Long before JFK and Bill Clinton made headlines, America’s presidents were already dabbling in affairs. The tradition of a side romance is practically a national pastime, right up there with apple pie and fireworks. Welcome to our roundup of the 10 scandalous presidential affairs you’ve probably never heard of.

10 scandalous presidential affairs uncovered

1. FDR And Eleanor Roosevelt

Franklin Roosevelt’s infidelity is fairly well‑known, but his marriage to Eleanor was a tangled web of secrets. The spark began when Lucy Mercer, hired as Eleanor’s social secretary, began an affair with FDR that quickly became the talk of Washington’s elite. Even Alice Longworth, Teddy Roosevelt’s influential daughter, arranged private rendezvous for the couple. When Eleanor uncovered love letters between her husband and Lucy, she demanded a divorce.

FDR was surprisingly open to the idea, even wishing to marry Lucy, who seemed a better match for him than Eleanor. However, his domineering mother threatened to cut off financial support, and his political mentors warned that a divorce would be a career‑killing scandal. Choosing money and ambition over love, FDR begged Eleanor for forgiveness. She agreed to stay, on the condition that he never see Lucy again— a promise he broke— and insisted they no longer share a bed.

The betrayal hit Eleanor hard. Once shy and insecure, she eventually forged a powerful identity outside her husband’s shadow. She found role models in two lesbian couples—Elizabeth Read & Esther Lape and Nancy Cook & Marion Dickerman—who showed her she could thrive independently. Over time, Eleanor transformed into a political force, with Joseph Alsop dubbing her partnership with FDR a “highly successful working partnership” rather than a conventional marriage.

Rumors later swirled about Eleanor’s own romantic entanglements, notably with reporter Lorena Hickock, a woman “sexually oriented to women.” While it’s unclear if Eleanor reciprocated Hickock’s feelings, she certainly adored her, penning affectionate notes like, “I can’t kiss you, so I kiss your picture good night and good morning!” When FDR won the presidency, Eleanor invited Hickock to live in the White House, reassuring her that gossip wouldn’t matter. Meanwhile, FDR maintained his own liaison with his live‑in assistant, Missy LeHand.

Kindree Cushing has never slept with a President.

2. James Buchanan

Before his presidency, James Buchanan was engaged to a wealthy heiress named Anne, who died suddenly just days after their broken engagement. Her family barred Buchanan from attending the funeral, blaming him for her death, and gossip suggested she had been devastated by his infidelity.

Anne’s death wasn’t the only reason Buchanan remained a bachelor. For 23 years he lived with Senator William King, not merely as a roommate but sharing a bedroom. Historians often cite this cohabitation as evidence that Buchanan was America’s first gay president.

Contemporary accounts referred to the pair in colorful terms: a congressman called them “Buchanan and his wife,” while others used nicknames like “Aunt Fancy” and “Siamese twins.” Historian James Loewen noted Buchanan’s openness about the relationship, pointing to surviving letters that reveal deep devotion. In one letter, Buchanan wrote, “I am now solitary and alone… I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them.”

King’s correspondence echoed this sentiment: “I am selfish enough to hope you will not procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation.” Sadly, many of their letters were destroyed by relatives, leaving the true nature of their bond shrouded in mystery.

3. George Washington

In March 1758, a young George Washington visited the newly widowed Martha Custis, the wealthiest woman in Virginia. By January 1759, they were married. Yet, a long‑forgotten letter to his former flame Sally Fairfax resurfaced in 1877, making the front page of the New York Herald.

The letter, penned while George and Martha were formally engaged, began coyly: “I profess myself a votary of love. I acknowledge that a lady is in the case and further I confess that this lady is known to you.” Washington later wrote, “Misconstrue not my meaning; doubt it not nor expose it. The world has no business to know the object of my love declared in this manner to you when I want to conceal it.”

At the time, Sally Fairfax was already married to a close friend of Washington. Her reply was deliberately vague, and the two never spoke of the affair again. In 1775, the British attempted to tarnish Washington with a forged letter alleging an affair with “Kate the washerwoman’s daughter,” but no solid evidence ever proved Washington was unfaithful to Martha after their marriage.

4. Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland is one of only three presidents to wed while in office, marrying Frances Folsom in 1886. The match was scandalous: Frances was 27 years younger, and Cleveland had actually bought her baby carriage. Even more controversial, she had been his ward since her father died when she was nine.

But the real shocker lay in Cleveland’s earlier life. In 1873, at age 37, he courted sales clerk Maria Halpin. On December 15, he took her out to dinner and then insisted on escorting her home. Halpin later claimed Cleveland raped her “by use of force and violence and without my consent,” threatening to ruin her if she spoke out. Six weeks later, she discovered she was pregnant.

When the child was born, Cleveland had Maria arrested and committed to an insane asylum, placing the newborn in an orphanage. The asylum’s director recognized the abuse of power and released Maria, noting she had been committed “without warrant or form of law.” The child was never returned to her mother. When the scandal surfaced, Cleveland spread rumors that Halpin was a drunk who had affairs with married men, and suggested the child was actually Oscar Folsom’s. Yet Halpin, a church‑going widow with two children, maintained that Cleveland was the father, a claim supported by Pastor Henry Crabbe, who called Cleveland “a corrupt, licentious man.”

5. Lyndon Johnson

Lady Bird Johnson once quipped, “My husband loved people. He loved all people. Now half the people in the world are women. You don’t think I could keep him away from half the world, do you?” Lyndon and Lady Bird married in November 1934, though they were stark opposites. Lyndon’s explosive ambition often clashed with Lady Bird’s shy, intellectual demeanor.

