Neither Truman nor FDR were intellectuals.  Truman especially: he was (in)famous for operating from the <i>gut</i>, making decisions swiftly and dealing with the consequences whatever they may be.  FDR was blue-blooded and well educated (although he dropped out of law school) but he was ultimately a populist and charismatic leader who was said to have been guided by deep moral empathy for the poor that was instilled in him by a Christian boarding school headmaster: which would indicate that his thinking on his administration's policy was being guided by emotions and morals, rooted in an influential life figure's religious belief - as opposed to cold, plain, secular reason.<p>The examples being listed against intellectuals would be more appropriately applied against charismatic leaders who either instigate or take advantage of populist sentiment in populations during difficult times.<p>I'm guessing we have very different views of what an intellectual is, so let me make this clear: Being smart and well educated doesn't make you an intellectual.  It just makes you smart and well educated. If that's your standard, HN is probably exclusively populated by these intellectuals.  No offense, but this isn't the case ;).