14. Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart – ISTP
It shouldn’t be too big of a surprise to learn that in the opinion of some, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart share the same MBTI, that of ISTP (Introvert, Sensing, Thinking, Perceiving). But the opinion is far from universal, both pioneering aviators are assigned different MBTI types by others. And other than their shared passion for aviation, Earhart and Lindbergh had few similar qualities. Earhart supported women’s equality programs, developed clothing and luggage product lines, and lived in an “open” marriage with her husband, publisher George Putnam. Lindbergh’s most famous flight, solo across the Atlantic in 1927, was taken as part of a contest. Earhart’s flights were pre-arranged affairs, with her goals announced by public relations professionals. Earhart openly created publicity, while the more reserved Lindbergh shunned it.
In the 1930s Lindbergh became an ardent supporter of the America First movement, arguing against involvement in European affairs. Famous and influential, he earned a public rebuke from President Franklin Roosevelt over his views. Earhart used her fame and influence to promote aviation, herself, and her expanding business interests. She also supported women’s rights movements and became a close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin. As late as September 1941, Lindbergh argued against Roosevelt’s support of Great Britain. He told the crowd at an America First rally that three groups were “…pressing this country toward war: the British, the Jewish, and the Roosevelt Administration”. Earhart never publicly expressed her political views. Instead, she focused on her own celebrity, raising the public view toward women. She is still regarded as a feminist icon.