It’s interesting what stays with you when you read, our noble list of leaders lingering like after dinner mints.
Let’s begin with the short of it…
James Madison, being only 5’4 weighing less that 100 pounds.
Must have been like having a Smurf for president.
William Howard Taft on the other hand, was 6 feet and weighed 354 pounds, but that didn’t stop him from playing an elegant game of golf, some say, as graceful as a ballerina. 
I would have bought a ticket to that.
George Washington’s teeth, that went on tour and now live in Baltimore, were not wooden. They were actually made of ivory, bone, lead, brass and gold wire.
Imagine him tooling through the metal detector at Kennedy.
Abe, that suave 6’4 guy we all never knew but still love, practically had to tie his wife, Mary, to the bedpost to keep her from shopping. Can you see Mrs. Lincoln with access to the internet? Or how about the Home Shopping Network? 
Try explaining that to Congress.
William Henry Harrison, remembered for being the first pres to die in office, did so 33 days after being elected, catching cold, refusing to wear a coat at his inauguration.
Where the hell was Mrs. Harrison, is what I’d like to know. I would have been right up at the podium with a least a sweater.
Now, JFK also refused 
wearing an overcoat despite being 22 degrees during his address, but didn’t feel the cold since his undisclosed Addison’s Disease made him hotter than a pistol, in more ways than one.
Ike and Mamie Eisenhower, liked eating dinner on snack trays in front of the TV, when Ike wasn’t being presidential that is. 
When Mrs. Kennedy arrived, appalled at the drabness of how her predecessors lived, threw them out (the trays, not Ike and Mamie), before giving the whole house a much needed make-over.
Now, can you blame Jackie? 
John Quincy Adams, skinny-dipped in the Chesapeake every day regardless of the season. A reporter who was trying to get an interview Mr. Adams refused to give, one morning showed up and sat on his clothes till he talked.
Kinda sounds like Ronan Farrow.
John Adams, John Quincy’s dad, was chubby, 
always battling weight. Unlike his aquatic son, exercise didn’t seem appealing. Too bad his on and off pal, Thomas Jefferson, hadn’t thought of the treadmill as one of his inventions, since, there’s just so much yoga one can do in a swivel chair.
Speaking of Tom and John, the Hardy Boys of 1776, were like two females fighting one minute, kissing and shopping together, the next.
John was the one who convinced Tom 
to write The Declaration of Independence, saying, he was the better writer, but when Jefferson became Adam’s successor after not being reelected for a second term, all hell broke loose.
Tom who?
Dr. Benjamin Rush, their mutual friend, reunited them toward the end of their days, resulting in dying on the same day on our country’s 50th Anniversary.
Talk about co-dependence.
FDR and his Missus, as he called Eleanor, fought over the habits of their formidable guest, Winston Churchill, who liked tooling through the White House halls at all hours in his birthday suit while swigging champagne.
My kinda guy, but alas, Eleanor finally had Winnie moved to Blair House, coined the Little White House, to solve the problem.
When in 1950, an assassination attempt was made on Harry Truman at Blair House, where he was staying during White House renovations, he was fast asleep, in his underwear.
Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt were fifth cousins. Eleanor Roosevelt was Theodore’s niece. And Uncle Theodore presented the bride at Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s wedding.
I can’t help thinking of Hemingway’s cats with extra toes…all that in-breeding.
Since exercise is an ongoing theme, I’ll end with JFK and his harem 
romping in the White House pool, accompanied by his trusty secret service who apparently didn’t mind taking a dip alongside their naughty commander-in-chief.
Jackie, who on the weekends, would take the kids to the country, wouldn’t even be out of the driveway before one would say…
coast clear, everyone into the pool.
Talk about a lap dance.
Them were the days alright. 
SB
You held me spellbound, Susannah! What super fun things you know!
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I’m the Queen of…who gives a hoot about all this, but they’re fun to share. It will no doubt fall flat. You have to be into history I guess, but I always enjoy penning them. Maybe you’ll read a couple to John. 🙂
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I’d like for John to read every word.
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So in other words, to have a word, with you?
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LOL
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My puns are dime store next to yours, but I keep trying.
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All punsters keep trying. You and I are normal.
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What a great word…punsters.
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Having used it, I hope punster is a word.
