The weirdness of US presidents
Skinny-dippers, cheerleaders and male models -- we've elected them all.
Presidents Day is a time to reflect on the greatness of the presidential institution and to reflect on the men who have brought honor to our nation's highest office. It's also a good chance to remember just how weird and unpredictable some of these guys could be.
• Gerald Ford (1974–1977) was a model in his younger years, and appeared on the April 1942 cover of Cosmopolitan. Wife Betty Ford was also once a fashion model and a dancer.
More from MSN News: JFK items auctioned 50 years after his assassination
• John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) was a strong swimmer, and would often walk from the White House to the Potomac River for an early-morning skinny dip. A female reporter once snatched his clothes on the riverside and sat on them until Adams agreed to an interview.
More from MSN Living: 10 habits that keep marriages strong
• Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) is remembered as a shy but witty man. According to a story told by Coolidge’s wife, a young woman sitting next to him at a dinner party once urged Coolidge to have a conversation, explaining that she had made a bet she could get at least three words out of the president. Coolidge coolly responded, “You lose.” Somewhat less presidentially, Coolidge used to have Vaseline rubbed on his head while he ate breakfast in bed.
• George W. Bush (2001– 2009) was the head cheerleader in his senior year at Phillips Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts that was at the time all male. He continued his cheerleading career while at Yale before taking on a more serious membership in the Skull and Bones Society.
• Warren G. Harding (1921–1923) was an avid poker player and regularly scared up games with his advisers, who became known collectively as “the poker cabinet” (Harding is also remembered for appointing dishonest cronies to public office). An unconfirmed story claims that Harding once lost a set of White House China in a poker game.
More from MSN Living: 40 time-saving tips
• William Howard Taft (1909–1913) was the heaviest president, tipping the scales at around 340 pounds. A book written by the chief White House usher during Taft’s presidency claims that Taft would get stuck in chairs and once could not remove himself from a White House bathtub. Prior to a trip to inspect the Panama Canal, a special oversized bathtub was ordered by a ship captain to accommodate Taft’s substantial frame. A newspaper report described the tub as having "pondlike dimensions."
• Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) was both a naturalist and an avid hunter. His five children practically ran a zoo at the White House, and kept not only dogs and cats but guinea pigs, rats, a snake, mice, badgers, raccoons, a parrot and a Shetland pony named Algonquin. Roosevelt’s son Quentin once took Algonquin to the second floor of the White House by elevator to cheer his brother Archie, who was sick in bed with the measles. (Other notable presidential pets: Thomas Jefferson’s two bears, John Adams’ alligator, and James Buchanan’s elephant.)
More from The Daily Dose:
Are Americans happy?
NASA finds nearby black hole
Homeless man lives with dead people for 15 years
Love content like this? Friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and find us on Pinterest
Photo: George W. Bush as a cheerleader / REX Features
inspire: live a better life
-
Respecting other people's beliefs
Editor's note: We will now be publishing Miss Manners articles twice weekly, but you will only see one question and answer per article. You can expect to see these articles appear on Tuesdays and Thursdays going forward.
-
5 heartwarming Armed Forces homecomings
President Harry S. Truman was behind efforts to establish the first Armed Forces Day in 1950, and decades later the nation continues to set aside the third Saturday in May to recognize and thank members of the U.S. military for their patriotic service. With these five homecoming images, we salute all service members at home and abroad.
-
8 Ways to Be More Productive Working From Home
There's much to be desired about working from home: the stress-free commute, flexible hours, and improved work-life balance.
-
25 things that will keep you young
Wishing for the fountain of youth? You may not need it. We've rounded up real-women secrets, tried-and-true beauty tips, and the latest research to help you fight aging.
-
10 phrases to avoid at work
Experts weigh in on when to bite your tongue at the office.
-
The crazy things you do to destress
Oh, the places you'll go — to get some "me" time, that is. REDBOOK readers confess all on Facebook.
-
Live happier on the money you have
How much money you make isn't nearly as important as how you use it, according to Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton, authors of the new book Happy Money.
-
What if you don't respect your spouse?
Plus, how do you ask people to not bring gifts to a shower?
-
Five resume updates to make now
Looking for a career upgrade? Follow these tips for a foot in the door.
-
7 sun lies we tell ourselves
These tanning and skin cancer myths aren't just wrong — they can do serious harm. Wise up and head into a healthier future. P.S. You'll look a lot younger too.
-
Find happiness in unexpected places
It's possible to rejigger your brain circuitry and feel more joy, even on Monday mornings. Here's how.
-
Meditation 101: How to feel more zen—anywhere
Inner peace just got easier. You don’t need quiet, incense or hours to meditate, and you can scrap the chanting. Better: Ninety-five percent of you say you’re calmer after a single 10-minute session. Whatever your excuse (see ours), get your om on and reap the rewards.
