Little-Known Facts About 7 U.S. Presidents

Obscure Presidential Trivia
You Won’t Easily Forget

Presidents’ Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by exploring some unusual facts about our most popular chief executives?

#1. George Washington Never Ran for President

Our country’s first president never ran for office. Rather, he was drafted by popular demand for both his terms. Washington did no public campaigning, unsure if he’d even take the job. But the Electoral College chose him unanimously – the only time it ever did so.

At his inauguration, the streets of New York (the capital city at that time) were so packed with revelers that the president had to walk home. During his two administrations, Washington refused to accept a presidential salary and used some of his own money to pay his cabinet ministers and other executive branch members.

#2. Thomas Jefferson’s Frenemy

Despite their political differences, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were great friends who became enemies for several years before finally renewing their friendship later in life. When Jefferson beat Adams in the 1801 presidential election, the two friends began a feud that lasted 12 years. After that, they rekindled their earlier friendship.

Both Jefferson and Adams died on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Historians believe Adams’ last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” But Jefferson actually had died a few hours earlier.

#3. Abraham Lincoln, Inventor

Abe Lincoln was the only U.S. president to hold a patent. During his brief experience as a Mississippi River ferryman, Lincoln was stranded twice on boats that had run aground. As a result, he invented “adjustable buoyant air chambers,” to be attached to a boat’s sides, lowered into the water, and then inflated to lift the boat over any obstructions.

Alas, the device was never produced for practical use. Whether it would have been a useful invention remains questionable, as the amount of force needed to lower and fill the air chambers kept it from becoming a functional mechanism.

Nevertheless, Lincoln’s innovative mind served him well. His wisdom and tireless work to secure our national unity during a time of crisis will forever be remembered and honored.

#4. The Bare Truth About Teddy Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt is well-known for his commitment to conservation. He set an early example of environmental stewardship by establishing national parks and monuments.

An avid outdoorsman, Roosevelt often escaped the confines of the White House by sailing his presidential yacht on nearby rivers, scaling cliffs at Rock Creek Park, and using tree stumps for target practice. After strenuous walks along the Potomac, the president occasionally would shed his clothes and skinny dip in the river to cool off.

#5. FDR Was a Lifesaver

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s handicap was largely concealed from the public. Although he was ultimately diagnosed with polio, recent studies indicate that FDR more likely suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

In any event, the treatment in 1921 would have been the same. However, the eventual attention that polio received as a result of the president’s affliction doubtlessly saved thousands of lives. FDR championed efforts to wipe out the disease through programs such as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and the March of Dimes. By the 1950s, the Salk vaccine finally ended the polio threat.

#6. JFK ‘s Connection to Honest Abe

John F. Kennedy brought youthful energy to the presidency, inspiring a new generation to engage in civic life. President Kennedy often quoted and even emulated Abraham Lincoln. Indeed, JFK’s presidency coincided with Lincoln’s in several unusual ways:

  • Lincoln was elected in 1860, and Kennedy precisely 100 years later in 1960.
  • Both presidents particularly concerned with civil rights.
  • Both men were assassinated by a gunshot to the head on a Friday, and both assassins were killed before their trials within the same month as their crimes.
  • Both presidents were succeeded by a vice president named Johnson. Andrew Johnson was born in 1808, and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1908, exactly 100 years later.

#7. Barack Obama: Just Call Him “Dad”

Barack Obama’s historic presidency broke barriers, symbolizing progress towards a more inclusive and diverse America. But did you know that his greatest accomplishment was being a good dad?

Obama strove to differentiate himself from his own absentee father and instead became  the child-centric parent he had always longed to be. Unlike the vast majority of his predecessors, who were consumed by politics and spent little time with their children, President Obama was a hands-on dad. He helped coach his daughter’s grammar school basketball team, and he took advantage of his White House year to regularly connect with and guide his girls.

Sources:
Featured Image: Adobe, License Granted
Mount Vernon
CNN
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
History.com
National Constitution Center
American Experience
Washington Post