While the Oval Office-ship may be very “hard work” and involve “working hard,” as George W. Bush said in one of his many famous sentences, there’s still plenty of room for White House hooligan-ry. Here’s a rundown of a few unusual facts about the list of (mostly) old white men that we’ve all had to memorize at some point in our schooling.
President Lyndon B. Johnson had four buttons installed in his office to summon an aide with his favorite drinks — tea, coffee, Coke and Fresca. His tastes were certainly tamer than those of O.P. (Original President) George Washington, who distributed and drank rye whiskey, and apple and peach brandy. Then again, Johnson didn’t have to deal with wearing dentures at age 20-something. Prezzie-dental fact: The dentures weren’t wooden — Georgie had pairs made of gold, lead and ivory.
William Taft may or may not have gotten stuck in his own bathtub, but either way he eventually had one made that was described as the size of a small pond. Years later, Herbert Hoover would continue the work of making the White House into wetlands, allowing his son not one, but two pet alligators.
While they helped build the history of one country, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson didn’t have much respect for the historical landmarks of another. During a visit to Shakespeare’s home in England in 1786, they chipped off a piece of a chair to take home. The nerve!
John Quincy Adams enjoyed skinny dipping. To this day, many fish in the Potomac River are blind.
As if becoming president wasn’t a fulfilling enough fantasy, Millard Fillmore also married one of his high school teachers.
When he wasn’t doing yoga or baking, Abe Lincoln also enjoyed a good wrestling match.
Andrew Johnson made his own suits.
James Garfield had a gnarly beard and could write with both hands at the same time, all while leveling his icy gaze on whoever made him angry that day.
You can go see one of Grover Cleveland’s dried out tumors at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.
Jimmy Carter reported seeing a UFO in 1973. Nice try, Jimmy! We know they were just dropping you off…
