Interesting and Scandalous Facts About US Presidents

History often regales us with tales of how Americans once behaved. Certain behaviors are interesting, allowing us to see how some had quirks and oddities just like us. Others had behaviors or beliefs that were perhaps a bit more scandalous. When it comes to those in the public eye, particularly our commanders-in-chief, how they lived their lives illustrates that everyone has flaws, even those we elect to public office.

We often remember Presidents for how they guided the nation and what policies they put in place. Yet, there are times when they are remembered not for their achievements and accomplishments in office but rather for their lack of achievements, bad luck, fateful choices, or interesting eccentricities.

To gather a list of interesting and scandalous facts about U.S. presidents, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a range of sources including Smithsonian Magazine and History.com. We then selected the most intriguing and unique presidential facts. Additional confirmation came from historical and journalistic sites such as History-First and PBS to verify the accuracy of these insights into U.S. presidents. (For purported US history facts that are inaccurate, check out US history "facts" we now know are not true.)

Here are interesting facts about U.S. presidents:

One interesting fact about U.S. presidents involves Andrew Jackson's pet parrot, known for its foul language. Jackson reportedly taught the bird to curse, leading to issues at the White House. The parrot's disruptive behavior persisted even at Jackson's funeral, where it had to be removed for swearing at guests.

Andrew Jackson's life is full of fascinating anecdotes. Apart from nearly burning down the White House at his own Inaugural party, Jackson had a penchant for dueling. He allegedly engaged in over 100 duels, often defending his wife's honor. Despite miraculously surviving them all, he was shot in the chest in 1806 during one duel and took another bullet to the arm in 1813 during a bar fight with a Senator.

Never one to back down from a challenge, President William Henry Harrison was known to take on any opponent. While campaigning for president, he flipped and reversed the criticism that he would rather "sit in his log cabin, drinking hard cider." Instead, he made spiked lemonade and handed them out in bottles shaped like log cabins.

He also delivered the longest inauguration speech in U.S. history, speaking for nearly two hours. Unfortunately, this record-setting speech proved fatal, as the cold, damp day took a toll on his health. Shortly after, he fell ill and died, just 33 days into his presidency. (For other senior commanders-in-chief, check out the oldest US presidents in history.)

One of the few presidents to be the son of another president, John Quincy Adams experienced much of what Washington has to offer. Besides being president, he also served as a diplomat, a Senator, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. What's less known about John Quincy Adams, however, is his love of skinny-dipping.

Indeed, Adams was known to strip naked and swim in the Potomac River every morning. One time, a reporter used this information to her advantage. She found him swimming in the river and sat on his clothes until he would grant her a special interview.

Another little-known fact about U.S. presidents involves Zachary Taylor's unappetizing and fateful meal. While celebrating the Fourth of July on the grounds of what would become the Washington Monument, Taylor enjoyed a meal that included cherries and a glass of iced milk. Unfortunately, this combination did not agree with him, and he died a few days later, most likely from bacteria infecting the cherries.

Another interesting and scandalous fact about U.S. presidents is Franklin Pierce's love of drinking. A largely forgettable president, Pierce was so disliked during his time in office that his own party refused to renominate him when it came time for reelection. In response to this betrayal, Pierce said, "There is nothing left to do but get drunk."

Moreover, Pierce was one of the few presidents to wear handcuffs during his time in office. In 1853, he was arrested after running over an old woman while on horseback. Though he was quickly released due to insufficient evidence, whether booze played a part in the incident, is still unknown.

Another interesting and scandalous fact about U.S. presidents concerns James Buchanan's lifelong "bachelor" status. Throughout and after his presidency, there were persistent rumors about his sexuality. Although he never married, Buchanan lived with Alabama Senator William Rufus King for over a decade. There is evidence to suggest he may have been our first gay president.

After King moved to France in 1844, however, Buchanan became despondent. Regarding their separation, he wrote, "I am now 'solitary and alone,' having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them."

No matter how you slice it, President Andrew Johnson had a tough time in life. Besides being the first president to be impeached, Johnson also had a horrible childhood. When his father died, his mother shipped off Johnson and his brother to a tailor as indentured servants.

Two years later, the brothers escaped captivity. While the tailor put up a reward for their return, they were never captured. His time as a tailor's slave had some benefit, however. It is reported that during his time as president, Johnson used his knowledge to handcraft all of his own suits.

Though founding father and eventual president Thomas Jefferson played an integral role in the founding of the country and writing the Declaration of Independence, he was notoriously shy. During his presidency, he gave only two public speeches. Moreover, he started the tradition of sending State of the Union addresses to Congress as written documents, allowing a clerk to read them instead.

Another interesting fact about U.S. presidents is George Washington's fake teeth. Though many people believe his dentures to be made of wood, this was not the case. Instead, his fake teeth were made of various animal bones including hippopotamus ivory, animal and human teeth, as well as gold and brass screws. Washington's penchant for dark red wines stained the teeth a stranger color. This gave them the appearance of grainy wood.

Ulysses S. Grant was viewed both favorably and unfavorably by the public at various stages in his life. He was said to be a binge drinker and there were some myths floated about his being a drunk but this wasn't a substantiated claim. What many people don’t know, however, is that Grant was supposed to be sitting in the infamous theater box with Abraham Lincoln on the night of Lincoln’s assassination.

Grant changed plans at the last minute, possibly sparing his life in the process. Nevertheless, he lived with survivor’s guilt for the rest of his life. He believed he could have stopped or thwarted the assassination if he had been there that fateful night.

A bit of a superstitious fellow, William McKinley believed red carnation flowers to be his good luck charm. As such, he wore them on his lapel everywhere he went. On September 6, 1901, McKinley met with supporters outside Buffalo's Pan-American Exposition.

There, a little girl asked him if she could have the carnation pinned to his lapel. Though he was not one to part with his good luck charm, he acquiesced and gave it to the girl. As he continued greeting supporters, Leon Czolgosz shot him in the stomach. Though he survived the shooting, his condition quickly deteriorated, and he died a week later. Perhaps there was something to his good luck charm, after all.

An intriguing aspect of U.S. President Warren G. Harding's life involves his romantic escapades. Harding's affair with his wife's friend, Carrie Fulton Phillips, was revealed through a series of discovered love letters. Additionally, he fathered a child with Nan Britton, a fact initially disputed but confirmed by DNA testing in 2015.

Another interesting and scandalous fact about U.S. presidents is how outspoken Jimmy Carter could be given the opportunity. Though he's remembered as a kind, mild-mannered president, he turned a lot of heads when he gave an interview to Playboy Magazine during his run for election. In this interview, he said, "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do—and I have done it—and God forgives me for it."

Though the remarks received serious public outcry, Carter refused to apologize. Perhaps, he was in the right not to capitulate, however. Ultimately, it didn't affect his presidential run as he was elected a short while later in 1977.

According to several sources, including Chief of Staff Donald Regan, Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy consulted an astrologer for various matters. Following Reagan's survival of an assassination attempt, Nancy Reagan contacted astrologer Joan Quigley and involved her in White House affairs. However, this decision caused significant conflict with the incoming Chief of Staff, leading to ongoing disputes between him and Nancy Reagan.

Chief of Staff Regan stated, "Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House Chief of Staff was cleared in advance with a woman in San Francisco who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in a favorable alignment for the enterprise."

When news of this arrangement surfaced, the Reagan family initially denied it. However, later on, Nancy Reagan more or less acknowledged the astrological consultations, commenting," Nobody was hurt by it—except, possibly, me."