1. George Washington’s Teeth Weren’t Wood
Contrary to the myth, Washington’s dentures were made of materials like human and cow teeth, ivory, and even lead. Imagine how uncomfortable that must have been—no wonder he rarely smiled in portraits!
2. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson Died on the Same Day
In a strange twist of fate, Adams and Jefferson both passed away on July 4, 1826—exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Talk about poetic timing!
3. Thomas Jefferson Was Obsessed with Mastodons
Jefferson was fascinated by fossils and even hoped Lewis and Clark might find living mastodons during their expedition. He even had mastodon bones sent to him at the White House.
4. James Madison Was the Smallest President
Standing at just 5’4” and weighing under 100 pounds, Madison was the shortest and lightest U.S. president. He might’ve been small, but his ideas—like the Bill of Rights—were huge.
5. James Monroe Dressed in Outdated Style
Monroe stuck to 18th-century fashion long after it went out of style. Think powdered wigs and knee breeches in an era of tailored suits. He was like your grandpa who still wears bell-bottoms.
6. John Quincy Adams Loved Skinny-Dipping
Adams had a peculiar habit of swimming in the Potomac River—completely naked. Rumor has it a journalist once snagged an interview by sitting on his clothes until he agreed to talk.
7. Andrew Jackson Taught His Parrot to Swear
Jackson’s parrot, Polly, was notorious for her foul mouth. At Jackson’s funeral, the parrot reportedly had to be removed because she wouldn’t stop cursing.
8. Martin Van Buren Popularized Sideburns
Van Buren sported such iconic muttonchops that they inspired a whole generation of facial hair enthusiasts. It’s fair to say he left his mark… on the side of his face.
9. William Henry Harrison Gave the Longest Inaugural Address
Harrison spoke for nearly two hours in cold, rainy weather during his inauguration. He caught pneumonia and died 31 days later, making his presidency the shortest in history.
10. John Tyler Had 15 Children
Tyler fathered 15 kids, the most of any president. Two of his grandsons are still alive today—proof that his sprawling family tree is thriving.
11. James K. Polk Was a Workaholic
Polk didn’t believe in vacations. During his single term, he worked tirelessly—and declined to run for a second term, probably because he was exhausted.
12. Zachary Taylor Never Voted for a President
Despite being a war hero and eventual president, Taylor had never cast a ballot in a presidential election before running himself. He just wasn’t into politics.
13. Millard Fillmore Married His Teacher
Before becoming president, Fillmore married his schoolteacher, Abigail Powers. Let’s hope he never had to explain his late homework.
14. Franklin Pierce Ran Over a Woman with His Carriage
Pierce accidentally ran over an elderly woman while driving his carriage. Although tragic, he wasn’t charged, but it haunted him during his presidency.
15. James Buchanan Was a Bachelor President
Buchanan never married, making him the only lifelong bachelor to occupy the White House. His niece served as First Lady, keeping things socially proper.
16. Abraham Lincoln Was a Licensed Bartender
Lincoln co-owned a bar called Berry and Lincoln in Illinois. Though the business eventually failed, it adds a whole new meaning to “Honest Abe.”
17. Andrew Johnson Made His Own Clothes
Before politics, Johnson was a tailor. He even continued sewing his own suits while in office. Imagine a president hemming pants in the Oval Office!
18. Ulysses S. Grant Couldn’t Stand Blood
Despite being a Civil War hero, Grant was famously squeamish. He reportedly fainted at the sight of blood, making his battlefield victories even more impressive.
19. Rutherford B. Hayes Had the First Siamese Cat in the U.S.
Hayes’ wife, Lucy, received a Siamese cat named Siam as a gift from a U.S. diplomat in Thailand. Siam became a White House celebrity.
20. James Garfield Could Write with Both Hands… Simultaneously
Garfield was ambidextrous and could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time. That’s multitasking on a presidential level.
21. Chester A. Arthur Had a Closet Full of 80 Pants
Arthur was a fashionista who owned over 80 pairs of pants and changed outfits multiple times a day. They called him “Elegant Arthur” for a reason.
