36 Strange Facts About the American Presidency
![36 Strange Facts About the American Presidency](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/0/4/833604_320x180.jpg)
You’ve done it! You’ve put in the work, gone through the campaign and you’ve attained the highest office in the land — you’re the President of the United States! If you’re going to be remembered as one of the all-time best, you’re going to want to be aware of some of the strange quirks of the job and some fun facts about your predecessors. Did you know, for instance, that you’re never going to be alone, even in the bathroom? How about the eccentricities of ordering something as simple as a pizza? Also, are you sure you know what the Secret Service’s job actually is? Either way, once you’ve digested the facts below, you’ll be well on your way to a successful American presidency with a happy, prosperous, adoring populace.
Oh, and you might also want to brush up on your foreign and domestic policies, economics and all of that boring stuff, too. This should be easy, right?
The President always has a friend. Always.
![The President is never alone, even in the bathroom. The Secret Service can't leave the President alone in the bathroom or doctor's examination room or any places where you'd want privacy. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/0/1/833601.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The nuclear football is actually pretty heavy.
![The nuclear football weighs 45 pounds, and five people take turns carrying it. UNITED STAT APIL Within it: A Black Book with retaliatory options, a book with classified locations, a few pages with Emergency Broadcast System instructions, and a 3 x 5 in. card with authentication codes. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/0/0/833600.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
Ronald Reagan looked to the stars.
![Reagan's schedule From was 1981 set tyby astrology. X m through 1989, Reagan consulted astrologer Joan Quigley before scheduling any events. According to her book, she was in P charge of picking the dates for all press conferences, most speeches, State of the Union addresses, the au take-offs and landings of Air Force One, and presidential debates, based on astrology. CRACKED.COM http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Joan_Quigley.aspx](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/9/833599.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
George Washington battle strategy was... loose at best.
![George Washington was really bad at war. When it came to strategy, His near-perfect record Washington lost virtually of retreat and defeat every major battle that stretched back to his he fought. pre-revolutionary days. GRACKED.COM ABA Journal, June 1995.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/7/833597.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Cherries were Zachary Taylor's downfall.
![Zachary Taylor died from eating too many cherries. Taylor drank an entire pitcher of milk and ate a huge bowl of cherries at a Fourth of July picnic. By July 9, he was dead. Scientists exhumed his body in 1980 to check for poisoning, but concluded that it was the cherries and milk that killed him. GRACKED.COM http://millercenter.org/president/taylor/essays/blography/6](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/6/833596.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
John Q. Adams had some interesting theories.
![John Q. Adams thought the Earth was hollow. Не greenlighted an expedition to prove it, at taxpayer expense. CRACKED.COM Adams, 2010. Memoirs of John Quincy Adams.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/8/833598.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Ulysses S. Grant was a gentle giant.
![Ulysses S. Grant was alarmingly timid. Grant was terrifiied by the sight of blood-even rare steaks freaked him out. Не was also so painfully shy that he refused to change or shower in front of his men, while they were camped during the Civil War. Ractord.2007. Everything You Always Wanted to Know GRACKED.COM about America's Presidents* (*but Were Afraid to Ask).](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/5/833595.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Franklin Pierce loved to get down.
![Franklin Pierce was a party animal. and I dined at the Tremont at one o'clock, a glass of brandy and water before, a pint of champagne at dinner, went to the Fair Grounds and returned to the Tremont at 5, drank brandy and water till 71/2, supped at Parker's on broiled oysters, beefsteak, and Pomy's Claret, went to the Theatre, and saw Fanny Kemble and her daughter in a private box by mistake, returned to Parker's and drank some very old brandy in his private room, went back to the Theatre and took possession of our 'proscenium box,'then](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/4/833594.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Poor Taft and his bathtub...
![William Howard Taft was too fat for the White House bathtub. At 330 lbs, Taft was by far the largest president America has ever had. Не had a special, oversized tub installed. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/3/833593.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Richard Nixon hated the press.
