14 Presidential Fun Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

You've likely learned lots of facts about U.S. presidents over the years — you know, how they lead the country, declare war and attend official events — but do they have any surprising quirks or interesting stories to tell? Here are 14 fun facts about U.S. presidents that might make you see them in a different light!

Talents, Interests and Weird Habits

• John Quincy Adams (1825-1829) had a daily morning ritual of skinny dipping in the Potomac River. A female reporter once stole John Quincy Adams's clothes while he skinny dipped in the river, which is how she convinced him to grant her an interview. That brave move produced the first interview oof a president by a female reporter.

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1933-1945) adored the cinema. He even installed a real movie theater inside the White House and reportedly screened more than 200 movies there during his time as president.

• Bill Clinton (1993-2001) took a night off during his presidency to appear on "The Arsenio Hall Show" and play a saxophone solo.

Presidential Records

• John Adams (1797-1801) and Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) both died on the same day - which ironically also happened to be the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1826).

• James Madison (1809-1817) takes the prize for the shortest U.S. president to ever live. Standing just 5-foot-4, Madison weighed less than 100 pounds.

• When William Henry Harrison (1841) took office, his inaugural address took more than an hour and a half to deliver — the longest to date. Afterward, he promptly caught pneumonia and passed away only one month later, making him the U.S. president who held the shortest term.

• Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909) shook so many hands on New Year's Day 1907 (8,510 hands, to be exact) that he set a world record.

Animal Friends

• During his impeachment trial, Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) discovered a family of mice in the White House and made friends with them.

• Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) adopted a pet raccoon and named her Rebecca. She dined in style at the White House and even attended official events.

• Two pet alligators belonging to the son of Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) reportedly roamed freely around the White House.

Really?

• Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) had a terrible fear of electrocution. After the White House was wired for electricity in 1891, he refused to touch the light switches and instead enlisted his staff members to turn lights on and off for him.

• Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1977) apparently rode his horse too fast in 1872 and consequently was ticketed for speeding.

• A boxing injury permanently blinded Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909) in his left eye.

• Grover Cleveland (1893-1897 and 1885-1889) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt happened to meet when FDR was a child in 1887. Ironically, President Cleveland reportedly said to the boy, "I am making a wish for you. It is that you may never become president of the United States."

So, the next time you watch a presidential address, remember there's a real person behind that suit. All these unique personality traits and idiosyncrasies prove that presidents are just people, too!

References: Celebrate Presidents Day by learning fun, interesting facts about US presidents | Presidents' Day 2022: 22 Surprising & Fun Facts about U.S. Presidents | Presidential Fun Facts