Secret Double Lives

Presidents are constantly being watched and scrutinized by the American public, which makes keeping secrets next to impossible. Despite this, many presidents have had interesting personal lives that might make you rethink what they’re hiding.

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1. Jefferson the Paleontologist

Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell, Virginia, in April 1743 and would become the 3rd President of the United States, serving from 1801 to 1809. However, originally, he had big dreams of becoming a paleontologist. Even after moving into the White House, he continued spending most of his time analyzing Mastodon bones.

Rembrandt Peale on Wikimedia

2. Keeping it Petit

President James Madison was also born in Virginia in March 1751 and was the 4th U.S. president, serving from 1809 to 1817. He was notably known for his small stature and was roughly 5’4” and a little over 100 pounds. A socialite once referred to him as “the most unsociable creature in existence.”

John Vanderlyn on Wikimedia

3. Adams and the Pool

President John Quincy Adams was the 6th U.S. president, serving from 1825 to 1829. He was best known for his controversial election and abolitionist views, but interestingly enough, he also had a knack for skinny dipping. In fact, it was part of his morning routine to wake up, bathe in a public river, and walk home for breakfast.

jklamo Cleaned and enhanced by Julielangford on Wikimedia

4. Andrew Jackson’s Irony

President Andrew Jackson was born in March 1767 in a region bordering North and South Carolina. He would serve as president from 1829 to 1837 and, interestingly enough, would go on to become the face on the $20 bill. Despite this, he actually detested paper money and believed it should not exist. Talk about irony.

Mathew Benjamin Brady on Wikimedia

5. Prophecies and Phenomena

President William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia in 1773 and was the 9th U.S. president, serving the shortest presidency ever at only 32 days. Regardless, he was heavily involved in a feud with Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa. As a taunt, Harrison wrote to Tenskwatawa asking that he make the sun stand still and the moon cease its course. Surprisingly, this would actually happen as a solar eclipse occurred in the summer of 1806.

Albert Sands Southworth (American, 1811–1894) and Josiah Johnson Hawes (American, 1808–1901). Edited by: Fallschirmjäger on Wikimedia

6. John Tyler’s Love Life

President John Tyler was the 10th U.S. president and served from 1841 to 1845. He took his life quite seriously, paying ample attention to his political career and his family life as well. In fact, he had the most children of any president, fathering 15 kids between two different wives.

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7. The Secret Service

Often considered the most influential president, Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809 and served as the 16th president from 1861 to 1865. He did a lot for his country in his life but also did a fair bit just as he passed. In fact, he set up the Secret Service only mere hours before succumbing to his injuries.

Alexander Gardner on Wikimedia

8. A Friendly Pet

President Herbert Hoover was the 31st president and served from 1929 to 1933. He had a deep love for animals, one he shared with his son. Since his son wanted a unique pet despite their abundant dogs, Hoover got him an alligator, which they kept in a bathtub in their Washington mansion.

Underwood & Underwood on Wikimedia

9. The Moving Grave

President James K. Polk was born in 1795 and served as the 11th president from 1845 to 1849. He passed shortly after leaving office from what was likely cholera, but his resting place kept changing. He was moved a total of four times before finally being left alone at his old family home in Tennessee.

Mathew Benjamin Brady on Wikimedia

10. Men and their Mice

President Andrew Johnson was born in North Carolina in 1808 and served as the 17th president from 1865 to 1869. His political career aside, he actually had a fondness for animals and befriended a whole family of mice, which he referred to as his “little fellows.”

Tom on Wikimedia

11. A Man of Some Talents

When you think of the 37th president, Richard Nixon, you probably think of his controversial policies and Watergate scandals. However, did you know he was actually a very accomplished musician and would travel hundreds of miles to attend the Indianapolis Conservatory of Music as a child? In fact, he could play five different musical instruments.

Oliver F. Atkins on Wikimedia

12. Broccoli Gate

President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961 and served as the 44th president from 2009 to 2017. Allegedly, there was a rumor going around that his favorite food was broccoli, but another source said it was chili and French fries. Either way, apparently the broccoli leak might have been part of a ploy to encourage kids to eat healthier.

Pete Souza on Wikimedia

13. President Millard Fillmore

President Millard Fillmore was the 13th U.S. president and served from 1850 to 1853. Notably, he had futuristic views on alcohol and tobacco and would actively avoid them due to concerns for his health. He only held these beliefs for himself and didn’t mind offering up vices to others, though.

Mathew Benjamin Brady on Wikimedia

14. Billy Possum

President William Howard Taft was the 27th president and served from 1909 to 1913. Perhaps he admired Theodore Roosevelt, or perhaps he was jealous, but either way, Taft was desperate to have a sensational toy named after himself to replace the teddy bear. He even had one created, a stuffed possum called Billy Possum, but it never took off despite a few months of effort.

George Grantham Bain; copyright: Moffett Studio on Wikimedia

15. The Squirrel War

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th president and served from 1953 to 1961. He apparently had quite the conflict going on with the squirrels at the White House and would even order his agents and security to target them since they kept messing with his lawn.

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16. Unidentified But Seen

President Jimmy Carter was born in Georgia in 1924 and served as the 39th U.S. president from 1977 to 1981. Interestingly enough, he also reported seeing a UFO and would actively talk about the sighting on his campaign trail.

White House on Wikimedia

17. Crime Pays

President Franklin Pierce was born in New Hampshire in 1804 and served as the 14th U.S. president from 1853 to 1857. Like another recent U.S. president, his crimes caught up with him in office, and he was actually arrested for running over an old woman on his horse.

Unknown photographer, cropped by User:Connormah on Wikimedia

18. Getting a Workout

President Calvin Coolidge was born in Vermont in 1872 and served as the 30th U.S. president from 1923 to 1929. Interestingly, to get a workout, he had a mechanical horse installed in the White House. The idea was to move the body the same way you would a real horse, and hence get some exercise in.

Notman Studio, Boston. Restoration by User:Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia

19. American Cheer

President George Walker Bush was born in Connecticut in 1946 and served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009. Before his presidential career, he actually was the head cheerleader at Phillips Academy Andover. He even wore drag as part of a skit to mock school rivals.

Shealeah Craighead on Wikimedia

20. Forever Alone

President James Buchanan was born in Pennsylvania in 1868 and served as the 15th U.S. president from 1857 to 1861. Notably, he is known for being single his entire presidency, and actually, his whole life as well. He was briefly engaged to a woman named Ann Coleman who broke it off before passing shortly after. To the surprise of no one, the president did share a single room with an Alabama senator for more than 10 years.

Mathew Benjamin Brady on Wikimedia