COMEDY

44 Presidents, 44 Facts You Probably Didn't Know

It's Presidents Day and while many of us will be taking the opportunity to enjoy 30% off bath towels and other linens, it's important that we also spend a moment reflecting on the commanders-in-chief we've elected thus far.

With that in mind, we once again present 44 lesser-known facts about the leaders of this nation. Ever wanted to imagine John Quincy Adams naked? Too late, you will now.

So enjoy your day off by learning a few things... and seriously, take advantage of those sales. You NEED new sheets.

  • 1 Washington's Teeth Weren't Wooden
    Contrary to popular belief, the country's first president had dentures made of gold, ivory, lead, and animal teeth.
    MediaWiki
    Contrary to popular belief, the country's first president had dentures made of gold, ivory, lead, and animal teeth.
  • 2 Adams Used To Skip School
    As a young boy, John Adams would often skip school, choosing instead to spend his time hunting and fishing.
    MediaWiki
    As a young boy, John Adams would often skip school, choosing instead to spend his time hunting and fishing.
  • 3 Thomas Jefferson Founded The University Of Virginia
    Jefferson founded the university in 1819 on land that once belonged to eventual President James Monroe. Jefferson is the only
    MediaWiki
    Jefferson founded the university in 1819 on land that once belonged to eventual President James Monroe. Jefferson is the only president to have ever founded an institution of higher learning.
  • 4 Madison Was Princeton's First Grad Student
    After finishing his undergraduate degree in 2 years, James Madison stayed at the university for an additional year, making hi
    After finishing his undergraduate degree in 2 years, James Madison stayed at the university for an additional year, making him the Ivy League institution's first graduate student.
  • 5 The Capital Of Liberia Was Named After Monroe
    Because of his prominent support for the colonization of Liberia, the country decided to name their capital city, Monrovia, a
    MediaWiki
    Because of his prominent support for the colonization of Liberia, the country decided to name their capital city, Monrovia, after James Monroe.
  • 6 John Quincy Adams Regularly Skinny-Dipped In The Potomac
    Adams was known for his early morning dips in D.C.'s main waterway, always in the nude.
    WikiMedia:
    Adams was known for his early morning dips in D.C.'s main waterway, always in the nude.
  • 7 Andrew Jackson Taught His Parrot To Curse
    The parrot had to be removed from President Jackson's funeral because it wouldn't stop swearing.
    MediaWiki
    The parrot had to be removed from President Jackson's funeral because it wouldn't stop swearing.
  • 8 Martin Van Buren Popularized The Phrase "OK"
    Supposedly, President Van Buren popularized one of the most commonly used phrases to date: "OK", or "Okay". Van Buren was fro
    WikiMedia:
    Supposedly, President Van Buren popularized one of the most commonly used phrases to date: "OK", or "Okay". Van Buren was from Kinderhook, NY which was also called "Old Kinderhook". His support groups came to be known as "O.K. Clubs" and the term OK came to mean "all right".
  • 9 William Henry Harrison Had A Pet Goat
    During his brief tenure as President, Harrison had a pet billy goat with him at the White House.
    MediaWiki
    During his brief tenure as President, Harrison had a pet billy goat with him at the White House.
  • 10 John Tyler Was An Awesome Violinist
    During his presidency, Tyler often played violin at parties to entertain guests at the White House, and he actually aspired t
    MediaWiki
    During his presidency, Tyler often played violin at parties to entertain guests at the White House, and he actually aspired to be a concert violinist.
  • 11 James Polk Promised Not To Seek A Second Term If Elected
    Polk, probably aware that many other politicians desired to run for the office, made an explicit campaign promise that if he
    MediaWiki
    Polk, probably aware that many other politicians desired to run for the office, made an explicit campaign promise that if he was elected president, he would leave after 4 years, a promise that he kept.
  • 12 Taylor Had A Really Cool Nickname
    Zachary Taylor's nickname was "Old Rough And Ready", which he acquired from admiring soldiers while he was fighting in the Se
    MediaWiki
    Zachary Taylor's nickname was "Old Rough And Ready", which he acquired from admiring soldiers while he was fighting in the Seminole War.
  • 13 Millard Fillmore Married His Teacher
    Though she was only about 2 years older than him, Millard Fillmore's first wife Abigail was actually his teacher while he was
    MediaWiki
    Though she was only about 2 years older than him, Millard Fillmore's first wife Abigail was actually his teacher while he was a 19-year-old student at the New Hope Academy.
  • 14 Franklin Pierce Didn't Swear His Oath Of Office
    He instead affirmed it, placing his hand on a law book rather than the Bible.
    MediaWiki
    He instead affirmed it, placing his hand on a law book rather than the Bible.
  • 15 Buchanan Was A Bachelor
    James Buchanan was the only president to never marry, instead remaining a bachelor his entire life.
    MediaWiki
    James Buchanan was the only president to never marry, instead remaining a bachelor his entire life.
  • 16 Lincoln Was A Great Wrestler
    When Abe Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois in 1831, he ran into a local bully named Jack Armstrong. Armstrong challenged L
    Flickr:roosac
    When Abe Lincoln moved to New Salem, Illinois in 1831, he ran into a local bully named Jack Armstrong. Armstrong challenged Lincoln to a wrestling match outside of Denton Offutt's store, where Lincoln was a clerk, and townspeople gathered to watch and wager on it. Lincoln won.
