NationStates Jolt Archive

20 Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents
Not only were these men leaders of the United States, they were multitalented, unique, and sometimes even downright quirky. We've heard a lot about their contribution to United States history. But would you have guessed the following?

1. In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.

2. 9th U.S. president William Henry Harrison was inaugurated on a bitterly cold day and gave the longest inauguration speech ever. The new president promptly caught a cold that soon developed into pneumonia. Harrison died exactly one month into his presidential term, the shortest in U.S. history.

3. John Tyler, 10th U.S. president, fathered 15 children (more than any other president)--8 by his first wife, and 7 by his second wife. Tyler was past his seventieth birthday when his 15th child was born.

4. Sedated only by brandy, 11th president of the United States James Polk survived gall bladder surgery at the age of 17.

5. 15th U.S. president James Buchanan is the only unmarried man ever to be elected president. Buchanan was engaged to be married once; however, his fiancée died suddenly after breaking off the engagement, and he remained a bachelor all his life.

6. Often depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat, 16th president of the United States Abraham Lincoln carried letters, bills, and notes in his hat.

7. 17th U.S. president Andrew Johnson never attended school. His future wife, Eliza McCardle, taught him to write at the age of 17. (Bonus fact about Andrew Johnson: He only wore suits that he custom-tailored himself.)

8. Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States, died of throat cancer. During his life, Grant had smoked about 20 cigars per day.

9. Both ambidextrous and multilingual, 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand while writing Latin with the other.

10. Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th president of the United States, underwent a secret operation aboard a yacht to remove his cancerous upper jaw in 1893.

11. The teddy bear derived from 26th U.S. president Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear with her cub while on a hunting trip in Mississippi.

12. William Taft, 27th president of the United States, weighed more than 300 pounds and had a special oversized bathtub installed in the White House.

13. Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, played poker at least twice a week, and once gambled away an entire set of White House china. His advisors were nicknamed the "Poker Cabinet" because they joined the president in his poker games.

14. Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, had chronic stomach pain and required 10 to 11 hours of sleep and an afternoon nap every day.

15. Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, published more than 16 books, including one called Fishing for Fun-And to Wash Your Soul.

16. 32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents.

17. The letter "S" comprises the full middle name of the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. It represents two of his grandfathers, whose names both had "S" in them.

18. Military leader and 34th president of the U.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower loved to cook; he developed a recipe for vegetable soup that is 894 words long and includes the stems of nasturtium flowers as one of the ingredients.

19. 40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

20. George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, and his wife Laura got married just three months after meeting each other.


I saw a few threads on US presidents lately so I figured I would put an addition to the bunch. Enjoy

1. In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.


that one just scares me.

BTW heres the link

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/homework/?Article=uspresidents

Thats a pretty cool list. Too bad none of the presidents were pilots! lol.

I knew most of that stuff, your list is a failure.
*nerd dance*

I knew most of that stuff, your list is a failure.
*nerd dance*


this nerd dance?
http://higheralignment.com/photogallery/Halloween%202003/Gallery_3/Gallery_3_images/48_nerd%20on%20dance%20floor.JPG

Minoriteeburg-you always have interesting threads. And for some reason when I read your name, I dont see the "r" so I read it as Minoritibug.

Minoriteeburg-you always have interesting threads.

thank you I try :D

And for some reason when I read your name, I dont see the "r" so I read it as Minoritibug.

LOL that name wouldn't really make much sense now would it?

thank you I try :D



LOL that name wouldn't really make much sense now would it?

No, but I think I am going to call you Bug from now on. Like a pet name.;)

Plus youre a fellow Georgian.:)

No, but I think I am going to call you Bug from now on. Like a pet name.;)

Plus youre a fellow Georgian.:)


well im not from Georgia, I only moved here about 7 months ago. But ok

I knew much of that.

But thanks anywa. :)

this nerd dance?
You know you wish you were that classy, with my light green pajama bottoms and little bow-tie.

I knew much of that.

But thanks anywa. :)


I knew about 7 or 8 of these some like the skinny dipping one i did not know though.

You know you wish you were that classy, with my light green pajama bottoms and little bow-tie.

You definitely out do me with the jammy jams and the bow tie. Thats just style

I knew about 7 or 8 of these some like the skinny dipping one i did not know though.



You definitely out do me with the jammy jams and the bow tie. Thats just style


it's down right sexy *growl*

Abe Lincoln gre a beard because a 6 year old girl told him he'd look better with whiskers.

