Скачать или смотреть The President Who Spoke The Most Languages

In the history of U.S. Presidents, linguistic prowess has varied widely, with many being monolingual, a few bilingual, and a handful true polyglots. Surprisingly, out of the 46 individuals who have held the nation's highest office, a substantial number—25 to be precise—knew only English. This monolingual trend is more pronounced among modern presidents.

However, a select few U.S. Presidents have been conversational in a second language. Like George W. Bush in Spanish and Obama in Indonesian.

The early era of American politics tells a different tale, where multilingualism was not only common but often considered a mark of a well-educated individual. Many of the Founding Fathers and early presidents were true polyglots, with a good handle on several languages. These leaders often learned classical languages such as Latin and Greek, which were staples of a classical education, and they also showed proficiency in modern languages like French, Spanish, and Dutch, which were essential for diplomatic affairs and intellectual pursuits of the time. Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams are prime examples, both adept in several languages, which allowed them to engage directly with the international texts and political figures of their day