15 Fun Facts About Our U.S. Presidents

American Icons, Featured Article, Trivia
on February 15, 2014

The president of the United States most powerful men in the world aren’t without quirks. From strange habits to little known life accomplishments, these executives of yesteryear shed light on forgotten history. Find out how peculiarities shaped these American fellows’ time in office.

Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge

Photo Credit: Notman Photo Company, 1919

Calvin Coolidge was sworn into office by candlelight in Vermont. His father, a public notary, officiated.

Chester A. Arthur

Chester A. Arthur

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Chester A. Arthur requested a global standardized time and was instrumental in the recognizing
Greenwich as the Prime Meridian.

Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren

Photo Credit: G.P.A. Healy

Martin Van Buren was a stout 5’6 and had a reputation for being an impeccable dresser.

Jimmy Carter

Photo Credit: Carl H. Schumacher

Jimmy Carter is the only president to win a Grammy.

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson

Photo Credit: National Archives

Woodrow Wilson was the first president to have a PhD.

William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft

Photo Credit: Bain News Services

Due to William Howard Taft’s girth, he was known to fall asleep at public functions, particularly after consuming a meal.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

Photo Credit: Peter Marjanovic

Bill Clinton and Steven Spielberg worked together on George McGovern’s campaign in 1972.

Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Photo Credit: Ollie Atkins

Richard Nixon tried to make it big in the frozen orange juice business in 1938.

Lyndon Baines Johnson

Lyndon Johnson

Photo Credit: Yoichi R. Okamoto

Everyone in Lyndon Baines Johnson’s family had LBJ initials.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

Photo Credit: New York Historical Society

Thomas Jefferson loved archaeology and has a mammoth named after him.

Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt

Photo Credit: Smithsonian Archives

Teddy Roosevelt was blind in his left eye after a too-rough boxing match at the White House.

Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant

Photo Credit: Matthew Brady

Ulysses S. Grant was invited to go to the Ford Theater with President Lincoln, but did not attend on that fateful evening.

George W. Bush

George W. Bush

Photo Credit: Paul Morse

George W. Bush was the head cheerleader of his high school cheerleading squad.

John F. Kennedy

JFK

Photo Credit: Cecil Stoughton

John F. Kennedy powered through speeches, and set a record for the fastest delivery at 327 words per minute in 1961.

Abraham Lincoln

Abe Lincoln

Photo Credit: Alexander Gardner

Abraham Lincoln created the Secret Service the same day he was assassinated at the Ford Theater.