Shocking things you didn't know about every US president

Thea GlassmanJan 20, 2021, 23:52 IST

President William Howard Taft, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.AP/Lennox McLendon; Getty/Sean Rayford

John Quincy Adams was a huge fan of skinny-dipping and he did it every morning.
Thomas Jefferson's favorite mockingbird was named Dick.
Andrew Jackson kept a 1,4000-pound block of cheddar cheese in the White House.

Forget everything you learned in history class.

There's a whole treasure trove of hidden facts about the 46 presidents that haven't made it into middle school textbooks.

From the bizarre (one commander-in-chief owned a giant block of cheese) to the seriously cool (another won two Grammys), keep scrolling to learn everything about the country's most important politicians throughout history.

George Washington (1789-1797)

A portrait of George Washington with his horse. DeAgostini/Getty Images

John Adams (1797-1801)

An 1816 portrait of John Adams by Samuel Morse. Stock Montage/Stock Montage via Getty Images

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

A portrait of Thomas Jefferson, circa 1780. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

James Madison (1809-1817)

An illustration of James Madison from 1812. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

James Monroe (1817-1825)

A portrait of James Monroe circa 1800. Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty Images

John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)

A portrait of John Quincy Adams. National Archive/Newsmakers/Getty Images

Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

A portrait of Andrew Jackson. Stock Montage/Stock Montage/Getty Images

Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)

A print of Martin van Buren taken after his presidency. Universal History Archive/Getty Images

William Henry Harrison (1841)

A portrait of William Henry Harrison. VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images

John Tyler (1841-1845)

A portrait of John Tyler by George PA Healy in 1859. Everett Historical/Shutterstock

James K. Polk (1845-1849)

A portrait of James K. Polk. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)

A photograph of Zachary Taylor. Bettmann/Getty Images

Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)

Millard Fillmore succeeded Zachary Taylor, who died of cholera after only 16 months in office. AP Images

Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)

A portrait of Franklin Pierce, the 14th US president. GraphicaArtis via Getty Images

James Buchanan (1857-1861)

A portrait of James Buchanan. Everett Historical/Shutterstock

Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)

A portrait of Abraham Lincoln without his signature beard. Chicago Historical Society/AP Images

Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

A photo of Andrew Johnson. Library of Congress

Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)

Commanding General Grant at the Battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. Library of Congress

Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)

A photograph of Rutherford B. Hayes. Bettman/Getty Images

James A. Garfield (1881)

Following his support of civil service reform, James A. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office-seeker. Everett Historical/Shutterstock

Chester Arthur (1881-1885)

President Chester Arthur posing for a photograph. Bettman/Getty Images

Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897)

Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms as President. Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)

A photo of Benjamin Harrison in 1896. Library of Congress

William McKinley (1897-1901)

William McKinley in his presidential portrait. Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

A portrait of Theodore Roosevelt ranching and hunting in the Dakota Territory in 1895. AP Images

William Howard Taft (1909-1913)

William Howard Taft posing for a photograph. Archive Photos/Getty

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

Woodrow Wilson throwing the first pitch at a baseball game. AP Images

Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)

A photo of Warren G. Harding taken around 1920. Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

Calvin Coolidge is photographed at his desk. Bettman/Getty Images

Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)

Herbert Hoover listening to a one valve radio set. Topical Press Agency via Getty Images

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)

Franklin D. Roosevelt. AP Images

Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)

Harry S. Truman is photographed at his desk. Bettmann/Getty Images

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)

Before becoming president, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe. Fox Photos/Getty Images

John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)

A photograph of John F. Kennedy in front of the White House in 1963. William J. Smith/AP Images

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)

Lyndon B. Johnson at his desk in the White House in Washington on August 26, 1966. AP Images

Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

Richard Nixon in 1977. AP

Gerald Ford (1974-1977)

President Gerald Ford. Charles Tasnadi/AP

Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

Jimmy Carter in the Oval Office. Wilson/AP Images

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

Ronald Reagan enjoying a cold drink. Walt Zeboski/AP Images

George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)

George H.W. Bush acknowledging the crowd during an appearance at the University of Kansas. Charlie Riedel/AP Images

Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

Bill Clinton decided to become vegan after his poor diet impacted his health. Samir Hussein/Getty Images

George W. Bush (2001-2009)

George W. Bush at a speaking engagement. AP

Barack Obama (2009-2017)

Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House. Susan Walsh/AP Images

Donald Trump (2017-2021)

Donald Trump addresses a joint news conference at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Joe Biden (2021-)

Joe Biden previously served as vice president with Barack Obama. Angela Weiss/AFP

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