I knew about 7 or 8 of these some like the skinny dipping one i did not know though.



You definitely out do me with the jammy jams and the bow tie. Thats just style

I knew about the skinny dipping. It's one of my favorite Presidential facts. As you might imagine it would be. :)

oh, everyone whose taken a US history class should know those.

Thats a pretty cool list. Too bad none of the presidents were pilots! lol.
Dubya was a pilot.

Abe Lincoln gre a beard because a 6 year old girl told him he'd look better with whiskers.

Was Lincoln a pedophile? FIND OUT TONIGHT ON DATELINE! TRUTH BE DAMNED IF WE CAN GET HIGHER RATINGS!

Dubya was a pilot.

Yea, but he does nothing for the aviation community. I'm talking about people like Chuck Yeger, Phil Boyer, people who REALLY do care about the aviation community.

17. The letter "S" comprises the full middle name of the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. It represents two of his grandfathers, whose names both had "S" in them.


Sorry to seem like a Grammer nazi on this one. THe letter S represents two of his Grandfathers? If he had more than two grandfathers, I'd like to meet his family, and get details on how they reproduce.

17. The letter "S" comprises the full middle name of the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. It represents two of his grandfathers, whose names both had "S" in them.


Sorry to seem like a Grammer nazi on this one. THe letter S represents two of his Grandfathers? If he had more than two grandfathers, I'd like to meet his family, and get details on how they reproduce.
well, it could have been through remarriages and such, or illigitimacy (it isn't, but it could be)

Was Lincoln a pedophile? FIND OUT TONIGHT ON DATELINE! TRUTH BE DAMNED IF WE CAN GET HIGHER RATINGS!

And his assassination was very similar to JFK's. I'll post why later, I just can't find the reasons.

Must get potatoes.

Thats a pretty cool list. Too bad none of the presidents were pilots! lol.


George H.W. Bush was.


He Flew TBF Avengers in WWII

Thats a pretty cool list. Too bad none of the presidents were pilots! lol.
There's at least one "Bush pilot." :D

it's down right sexy *growl*
Sometimes you worry me. :eek:

And his assassination was very similar to JFK's. I'll post why later, I just can't find the reasons.

Must get potatoes.

yeah, booth shot lincoln in a theatre and was arrested in a book depository and jfk was shot from a book depository and oswald was arrested in a theatre.
jfk conspiracy! (http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/home.htm)
(warning - some of the pics on that site are scary as shit. like jfk's head or skull and the video is just scary - be warned)

"16. 32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents."

Can you say, "beginnings of the Eastern liberal establishment," boys and girls? :D

There's at least one "Bush pilot." :D

actually both of em were.

Sometimes you worry me. :eek:


It's my responsibility to give you even more gray hairs.;)


I think the one who could write in Latin and Greek at the same time was pretty impressive.

oh, everyone whose taken a US history class should know those.
I've taken many US history classes, question is how many I paid attention to.


it's down right sexy *growl*

I'll have to write that down:D

It's my responsibility to give you even more gray hairs.;)
Hmm. What blithering idiot assigned that to you? I've already got 14 people who work that issue full time! :p

Hmm. What blithering idiot assigned that to you? I've already got 14 people who work that issue full time! :p


I am that blithering idiot! ;)




2000th post!

Dubya was a pilot.
Honestly he wasn't much of one ...
and he found it more lucrative to not bother with required physicals, and instead work with Alabama Senators in the last year of service in the Guard.

But he sure knows how to parachute onto a set! :D

Honestly he wasn't much of one ...
and he found it more lucrative to not bother with required physicals, and instead work with Alabama Senators in the last year of service in the Guard.

But he sure knows how to parachute onto a set! :D


Yeah you never really hear much about the Bush's piloting history, or military history either.

"16. 32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents."

Can you say, "beginnings of the Eastern liberal establishment," boys and girls? :D

A huge number of US presidents were from the "Eastern liberal Establishment," only it is hardly liberal; Bush is from it too.

Yeah you never really hear much about the Bush's piloting history, or military history either.
What can be found, barring administration-biased sources (as intermittant as they are!) ... they're not particularly flattering.

A huge number of US presidents were from the "Eastern liberal Establishment," only it is hardly liberal; Bush is from it too.
Ooh, yeah, this seems like a good time to point out that Bush is a cousin of Kerry's, from early 1600's ancestor Edmund Reade, if i recall correctly. I'd punch it up, or you can trust me on it, or neither and you can do so on your own, if you like.