![Richard Nixon plotted to assassinate a newspaper columnist. B 608m abc MM Jack Anderson dogged Nixon for 40 years, exposing corruption throughout his political career. Nixon and his plumbers decided to get rid of Anderson once and for all-either by poisoning him or putting LSD on his steering wheel. The only reason the plot was never carried out was because of the Watergate scandal. http:/www. nbcnews com/id/39157420/ns/politics/t/nixon-plot- CRACKED.COM against-newspaper-columnist-detailed/#. VNec8fXF9rh](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/2/833592.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Gerald Ford had a surprising career before the Presidency.
![Gerald Ford was a fashion model. Не was even part-owner of a modeling agency. All Emotional Novel of Munis life DE SALE FLATE 100% Cosmonolitan - a - Here he is on the - 25 - cover of Cosmo. Photo Brown and Gorded Fued pool for illustrated Brudhew Contell Computer April me CRACKED.COM http://www.imdb.com/name/m0004934/bio](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/1/833591.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Lincoln's voice isn't what you imagined.
![Abraham Lincoln had a high-pitched voice. Lincoln's voice was, when he first began speaking, shrill, squeaking, piping, unpleasant. -William H. Herndon, July 19, 1887 CRACKED.COM http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/incoln/speeches/spaaker.htm](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/9/833589.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
The President's limo is like a tank.
![The President's limo can help the President survive any form of attack. The doors are believed to be as heavy as those on a 757 jet. It's sealed against biochemical attacks, has night vision, can put out a smokescreen, fire tear gas, and can lay down an oil slick. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/9/0/833590.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The Secret Service is weirdly into pens.
![The Secret Service can tell the brand and where in the country ink is from. The Secret Service works with ink manufacturers and use ink tags to identify threatening handwritten letters. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/7/833587.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
Secret Service protection is mandatory.
![The President and Vice President cannot refuse Secret Service Protection. After they've served their term(s), they can hire private security. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/8/833588.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The President keeps some spare blood around.
![The President always travels with a fridge full of their type of blood. 00 (MUMAN) - - - ... information WHOLE BLOCO HU BLOCO CENTRA LE BLOOD (HUMAN) - WHOLE BLOOD (HUMAN) H - - WHOLE BLOOD (HUMAN CENTRE - - - 56.1.00276 Collection - - - .93 - .00297 - Collection t سي - - , - A - - - A A AND - - - - --- - - Ten - - - - - I Swings Non reactive Servinge - The Secret Service always have an agent posted at a nearby hospital. The agent has to know](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/6/833586.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The President can never be too careful.
![When they travel, they're never more than 10 minutes away from a trauma center. + The Secret Service always have an agent posted at a nearby hospital. The agent has to know where the operating rooms are. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/5/833585.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
Even pizza is a secret mission.
![If the President orders pizza, they have it delivered it to a nearby address. If the restaurant doesn't know who the recipient is, it lowers the chances of danger. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/4/833584.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
James Madison was a little man.
![James Madison was tiny. Не was 5'4-7 inches shorter than the presidential average- and weighed 100 lbs. Не was also the first president to wear trousers instead of breeches. CRACKED.COM www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-madison/videos/ames-madison-did-you-know](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/3/833583.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Lyndon B. Johnson named his own Lyndon B. Johnson.
![Lyndon B. Johnson called his dick Jumbo. Не acted like he was on a mission to wave it at, and stick it in, as many people as possible. Не made a habit of peeing wherever and whenever he wanted to, and when anyone protested, he'd show them Jumbo. As for affairs, his male staffers called the bevy of babes who constantly surrounded LBJ a harem. CRACKED.COM Hagood, 1998. Presidential Sex: From the Founding Fathers to Bill Clinton.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/2/833582.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Thomas Jefferson had a public speaking problem.
![Thomas Jefferson couldn't speak in public. Не lacked charisma, and had terrible stage fright. Throughout his presidency, he only gave two speeches- one per term. Some historians think he had a stuttering problem. CRACKED.COM 1996. The U.S. Constitution and Fascinating Facts about It.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/1/833581.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Herbert Hoover didn't like having a bunch of people around.
![Herbert Hoover demanded that White House staff be invisible. Any time Hoover or the First Lady entered a room, White House servants were expected to jump into the nearest closet, to avoid being seen. CRACKED.COM http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/Presidents/hoover.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/8/0/833580.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
JFK got around.
