Presidential Psych 101

By Melissa August, Val Castronovo, Rachel Dry, Daren Fonda, Michael Jackson, Ellin Martens, Benjamin Nugent, Michele Orecklin, Julie Rawe, John Rosenblatt, Josh Tyrangiel

Your spouse says you're stubborn, your boss says you daydream too much, and your friends say you're manipulative. Congratulations! You may have what it takes to be President--at least according to psychologists Steven Rubenzer, Thomas Faschingbauer and Deniz Ones, who studied the personalities of all Chief Executives and revealed their findings at a psychology convention last week. Try this quiz (loosely based on their research) to see if you're Oval Office material:

1 You're a mid-level manager suffering through a dull meeting. Do you:

A. Fantasize about a colleague B. Butt in with a joke C. Plan your next vacation

2 You meet someone you'd like to date but find out she's with someone else. Do you:

A. Try to be just friends B. Skulk off and eat a Big Mac C. Suggest that you're a great lover, that her guy has herpes and that you have a lot of stock options

3 A referee at your daughter's soccer game makes a call you think is unfair. Do you:

A. Brood a while; call a league pal, hint that ref needs glasses B. Scream until the ref recants C. Think to yourself: Gee, was the ref maybe right?

4 You made it to the White House. Now you want your health plan passed and face a House vote you're likely to lose. Do you:

A. Call every Representative on the fence; hint at a private pork roast B. Call a bipartisan commission to study the issues further C. Play golf; try to look good; lash out at do-nothing Congress

ANSWERS:

1. B. Presidents aren't afraid to speak boldly in groups; many are showmen. You belong on stage with Reagan.

2. C. You use cunning and insinuation to get your way; your hero is F.D.R. If you chose A, you're House material at best; the least well-regarded Presidents--Grant and Harding--were modest.

3. A. You love Tricky Dick's intricate, if misguided, plotting. If you answered B, you're a p.r. disaster; if you chose C, get thee to a think tank.

4. A. Dreaming big and offering the moon was the style of L.B.J.; he's your kinda guy. B brands you an ineffective wonk; C says you're an unambitious, pass-the-buck wimp.