflepuff
Ulysses S. Grant was a war hero, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a Gryffindor. He was a shy, nervous man, but also genuinely believed in a better world and worked to do this.

Rutherford B. Hayes- Hufflepuff
Rutherford B. Hayes was an advocate for better education, thus wanting a better world. Whilst he was a controversial candidate, Hayes did promise that he’d only serve one term and he did so. As a person, Hayes was known to be honest and loyal.

James A. Garfield- Ravenclaw
James A. Garfield could write Latin and Greek in each hand, was so intelligent that he could teach his fellow classmates and liked to learn any new subject. He had both the intelligence and curiosity of a Ravenclaw.

Chester A. Arthur- Hufflepuff
Chester A. Arthur was widely distrusted upon entering office, but there was no need. Arthur was a decent, honest and humble man who had worked to get where he was. He was also deeply loyal to his late wife Ellen.

Grover Cleveland- Hufflepuff
Grover Cleveland was widely praised by his contemporaries as an honest and moral fellow- if you do not believe the Maria Halpin rumours. He seemed to evoke this idea of hard work and meritocracy in his politics.

Benjamin Harrison- Slytherin
Benjamin Harrison was from true blue American blood, much like the noble Slytherin. He was ambitious, hard working and apparently a very cold man when in private.

William McKinley- Hufflepuff
William McKinley was said to be such a good husband to his wife that he made every other man in DC look bad. He was a kind man who literally begged the crowd not to attack his assassin. McKinley was known to be affable, friendly and of upstanding character.

Theodore Roosevelt- Gryffindor
Theodore Roosevelt kicked asthma’s ass, survived an assassin’s bullet, charted a new course through the Amazon, arrested boat thieves, knifed a cougar to death, beat others in bar fights, walked miles every day, led the charge down San Juan Hill and basically kicked ass all the way to the White House.

William H. Taft- Ravenclaw
William H. Taft wanted the biggest judicial role of all- Justice of the Supreme Court. He was not particularly ambitious in regards to politics, but was pushed by his wife. Taft was always very detail oriented and conscious of all sides of the argument.

Woodrow Wilson- Ravenclaw
Woodrow Wilson was a highly intelligent, academic and logical man. As President of Princeton, he tried to make it a serious college as opposed to a party place for rich kids by adding new programmes and other measures. He also had a PhD, the only president thus far to have one.

Warren G. Harding- Hufflepuff
Warren G. Harding is a difficult man to categorise. He didn’t really have many of the traits of other houses. Harding’s cabinet and administration may have been corrupt, but there is no evidence he was involved and may have been overly loyal. This puts him in Hufflepuff.

Calvin Coolidge- Ravenclaw
Calvin Coolidge was famous for his lack of words. He was also logical and wise, as well as witty when he actually spoke.

Herbert Hoover- Hufflepuff
Herbert Hoover is not remembered as a good president, but he was a good man. Hoover devoted much of his life to humanitarianism, particularly solving hunger after WWI. He genuinely believed that he was doing what was right.

Franklin D. Roosevelt- Slytherin
Franklin D. Roosevelt was born to an extremely wealthy family with a strong pedigree. He overcame his paralysis with ambition and determination, managing to hide it in order to prevent judgment. His ambition and cunning won him four elections.

Harry S. Truman- Hufflepuff
Harry S. Truman was a salt-of-the-earth, plain speaking man. He contrasted with many of his contemporaries by rising due to hard work instead of wealth and privilege. He was patient but also honest.

Dwight D. Eisenhower- Gryffindor
Dwight D. Eisenhower had an important role during WWII and after. He was upset about not getting to see action in WWI, so much so that he was always attempting to get close to the front in WWII. His bravery and daring saw other countries shower him with awards in the same way America did.

John F. Kennedy- Slytherin
John F. Kennedy became his father’s anointed one after his older brother died. Kennedy overcame illness and anti-Catholic sentiment to become president. His family used their great wealth and connections to get Kennedy ahead, and even ensured that he married a suitable woman. Kennedy embodied that ambition and ruthlessness.

Lyndon B. Johnson- Slytherin
Lyndon B. Johnson loved power. In the Senate, he was a ruthless and tough leader who used his sheer force of will to get stuff done. He acted as Kennedy’s attack dog as VP, and as President, used those skills to push through vital legislation.

Richard Nixon- Slytherin
Richard Nixon didn’t have the easy start others did, but overcame this with a ruthless cunning that few other presidents had. Whilst he may not have masterminded Watergate, Nixon was far from unaware. His hubris unfortunately brought down what could have been a great presidency.

Gerald Ford- Hufflepuff
Gerald Ford got to where he was by being well-liked, as evidenced by Congressional support for him to become Nixon’s VP. He was a kind, fair and loyal man whose choice to pardon Nixon was extremely controversial. Ford nevertheless felt that it was right for the country.

Jimmy Carter- Hufflepuff
Jimmy Carter came from humble beginnings, and managed to get to his position through being well-behaved. He put a lot of emphasis on human rights as presidents and continued this with his lauded post-presidential work.

Ronald Reagan- Gryffindor
Ronald Reagan had a bold vision for America. He was of a sunny disposition, with the ambition of his administration coming from those around him. Reagan showed a lot of bravery and toughness following his 1981 assassination attempt.

George H. W. Bush- Hufflepuff
George H. W. Bush had plenty of traits from the other houses, but eventually landed on Hufflepuff. His impressive political experience showed his hard work and patience.

Bill Clinton- Slytherin
Bill Clinton came from rural Arkansas, yet managed to climb his way to the top, beating patrician George H. W. Bush in 1992. He was ambitious and strong-minded, and showed skill in avoiding his political career being ended by the Lewinsky scandal.

George W. Bush- Hufflepuff
George W. Bush ran on being a Compassionate Conservative, and that’s his legacy to many, even those who don’t like him. He may have been surprisingly able to play the political game, but lacked the wisdom and cunning of others.

Barack Obama- Ravenclaw
Barack Obama ran on being intelligent, articulate and a sensible choice. He was portrayed as a straight man both at home and abroad, seeming logical, honest and perhaps a little arrogant.

Donald Trump- Slytherin
Donald Trump is clearly an ambitious man, whether that’s in the boardroom, on screen, in print or in politics. As a candidate, he was ruthless and blunt, not caring what he said. He also showed surprising intelligence and cunning when targeting disenfranchised Americans as his voting bloc.

Joe Biden- Slytherin
Joe Biden survived thirty-six years in the Senate, eight years as Vice President and nearly a full term as president thus far. One doesn’t make that without a little bit of ambition and drive.