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It is now…:)
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Susannah, your presidential info is soooo interesting. I read the Roosevelt relationship to Pookie. We know all about seven toed cats. Half the barn cats have them from the inbreeding. Makes me wonder about a principal and his children back in 1970 who each had six toes and fingers.
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That wasn’t nice what I wrote, now that I think of it. I hope Teddy, Franklin and Eleanor all forgive me.
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They were far apart to not cause any pronblems, yanno 😉
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Sigh…I was being catty.
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😉
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Meow! I must be a cat, because I like reading stuff like that.
I’m not kidding about the barn cats. That’s where you’ll find the seven toes!
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Apparently when you visit Hemingway’s house in Key West, there are many 7-toed descendants. Meow!
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I enjoy your take on presidential history, Susanna. I had to laugh at your co-dependence summary on the Tom and John story. I think if I had been FDR I would have advised the missus to quit peeking. It is nice to know there was a pool party going on frequently during JFK’s days. I would hate to think of that pool going unused. Thanks for the fun.
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FDR’s swimming pool was completed in 1933. The pool has been covered but remains beneath the floor of the press center. Nixon made it into a bowling alley I had read.
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I don’t know my way around the White House. I would have assumed the pool was still there. Thanks for the information
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You merely popped a file. Also, school kids were who raised the money for FDR to have a place to swim. That’s why it was almost blasphemy when Nixon put in those alleys. Gerald Ford, built another pool somewhere. Clinton, a running track. So much useless info, so little time. 🙂
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Hahaha. Reminds me of Churchell. A temperence group visited him at 10 downing street. One member scolded him by saying, “Why Mr. Churchill, I bet you have imbibed enough alcohol to fill up nearly half of this room.” Churchill gazed at the ceiling and muttered, “So much to do, so little time.”
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I never heard that one. He was a trip, that’s for sure.
Another favorite: During one of his stays at the White House, FDR popped into his room to find him stark naked, smoking a cigar. Churchill said, “You see Mr. President, I have nothing to hide.” 🙂
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Hahaha. Here’s another. While Churchill was leaving the House of Commons in 1946, MP Bessie Braddock hit him with an insult saying “Winston, you are drunk, and what’s more you are disgustingly drunk.” Churchill fired back “Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what’s more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly.”
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How mean was that. On a lighter Winnie note, he said, Meeting FDR was like opening your first bottle of Champagne. 🙂
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Hahahaha. It must have been an adventure.
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Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall. 🙂
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Can you see FDR’s face? 🥴
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His cigarette holder would bob a little. Wouldn’t ya say? 🙂
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I would say. 😁
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Your random Presidential facts remind me that, while we try to put politicians and celebrities and athletes on pedestals and expect perfection of them, they all are just imperfect human beings like the rest of us. Having worked for four different elected officials over the last 18 years, they are remarkable for their ordinariness. They are just like you and I, with personality quirks, weaknesses, and insecurities.
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That’s right. We are all flawed individuals, and, I find comfort in that since, it reminds you, nothing is all black or white. Even a leader is human. Thanks.
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Always an enjoyable read, Susannah. You rock these snippets of historical trivia and all of your readers love them.
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I write them for me. Midget’s right when he says, it shows you, there all just human.
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We should always write for ourselves. Yes, Mark definitely has a point. Their poop stinks just as much as ours does.
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There a go again. Your charm, wrapped in bluntness always reminds me of that Butch Cassidy line to the Sundance Kid…don’t sugarcoat it like that, Kid. Tell her straight. 🙂
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I’ve always been pretty much a “tell it like it is” kinda gal. If there is charm detected within, that’s all the better, dontcha think?
And I’ll not give my opinion on matters of import unless you ask me to. However, if you do ask me to, expect me to be frank… (I will try to soften it if it’s a tough one…)
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No, candor is what we’re after. It’s an art, my friend.
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Thank you, kind lady. At least with me, you know you get no bullshit… And if I send out kudos, they, too, are sincere…
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Kudos…praise and honor…yup…we’ll take it. 🙂
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Excellent! As it should be!
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I had no idea JFK’s health issues were so significant. I knew about his chronic back problems but I had no idea the Addison’s made his life a living hell. Is it true that Jr also had health issues?
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JFK Jr.had the same problems at birth his brother Patrick had, who didn’t survive. He had, as an adult, Grave’s Disease, a thyroid disorder. He was also dyslexic.
