Fun US President Facts

To celebrate Presidents’ Day (and because I have the day off), please enjoy these fun facts! I hope you learn something new!

1. George Washington (1789-1797)

· Wore false teeth, but instead of wooden teeth – they were made out of hippopotamus’ tusks, lead, sheep, cow, and human teeth. What a mouthful!

· First 6-star general by an order from Jimmy Carter (see # 39). Carter felt America’s first president should also be America’s highest military official.

2. John Adams (1797-1801)

· Lived longer than any other president. He lived to be 91 years old

· Died on July 4, 1826 – the 50^th birthday of the signing of the Declaration of Independence And the same day as Thomas Jefferson (see #3)

3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

· As president, bought over 600 million acres of land – Louisiana Purchase.

· Said, “In matters of principle, stand like a rock; in matters of taste, swim with the current.”

4. James Madison (1809-1817)

· Shortest president at 5’4”.

· First president to wear long trousers/pants (as opposed to knickers).

5. James Monroe (1817-1825)

· First wedding performed in the White House was for daughter Marie Hester Monroe.

· Also died on July 4 (see #2 and #3 above).

6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)

· First president to have his picture taken.

· Enjoyed skinny-dipping in the Potomac River most mornings.

7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

· First president nominated by a political party.

· Pet parrot had to be removed from Jackson’s funeral for swearing.

8. Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)

· Born in Kinderhook, NY, and was nicknamed Old Kinderhook – which led to OK. (I’m OK; you’re OK.)

· First president born in the US.

9. William Henry Harrison (1841)

· His inauguration speech was almost 2 hours long. He caught a cold which turned into pneumonia . . . and he died.

· He was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison (see #23).

10. John Tyler (1841-1845)

· Had the most children of any president – 15!

· Nicknamed “His Accidency” after Harrison died in office.

11. James Polk (1845-1849)

· Hosted the first Thanksgiving in the White House.

· Known as the “real estate” president since the US gained over 800,000 square miles.

12. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)

· Laid the cornerstone for the Washington Monument on July 4 while suffering from typhus fever (and died 5 days later)

· First president who never held a political office before becoming president.

13. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)

· Installed the first bathtub with running water in the White house.

· Started the White House library.

14. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)

· Had the first Christmas tree in the White House

· Changed the inauguration speech to read “I promise” instead of “I swear” for religious regions.

15. James Buchanan (1857-1861)

· Only president to never marry; niece Harriet Lane served as the hostess for many parties and functions.

· First president to have a royal guest stay at the White House – England’s Prince Albert.

16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)

· Said, “It is true you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”

· First president to be assassinated.

17. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

· Sold as a servant to a tailor.

· First president to be impeached (acquitted by only 1 vote).

18. Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)

· First president to have both parents alive when taking office.

· Completed his memoirs (with the help of Mark Twain) just 2 days before dying of throat cancer.

19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)

· Wife was nicknamed Lemonade Lucy because she refused to serve alcohol in the White House – serving lemonade instead.

· Hosted first Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn.

20. James A Garfield (1881)

· Could write with both hands at the same time in different languages!

· Assassinated by an angry supporter who didn’t get an administrative appointment.

21. Chester Arthur (1881-1885)

· Nicknamed Elegant Arthur because he owned over 80 pairs of pants and changed clothed several times daily.

· Loved to fish and play the banjo.

22. Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)

· Only president to marry in the White House. Frances was 27 years younger than Grover.

· First president to deliver his inaugural address without notes.

23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)

· Added electricity in the White House.

· Nicknamed the Human Iceberg because he was cold and formal.

24. Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)

· Only president to serve two terms that were not consecutive.

· Daughter Esther was only president’s child born in the White House.

25. William McKinley (1897-1901)

· First president to ride in an automobile (the ambulance after he was shot).

· First president to use campaign buttons and to campaign by phone.

26. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

· Loved the environment and preserved millions of acres of national forests (including 5 national parks and the first wildlife refuge).

· Said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

27. William Taft (1909-1913)

· Loved baseball and started the tradition of presidents throwing out the first pitch on Opening Day.

· Weighed over 300 pounds and needed a larger bathtub in the White House.

28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

· First president to cross the Atlantic Ocean while in office.

· Kept Old Ike on the White House lawn – a tobacco-chewing sheep.

29. Warren Harding (1921-1923)

· First president to have a radio in the White House.

· Many scandals were uncovered after his presidency.

30. Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

· Installed an electronic horse in the White House and rode it almost every day.

· Enjoyed practical jokes and kept many pets including Rebecca, a pet raccoon.

31. Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)

· Approved “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem.

· First president born west of the Mississippi River (Iowa).

32. Franklin D Roosevelt (1933-1945)

· First president whose mother was eligible to vote for him.

· Served as president longer than any other president (elected to 4 terms).

33. Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)

· Only 20^th century president not to have a college education.

· The S in his name does not stand for anything.

34. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)

· First president of all 50 states.

· Very superstitious always carrying 3 coins in his pocket for good luck.

35. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)

· First president who was a Boy Scout

· Said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

36. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)

· Paw prints from beagle named Him are imprinted in the cement leading to the White House press room.

· First president to appoint an African-American cabinet member and to nominate an African-American to the Supreme Court.

37. Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

· Installed a bowling alley in the White House.

· Came back from WWII with poker winnings of over $10,000.

38. Gerald Ford (1974-1977)

· Only president to serve without being chosen in a national election.

· Daughter Susan hosted her senior prom in the White House.

39. Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

· First president to be born in a hospital.

· Was a speed-reader (over 2,000 words per minute).

40. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

· Only president to be inaugurated after his 70^th birthday.

· Only president to have been divorced.

41. George H. Bush (1989-1993)

· Hated broccoli so much that he banished it from the White House.

· First president who had been head of the CIA.

42. Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

· First baby-boomer president and first Rhodes Scholar.

· Known for eating junk food and playing the saxophone.

43. George W. Bush (2001-2008)

· Longest presidential election with closest outcome in history.

· Collected over 250 autographed baseballs.

44. Barack Obama, Jr. (2008 –

· Won 2 Grammys (audio books).

· Loves chili and pizza.

Truckstop Sally