Some people just have that type of photgraphic memory, but it doesn't necessarily equate to intelligence. He may be able to read and memorize a Wiliam F. Buckley article, or a chapter of "Wealth of Nations", but he may not understand what he has read. I remember an episode of the Paper Chase where there was a student who had a photographic memory and could memorize every case assigned by Professor Kingsfield. However, he was unable to take the rulings in those cases and apply them to other sets of facts. He could memorize text, but he couldn't reason from analogy.
I rember a kid like that in my first year of law school. Could memorize codes and cases but not the application. He did not make it to second year. There was a girl who could memorize who did make it, but she married the professor. (really)
Nope. His memory was average at best.