As far as his father went, he was put together like they made him in shop. He was given the last rites 4 times before Dallas. He was so versed in history because as a kid, he was bedridden so much, all he did was read. If you read his speeches, especially his inaugural address, his eloquence quickens your heart which I attribute to all those books. He was greatly flawed, but nonetheless, loved his country and made you love it too. Hey, we’re all flawed in one way or another. He was only 46 when he died. His son, 38. sigh…I’ll leave you with Ted Kennedy’s quote in his eulogy for his nephew… like his father — “had every gift but length of years.” sigh
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PS…Addison’s Disease is ironically, what made JFK look so healthy, his face had filled out when as a kid, he was thin and scrawny.
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Thyroid disorders are no fun, as I well know. And I had no idea he was dyslexic.
His father’s face should be affixed right next to the definition of complicated in the dictionary. But a leader, that he was.
I remember that quote from Ted. I still can’t think about the kid without choking up. It was a theft.
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It was a theft…sigh…poignantly put.
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Your presidential trivia is always entertaining, Susannah. I eat it all up – just like Ike!
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Isn’t that a great picture of them, eating at what looks like a ballgame? I like what Midget said about they’re just like you and me. I find that concept comforting. Go figure.
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Must I compare myself with the current occupant?
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Oh dear…please don’t. There are exceptions to the rule.
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Once again, Grasshopper teaches the masses historical facts that will forever be remembered! I know I’m never going to forget that John Quincy Adams skinny dipped every day. Not only is it essential, but it also explains a lot about how he lived the rest of his life.
That photo of William Taft reminds me of someone who shall remain nameless because I don’t say his name.
Benjamin Rush lived in my neighborhood and on occasion attended the same Quaker Meeting as yours truly. We also have a school and a State Park sporting his name within walking distance.
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I am so jealous you live where you do. Dr. Rush sure had it goin on. There’s an essay in David McCullough’s, The American Spirit called, The Animating Spirit, telling all about him, and did not mention he was a Quaker, so you’ve just taught me something.
Yes, John Quincy may have been a bit of an exhibitionist, and as far as Mr. Taft goes, well, it’s a pity Weight Watchers wasn’t invented yet.
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A pity indeed … lol!
The world is so small.
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The poor guy. Imagine what it must be like to be that large? He apparently was the sweetest man on the planet, too. They called him, Will.
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Awe … a big ole teddy bear. Especially in a time when evryone was the size of a lawn gnome. I know you can relate to going to the theatre and thinking “did people not have legs when this joint was built?”
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People were shorter, not to mention stout. Washington, and Jefferson were both 6’2, unusually tall for that time, surrounded by shrimps. Alexander Hamilton for instance, was 5’7 and considered of average height. Madison was Jefferson’s protege, and must have had a chronic stiff neck having to look up to him, in more ways than one. 🙂
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Shrimps … lol! Good info Grasshopper
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Ever been to Gettysburg? I’ll admit, it’s a bit like a theme park, but still worth the trip. Think Epcot, with cannons.
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No, my husband has been there a few times. Unless I get a tour guide like my Grasshopper, I would be bored to death.
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I would drag you around so much, you’d kill me in my sleep.
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Hahaha!
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By the way…I’ve read that the false teeth of GW included a few contributed by persons who were enslaved.
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Never heard that.
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Not often made public.
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I see. How rare in this day and age where everything is made public.
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In the time of GW one could earn money by donating one’s teeth to the wealthy and their dental needs.
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Didn’t know that. Like getting paid for giving blood.
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However…you don’t recover your teeth once donated. And I’m not sure the saves participated voluntarily.
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Didn’t mean to imply that they did.
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No problem. Cheers to you.
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And to you.
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The Presidency has sure attracted an eclectic bunch, even if they were all old white males, at least up to #44. William Henry Harrison’s inaugural address was also the longest in history, so it was a perfect storm of problems. I wonder how many other people caught cold listening to him that whole time?
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I never knew it was long, but that explains a lot. No wonder he caught cold, his ego trading in his health.
Just finished a little read on Woodrow Wilson who was quite the eloquent speech maker, bringing back the custom of giving the state of the union address personally, rather than allowing a clerk to read it. Apparently, John Adams was the last pres to do so before Mr. Wilson stepped onto the Senate floor. It was not initially well received, but he got his way and every president since, reads his own. That’s the kind of trivia I eat for breakfast. Love knowing that 🙂
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