Yes, elder Bush is from that territory. Even though he's "home" in a mostly-D town of Crawford TX, he's still from the Eastern liberal Establishment. *nods*

Ooh, yeah, this seems like a good time to point out that Bush is a cousin of Kerry's, from early 1600's ancestor Edmund Reade, if i recall correctly. I'd punch it up, or you can trust me on it, or neither and you can do so on your own, if you like.

No need, I knew that already.

Kind of makes "democracy" in this country look like a farce.

Kind of makes "democracy" in this country look like a farce.
Painfully true.
Further, when pressed on the issue of "democracy or republic", obviously the "democracy" part loses, as well as the issue of republic, since a few have since spouted "benevolent dictatorship" ...
even more along those lines is the argument of the integrity of the electoral college. That right there is enough to drive coffin nails.

i would advise against skinny dipping in the potomac nowadays

i would advise against skinny dipping in the potomac nowadays

or even swimming in it whatsoever. It aint what it used to be.

20 Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents
Not only were these men leaders of the United States, they were multitalented, unique, and sometimes even downright quirky. We've heard a lot about their contribution to United States history. But would you have guessed the following?

1. In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.

2. 9th U.S. president William Henry Harrison was inaugurated on a bitterly cold day and gave the longest inauguration speech ever. The new president promptly caught a cold that soon developed into pneumonia. Harrison died exactly one month into his presidential term, the shortest in U.S. history.

3. John Tyler, 10th U.S. president, fathered 15 children (more than any other president)--8 by his first wife, and 7 by his second wife. Tyler was past his seventieth birthday when his 15th child was born.

4. Sedated only by brandy, 11th president of the United States James Polk survived gall bladder surgery at the age of 17.

5. 15th U.S. president James Buchanan is the only unmarried man ever to be elected president. Buchanan was engaged to be married once; however, his fiancée died suddenly after breaking off the engagement, and he remained a bachelor all his life.

6. Often depicted wearing a tall black stovepipe hat, 16th president of the United States Abraham Lincoln carried letters, bills, and notes in his hat.

7. 17th U.S. president Andrew Johnson never attended school. His future wife, Eliza McCardle, taught him to write at the age of 17. (Bonus fact about Andrew Johnson: He only wore suits that he custom-tailored himself.)

8. Ulysses S. Grant, 18th president of the United States, died of throat cancer. During his life, Grant had smoked about 20 cigars per day.

9. Both ambidextrous and multilingual, 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand while writing Latin with the other.

10. Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th president of the United States, underwent a secret operation aboard a yacht to remove his cancerous upper jaw in 1893.

11. The teddy bear derived from 26th U.S. president Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear with her cub while on a hunting trip in Mississippi.

12. William Taft, 27th president of the United States, weighed more than 300 pounds and had a special oversized bathtub installed in the White House.

13. Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, played poker at least twice a week, and once gambled away an entire set of White House china. His advisors were nicknamed the "Poker Cabinet" because they joined the president in his poker games.

14. Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, had chronic stomach pain and required 10 to 11 hours of sleep and an afternoon nap every day.

15. Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president, published more than 16 books, including one called Fishing for Fun-And to Wash Your Soul.

16. 32nd president of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt was related, either by blood or by marriage, to 11 former presidents.

17. The letter "S" comprises the full middle name of the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman. It represents two of his grandfathers, whose names both had "S" in them.

18. Military leader and 34th president of the U.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower loved to cook; he developed a recipe for vegetable soup that is 894 words long and includes the stems of nasturtium flowers as one of the ingredients.

19. 40th president of the United States Ronald Reagan broke the so-called "20-year curse," in which every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office.

20. George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, and his wife Laura got married just three months after meeting each other.
I saw a few threads on US presidents lately so I figured I would put an addition to the bunch. Enjoy

1. In warm weather, 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams customarily went skinny-dipping in the Potomac River before dawn.


that one just scares me.

BTW heres the link

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/homework/?Article=uspresidents

I knew 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, and 20. I have also heard 9, and 11.

9 I heard about Jefferson, and suspect is an urban legend.
11 is only partially correct - T.R. was offered a chance to shoot a caged bear cub, not it's mother, as I understand it.

And I also suspect 12 is an urban legend.

And I also suspect 12 is an urban legend.

Probably. I heard he got stuck in the tub.