  • 17 Andrew Johnson Was Drunk During His Inauguration
    He reportedly put back a significant amount of whiskey beforehand and was noticeably drunk during his speech.
    MediaWiki
    He reportedly put back a significant amount of whiskey beforehand and was noticeably drunk during his speech.
  • 18 Ulysses S. Grant Got A Speeding Ticket On A Horse
    The 18th President Of The United States was given a $20 speeding ticket for riding his horse too fast down a Washington stree
    WikiMedia:
    The 18th President Of The United States was given a $20 speeding ticket for riding his horse too fast down a Washington street.
  • 19 Hayes Banned Alcohol From The White House
    During his presidency, Rutherford B. Hayes banned alcohol from the White House, allegedly for political reasons as he tried t
    MediaWiki
    During his presidency, Rutherford B. Hayes banned alcohol from the White House, allegedly for political reasons as he tried to gain support from anti-alcohol Prohibitionists.
  • 20 James A. Garfield Was Ambidextrous
    Not only was he the first president to be both righty and lefty, but it was said he could write a sentence in Latin with one
    Flickr:Ron Cogswell
    Not only was he the first president to be both righty and lefty, but it was said he could write a sentence in Latin with one hand and write it in Greek with the other hand.
  • 21 Chester A. Arthur Was A Sharp Dresser, Night Owl
    Not only was Chester A. Arthur a very sharp dresser (he owned over 80 pairs of pants) but he often took late night strolls ar
    WikiMedia:
    Not only was Chester A. Arthur a very sharp dresser (he owned over 80 pairs of pants) but he often took late night strolls around D.C. with friends, not returning home until 3 or 4 in the morning.
  • 22 Grover Cleveland Was Legal Guardian To The Girl He Later Married
    When Grover Cleveland's law partner Oscar Folsom died, Cleveland became the girl's legal guardian. Frances Folsom was 11 year
    When Grover Cleveland's law partner Oscar Folsom died, Cleveland became the girl's legal guardian. Frances Folsom was 11 years old at the time. Oddly enough, ten years later, they got married at the White House. She remains the youngest First Lady in the history of the United States, having been just 21 when they married.
  • 23 Benjamin Harrison Was Afraid Of Electricity
    Benjamin Harrison was the sitting president when electricity was first installed in the White House. However, he was scared o
    Getty
    Benjamin Harrison was the sitting president when electricity was first installed in the White House. However, he was scared of being electrocuted and refused to touch the light switches.
  • 24 McKinley Was Tech-Savvy
    William McKinley was the first presidential candidate to campaign using the telephone.
    MediaWiki
    William McKinley was the first presidential candidate to campaign using the telephone.
  • 25 Theodore Roosevelt Had Really Bad Asthma
    In his early childhood, Teddy Roosevelt suffered from very severe asthma. Because there were no inhalers or special treatment
    MediaWiki
    In his early childhood, Teddy Roosevelt suffered from very severe asthma. Because there were no inhalers or special treatments for asthma at the time, he was often sick as a young boy. However, he began to regularly exercise in order to combat the illness and, aside from the occasional asthma attack, he eventually overcame it.
  • 26 Taft Swore In Later Presidents
    After leaving office, William Taft became the only ex-president to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, effectively b
    AP
    After leaving office, William Taft became the only ex-president to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, effectively becoming the only person to serve as the head of two branches of government. In doing so, he swore in both Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover to the presidency. (On an unrelated note, he also lost 150 pounds after leaving office.)
  • 27 Woodrow Wilson Had A Ph.D.
    To date, he's the only president to hold a doctorate degree, making him the highest educated president in the history of the
    MediaWiki
    To date, he's the only president to hold a doctorate degree, making him the highest educated president in the history of the United States. He was awarded the degree in Political Science and History from Johns Hopkins University. He also passed the Georgia Bar Exam despite not finishing law school.
  • 28 Warren Harding Lost The White House China In A Poker Game
    Harding really like to gamble, although it seems he wasn't very good at it. In one poker game, he bet the White House china c
    WikiMedia:
    Harding really like to gamble, although it seems he wasn't very good at it. In one poker game, he bet the White House china collection and lost it all in one hand.
  • 29 Calvin Coolidge Had A Really Weird Morning Ritual
    Calvin Coolidge had a morning ritual in which someone rubbed Vaseline on his head while he ate breakfast in bed.
    WikiMedia:
    Calvin Coolidge had a morning ritual in which someone rubbed Vaseline on his head while he ate breakfast in bed.
  • 30 FDR Has A Movie Credit
    Late one night at a dinner party, President Franklin Roosevelt regaled guests with a premise for a mystery novel. Magazine ed
    Flickr:U.S. Embassy The Hague
    Late one night at a dinner party, President Franklin Roosevelt regaled guests with a premise for a mystery novel. Magazine editor Fulton Oursler was in in attendance, and he hired some mystery writers to flesh out the premise to a novel, which was then adapted into a movie, "The President's Mystery." FDR received a "story by" credit.
Senior Comedy Editor, The Huffington Post
Suggest a correction

MORE:

Comedy Slideshows Presidents Day Lincoln Comedy George Washington
CONVERSATIONS