One looks to the head of government for all kinds of symbollic strength, but it seems like it’s been a while since a U.S. president has actually needed to be a big, brutish manly man. That said, few hours go by without us hearing that we’re headed for times of unprecedented danger and difficulty, which makes us think that now is the time we need to start looking back for some viable archetypes of political strength via physical might.

A helpful listicle, in this regard, comes to us from COED Magazine, whose round-up of The 5 Toughest U.S. Presidents provides some useful strength training tips: start issuing and accepting more duel challenges (Andrew Jackson); go on safari more regularly and kill over 500 animals (Teddy Roosevelt); and challenge entire gangs to wrestling mélés (Abraham Lincoln). Possible powerful presidential activity for 2012? Helicopter hunting like Sarah Palin (locked and loaded at right).