20 Wild Facts About U.S. Presidents They Don’t Teach in School
Discover bizarre, untold, and downright wild facts about America’s commanders-in-chief that history class conveniently skipped.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
Think you know everything about the U.S. Presidents? Think again. Behind the polished portraits and patriotic speeches lie jaw-dropping stories that never made it into your textbooks. From duels and drunken parrots to secret tattoos, these presidential facts will leave you wide-eyed and amazed.
1. Andrew Jackson Killed a Man in a Duel
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Jackson wasn’t just fiery in politics — he once shot and killed a man who insulted his wife. Dueling was illegal, but Jackson didn’t care. He took a bullet to the chest but stayed standing to fire back.
2. John Quincy Adams Enjoyed Skinny Dipping in the Potomac
Mathew Brady on Wikimedia Commons
Every morning, the sixth president swam naked in the Potomac River. Reporters knew this and even used it to trap him for interviews.
3. Thomas Jefferson Had a Pet Mockingbird That Sang Along to His Violin
Rembrandt Peale on Wikimedia Commons
Jefferson loved music so much that his bird, named Dick, learned to sing along while he played. Dick would perch on his shoulder, even during meetings.
4. Abraham Lincoln Was a Licensed Bartender
Alexander Gardner on Wikimedia Commons
Before saving the Union, Lincoln co-owned a tavern in Illinois. He served drinks and swapped jokes with locals. Sadly, the business failed, but not before Honest Abe poured his share of whiskey.
5. Herbert Hoover Spoke Mandarin Chinese
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Hoover and his wife learned Mandarin while living in China. They used it to talk privately in the White House, especially in front of staff. It’s probably the most unexpected bilingual household in presidential history.
6. Calvin Coolidge Had a Pet Raccoon Named Rebecca
Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia Commons
Coolidge didn’t just pardon turkeys — he adopted a raccoon meant for Thanksgiving dinner. Rebecca had a collar and roamed the White House freely. The First Lady even took her for walks.
7. Lyndon B. Johnson Gave Interviews from the Toilet
Cecil Stoughton on Wikimedia Commons
Known for his brash personality, LBJ often talked to aides and reporters while using the bathroom. He’d leave the door wide open, totally unfazed.
8. Grover Cleveland Was Legal Guardian to His Future Wife
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Cleveland married Frances Folsom, who was 27 years younger — and whose father he had been close friends with. After her father died, Cleveland helped raise her.
9. Teddy Roosevelt Got Shot During a Speech—And Finished It
Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia Commons
While running for a third term, Roosevelt was shot in the chest before a rally. Refusing to stop, he spoke for 90 minutes with the bullet still inside him.
10. Richard Nixon Was an Accomplished Musician
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Despite his stoic image, Nixon could play five instruments. He even performed a piano piece on national television. Music was his escape from politics.
11. James Garfield Could Write Latin with One Hand and Greek with the Other
Brady-Handy on Wikimedia Commons
A true academic, Garfield was ambidextrous and multilingual. He could reportedly write Latin and Greek simultaneously.
12. Franklin Pierce Was Arrested While President
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Pierce allegedly ran over a woman with his horse-drawn carriage in D.C. Although arrested, he wasn’t charged due to insufficient evidence. It’s one of the rare times a sitting president was cuffed.
13. Barack Obama Collected Comic Books
Pete Souza on Wikimedia Commons
Obama had a love for Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian growing up. Even as president, he talked about his favorite superheroes.
14. George Washington Didn’t Have Wooden Teeth
John Trumbull on Wikimedia Commons
Contrary to the myth, Washington’s dentures were made from human teeth, animal bone, and ivory — but never wood. The rumor likely started due to their stained appearance.
15. William Howard Taft Got Stuck in a Bathtub
Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia Commons
Taft, the heaviest U.S. president, once got lodged in a White House tub. It reportedly took multiple aides to lift him out. A custom-made, larger tub was later installed.
16. Ronald Reagan Starred with a Chimp in a Movie
Pete Souza on Wikimedia Commons
Before politics, Reagan acted in over 50 films — including one where he co-starred with a chimpanzee named Bonzo. “Bedtime for Bonzo” became a cult classic.
17. Jimmy Carter Reported a UFO Sighting
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In 1969, Carter saw an unidentified flying object in Georgia. He filed an official report and later promised transparency on UFOs during his campaign.
18. Donald Trump Is in the WWE Hall of Fame
Shealeah Craighead on Wikimedia Commons
Trump appeared at several WWE events, even getting into a scripted brawl. He was “honored” with an induction for his entertainment contributions.
19. Joe Biden Has a Stutter—and Overcame It
Adam Schultz on Wikimedia Commons
Biden struggled with a speech impediment for years. He practiced in the mirror and read poetry aloud to gain control.
20. Bill Clinton Accidentally Lost the Nuclear Launch Codes
Bob McNeely on Wikimedia Commons
For months, the “nuclear football” card was missing while Clinton was president. The military didn’t find out until it was too late, sparking a security panic behind the scenes.