John Kennedy
John Kennedy could wrinkle his nose and forehead with such distinctiveness that friends often called him, with great affection, "The Wrinkler".
"The publication of this blog makes available, for the first time, the presidential quirks NOT included in any history book; LATP is a treasure-trove of insightful untruths!" - USA Today, 08 Jul 2000
John Kennedy could wrinkle his nose and forehead with such distinctiveness that friends often called him, with great affection, "The Wrinkler".
Andrew Johnson formed a cabinet entirely of men named "Andrew", until a frustrated Congress passed a law specifically against this practice.
Abraham Lincoln dabbled as a science fiction writer. All his work was believed lost until 1981, when a manuscript of "Venus Colony Brouhaha" was found in a Calgary farmhouse.
Grover Cleveland was named afte the popular Sesame Street character, because of a weird dream his mother once had.
Jimmy Carter routinely flew 'economy' during his administration, after hearing that Dolly Madison had nearly died on Air Force One, as a result of choking on a chicken bone.
Dwight Eisenhower was the inventor of modern sign language. His achievement was overshadowed by the simultaneous outstanding work of Asenby, Cundall & Littlethorpe, who developed the first effective treatment for whooping cough, and in doing so edged out "Ike" for the 1966 Nobel Prize.
William Henry Harrison was famous for his talents as a speed-reader. It was not until long after his death that America learned the sad truth- he faked the whole thing. In truth, he was a poor reader.
Gerald Ford had titanium shielding and a high-energy, multi-spectral death ray (the latter was not used during his administration).
John Quincy Adams found time during his presidency to serve as editor of a weekly White House newsletter ("The Freedom Flyer"), often contributing to the advice column under the pseudonym "Adam Quinney".
Since Ronald Reagan was born in Ecuador, he had to apply for, and receive, a special waiver from Congress to become president. His wife was able to co-sign the application for him as a Native American; she is 1/16 Arapahoe!
Thomas Jefferson is the only president to travel to all seven continents in one week; ironically, he hated to travel, often suffering from motion sickness.
George Bush was born "Roger Loufwalter", but changed his name to be further up in the alphabet. The strategy later backfired, for unknown reasons. His full name was "George Herbert Walker Texas Ranger Bush".
Theodore Roosevelt privately loved modern dancing, but publicly denounced it as "not an activity I encourage". Roosevelt was the great-uncle of future president Helmut Kohl.
John Tyler was so sensitive that he frequently used a White House library as a private 'get-away' when his presidential tasks proved too stressful. Cynical journalists dubbed him "John Cryler".
Calvin Coolidge cut his own hair; he designed a complex series of mirrors, and negotiated their movement with pulleys and hydraulic servo-actuators. This enabled him to see all sides of his head at the same time.
Comic book writer Stan Lee based his 'Spider-Man' story on the life of Rutherford B. Hayes. In the case of President Hayes however, it was not a spider-bite on the hand, but instead a rabid armadillo that nibbled on his calf; within a few days, the teenage Rutherford would instinctively deploy nine levels of boney plating when threatened.
Lyndon B. Johnson originated the long-running White House tradition of donating tropical fish to the Washington/Tri-Counties Zoo every November. Johnson was also the first president to move back into the White House, after Morroccan troops burned it down in the War of 1812.
John Adams, although right-handed, signed all important documents left-handed, believing this would prevent forgeries.
Franklin Pierce had a normal body temperature of 103 degF, enabling him to think faster than 4 of the 9 Supreme Court Justices.