22. Grover Cleveland Personally Answered His Phone
When the first telephone was installed in the White House, Cleveland loved answering it himself. There were so few calls that it wasn’t exactly a time sink.
23. Benjamin Harrison Was Scared of Electricity
Harrison had electricity installed in the White House but refused to touch the switches out of fear of being shocked. He often slept with the lights on.
24. William McKinley Always Wore a Red Carnation
McKinley wore a red carnation for good luck. Tragically, he removed it and gave it to a fan moments before his assassination.
25. Theodore Roosevelt Had a Blind Eye from Boxing
Roosevelt was an avid boxer until a punch during a match partially blinded him in one eye. Of course, that didn’t stop him from living his rugged lifestyle.
26. William Howard Taft Got Stuck in a Bathtub
The famously large Taft once got stuck in a White House bathtub. Afterward, he had a bigger tub installed that could fit multiple people.
27. Woodrow Wilson Had a Flock of Sheep Mow the Lawn
To save money during World War I, Wilson let sheep graze on the White House lawn instead of hiring groundskeepers. Eco-friendly before it was cool!
28. Warren G. Harding Loved Poker… Too Much
Harding reportedly lost a set of White House china during a particularly intense poker game. Talk about going all in.
29. Calvin Coolidge Had a Pet Raccoon
Coolidge had a pet raccoon named Rebecca, who roamed freely around the White House. She was originally meant for Thanksgiving dinner—yikes.
30. Herbert Hoover Spoke Chinese with His Wife
Hoover and his wife, Lou, would speak Mandarin Chinese to each other in the White House, especially when they didn’t want others to understand them.
31. Franklin D. Roosevelt Collected Stamps
FDR was an avid stamp collector, owning over a million stamps. He found it a relaxing escape from the pressures of politics.
32. Harry S. Truman’s Middle Name Was Just “S”
Truman’s middle initial “S” didn’t stand for anything. It was a compromise between his grandfathers’ names, Solomon and Shipp.
33. Dwight D. Eisenhower Loved Golf—A Lot
Ike played over 800 rounds of golf during his presidency. The man loved the greens so much, he had a putting green installed at the White House.
34. John F. Kennedy Was a Speed Reader
Kennedy could reportedly read 1,200 words per minute. That must’ve been handy for tackling presidential briefings.
35. Lyndon B. Johnson Conducted Meetings in the Bathroom
LBJ was known for holding meetings while using the toilet. He believed it demonstrated his power and kept people on their toes—literally.
36. Richard Nixon Played Five Instruments
Nixon was a talented musician who played piano, clarinet, saxophone, violin, and accordion. He even composed his own music!
37. Gerald Ford Was a Male Model
Before politics, Ford modeled for magazines. He once appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan in the 1940s.
38. Jimmy Carter Reported a UFO
Carter once reported seeing a UFO in 1969. He described it as bright and changing colors, though he later chalked it up to a military exercise.
39. Ronald Reagan Believed in Astrology
Reagan and his wife, Nancy, consulted an astrologer to help plan his schedule, particularly after his 1981 assassination attempt.
40. George H. W. Bush Loved Skydiving
Bush celebrated several of his birthdays by skydiving, including his 90th. He made it clear age was just a number when it came to thrill-seeking.
41. Bill Clinton Played the Saxophone on TV
Clinton famously played his saxophone on The Arsenio Hall Show during his 1992 campaign, earning him cool points with younger voters.
42. George W. Bush Was a Cheerleader
In high school, Bush was a cheerleader. Imagine the future president leading cheers at football games—talk about school spirit.
43. Barack Obama Won a Grammy
Obama won two Grammys for narrating the audiobooks of his memoirs. Who knew presidents could also win big in the arts?
44. Donald Trump Has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Trump earned his star in 2007 for his work as a reality TV star on The Apprentice. It’s one of the more unusual accolades for a president, though the star has seen its fair share of controversy since.
45. Joe Biden Loves Ice Cream
Joe Biden is famously obsessed with ice cream. He’s been seen enjoying cones at various events, and he’s even joked that ice cream is one of his greatest loves in life. It’s hard not to admire a guy with such a relatable sweet tooth!
