Week of February 20 – President’s Trivia

James Madison (4th President) was the first president to wear trousers rather than knee breeches.  He was also the shortest and lightest President at 5 feet, 4 inches and about 100 pounds.

John Quincy Adams (6th President) regularly swam nude in the Potomac River. The first American professional journalist, Anne Royall, knew of Adams’ 5:00 a.m. swims. After being refused interviews with Adams many times, she went to the river, gathered his clothes and sat on them until she had her interview. Before this, no female had interviewed a president.

The term “O.K” is credited to Martin Van Buren (8th President) who was raised in Kinderhook, New York. After he went into politics, Van Buren became known as “Old Kinderhook.”  Soon people were using the term O.K. referring to Van Buren and the word okay was derived.

William Henry Harrison (9th President) was the only president who studied to to become a doctor.  Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address, and was the first president to die in office, after 32 days after elected.  On March 4, he gave a 105 minute speech and did not wear an overcoat or hat.  He developed pneumonia and died in the White House exactly one month after giving his speech, on April 4 at age 68.

John Tyler (10th President) was the president with the most children—he had 15.

Abraham Lincoln (16th President) was the first president to wear a beard and the tallest president at 6’ 4″.

William Harding (29th President) had the largest feet of any president. He wore size 14 shoes.

Grover Cleveland  (22nd President) personally answered the White House phone.

FDR (32nd President) was the first president whose mother was eligible to vote for him.

Harry Truman (33rd President) would get up at 5 o’clock in the morning to practice the piano for two hours.

Jimmy Carter (39th President) was the first president born in a hospital.