![Marilyn Monroe was just the tip of the iceberg, for JFK. Marilyn Audreu Jayne Florinda Angie Blaze Kennedy once told British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, If I don't have a woman for three days, I get terrible headaches. CRACKED.COM Chafe, 2006. Private Lives/Public Consequences: Personality and Politics in Modern America](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/8/833578.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
John Tyler had a reputation.
![John Tyler was nicknamed His Accidency. Не became president when William Henry Harrison died, and was one of the most hated presidents in history. Не was described as a poor, miserable, despised imbecile. CRACKED.COM Crapol, 2012. John Tylar the Accidental President](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/9/833579.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
The White House staff sticks around.
![White House Service Staff stay on for decades, serving many presidents. Ninety-six people work full-time in the residence, and there are another 250 part-time employees. It's not uncommon for multiple generations of a family to serve in the White House. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/6/9/833569.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The President eats pretty well.
![There are five full-time Michelin star chefs that work at the White House. Chefs are on-call 24/7. Everything the President eats goes through security (including a rumored food taster). White House Chefs have one of the highest security clearances. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/7/833577.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
Being President isn't cheap.
![The President gets an itemized bill of expenses every month. L RESERVE NOTE 5279860I 1 WITH RESERVE UNITED SYSTEM STATES is NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER KB 462 DEBTS. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ere Excobeds Cabral SERIES United States Henry m has F 2006 206 Secretary of the Tru The President is responsible for ONEHUND paying out-of-pocket for all groceries, dry cleaning, and general household objects in the White House, as well as hourly wages for waiters and cleanup crews at private parties. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/1/833571.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The White House wears a lot of hats.
![The White House is a museum, a monument, a state guest hotel, and an impenetrable fortress. The White House includes 6 stories, 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool, and a putting green. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/6/7/833567.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
Secret Service is committed but not THAT committed.
![Secret Service agents never swear to protect the President's life over their own. UNITED AMERICA The oath is made up for Hollywood. It's understood it's a dangerous job, but agents make sure every danger is avoided. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/6/833576.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
The White House Staff plays a bigger role than you think.
![The White House Staff makes the President's life easier to preserve the President's energy. The ushers, military aides, and key staff members are available to fulfill every request so the President's mind can be focused on big decisions. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/6/6/833566.jpg)
Source: 14 Facts About Being The U.S. President (In Case You're Considering)
Young FDR was a fashion icon.
![FDR wore dresses until he was five. Gender-specific clothing is actually a fairly recent invention. CRACKED.COM http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/Presidents/froosevelt.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/4/833574.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Warren G. Harding had a dangerous hobby.
![Warren G. Harding had a gambling problem. Не once lost the entire White House china set in a poker game. CRACKED.COM http://millercenter.org/president/harding/essays/biography/4](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/5/833575.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
James Garfield's doctors really beefed it.
![Doctors trying to save James Garfield caused his death. Garfield had been shot, and doctors used a metal detector newly invented by Alexander Graham Bell to try to locate the bullet. Unfortunately the detector located the metal bedsprings instead, leading the doctors to cut in the wrong place several times. The president died from a punctured kidney and streptococcus, both introduced by the doctors. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/6/8/833568.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Grover Cleveland's marriage was a little creepy.
![Grover Cleveland married a woman he helped raise. Her name was Frances Folsom, and she was 28 years younger than Cleveland. Не supervised her upbringing after her father passed away, and was the executor of her father's estate. CRACKED.COM http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/tirstfadies.aspxbiography=23](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/0/833570.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Eisenhower had trouble with phones.
![Dwight Eisenhower couldn't work a telephone. lke was used to having his aides make calls for him, and was geninely baffled by a dial tone. CRACKED.COM http://www.classroomhelp.com/essons/Presidents/eisenhower.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/3/833573.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents
Bill Clinton made a huge mistake. (Not the one you're thinking of.)
![Bill Clinton lost the Nuclear Launch Codes. Не didn't just leave them in his other pants. They were missing for months. UP Mawis CRACKED.COM Bill-Clinton-lost-val e-nuclear-codes.html](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/7/2/833572.jpg)
Source: 22 Facts That Shatter Your Image of American Presidents