By 1937, Lyndon began an affair with Alice Glass, the wife of a major political supporter. The relationship persisted into the late 1940s, despite the risk to his career. Lady Bird, noticing Alice’s magnetic presence, blamed herself and responded by becoming more socially active, losing weight, and adopting a flashier wardrobe—while pretending ignorance of the affair.

LBJ wasn’t content with one mistress. He bragged, “I’ve had more women by accident than Kennedy ever had on purpose.” After Lady Bird walked in on him with a secretary in the Oval Office, the Secret Service installed a buzzer to alert him whenever she was nearby.

One of the few women who went public was Madeleine Brown, who claimed a 21‑year affair with LBJ. She alleged that Johnson provided her with a two‑bedroom home, a maid, credit cards, and cars, describing their encounters as “kinky” and typically lasting about thirty minutes.

6. George H.W. Bush

The Washington Post once pointedly noted that political aide Jennifer Fitzgerald had “served President‑elect George Bush in a variety of positions.” Rumors of an affair were “well‑known” among journalists, but nothing was published until 1988, when LA Weekly ran a story claiming Fitzgerald spoke openly about the relationship.

In 1992, the New York Post revived the allegations, and journalist Susan Trento’s book The Power House cited U.S. ambassador Louis Fields arranging a joint guest house for Bush and Fitzgerald during a 1988 Geneva visit. Fields allegedly confessed that “it became very clear to me that the Vice President and Mrs. Fitzgerald were romantically involved.” Trento’s husband delayed reporting the comment at Fields’s request, fearing career damage, but went public after the ambassador’s death.

The story resurfaced when unauthorized biographer Kitty Kelley repeated the claims in her 2004 book The Family. According to Kelley, longtime Republican stalwart James Baker refused to run Bush’s 1980 campaign unless Fitzgerald was removed from the picture.

Unlike most entries here, the Bush allegations remain unproven, and the Bush family has vigorously denied them. When reporter Mary Tillotson asked Bush about the affair at a live news conference, his staff reportedly erupted, vowing she would “never work around the White House again.”

7. James Garfield

While in school, James Garfield was obsessed with sex, homosexuality, and masturbation, even taking cold showers to curb his urges. Though attracted to independent women, he felt compelled to marry the “asexual wallflower” Lucretia “Crete” Rudolph, whom he met while working as a janitor at the Eclectic Institute in Hiram, Ohio. Their engagement in 1854 coincided with Garfield’s affair with the witty Rancie Selleck, a friend who knew his “sensuous” side. Crete was aware of the liaison, calling it the “keenest dagger to my heart,” and the affair lasted until 1858.

In 1862, Garfield pursued an 18‑year‑old New York Tribune reporter, Lucia Gilbert Calhoun. He also maintained a long‑term relationship with Eclectic Institute student Almeda Booth. When Crete confronted him about Booth, Garfield confessed, describing the episode as a “lawless passion.”

Garfield’s womanizing was so prolific that Crete kept herself out of the press, fearing her presence would invite accusations of infidelity. Yet the 1880 election was rocked by rumors that Garfield had visited a New Orleans prostitute.

8. Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson married artist Ellen Axon in 1885. Their marriage held steady until around 1906, when a series of personal tragedies struck: Ellen’s nephew, his wife, and their two‑year‑old son drowned, while her brother fell into severe depression. Earlier, Ellen’s father had been institutionalized and later committed suicide, adding to the family’s woes. Overwhelmed, Wilson escaped to Bermuda in 1907‑08, where he met Mary Peck.

The friendship with Mary blossomed into a “dalliance,” devastating Ellen and leaving Wilson “guilt‑stricken.” Ellen later said the Peck affair was the only unhappiness her husband ever gave her, while Wilson admitted to a “passage of folly and gross impertinence,” abandoning his “standards of honorable behavior.”

After Ellen’s death in August 1914, Wilson, unable to remain single, began seeing widow Edith Galt in early 1915. Advisors warned that the public would react poorly, and gossip intensified when the Washington Post mistakenly reported that “the President has been entering Edith Bolling Galt regularly.” A popular joke of the era asked, “What did Mrs. Galt do when the President of the United States proposed to her?” Answer: “She fell out of bed.” Despite lingering rumors about Mary Peck, Wilson married Edith later that year and was re‑elected despite the scandal.

9. Warren G. Harding

Usually regarded as a notably weak president, Warren G. Harding prized being liked over strong leadership, a trait that may explain his infamous weakness for women. His most famous liaison was with Carrie Phillips, which began in 1905 while both were married (Harding was actually good friends with Carrie’s husband). Their steamy love letters were opened to the press in 2014.

During the 1920 presidential campaign, the Republican National Committee essentially bribed Carrie and her husband to stay out of sight, sending them on a free Asian tour with $20,000 in cash.

That’s not a bad deal, but several of Harding’s other lovers fared worse. Before his affair with Carrie ended, Harding took up with Nan Britton, a campaign volunteer 30 years his junior. Nan gave birth to a baby girl in 1919; Harding had the Secret Service hand‑deliver child‑support payments. After his death, Nan sued the estate for a trust fund, losing the case, but she later penned a tell‑all, The President’s Daughter, dedicated “to all unwed mothers.” The book scandalized the nation with vivid accounts of wild escapades, including sex in the Oval Office closet.

Harding’s roster of flings also included a Washington Post employee named Miss Allicott and chorus girls Maize Haywood and Blossom Jones. Two other women claimed to have conceived children by Harding (one had a son, another terminated a pregnancy). There was also a “violent” affair during his Senate years with staffer Grace Cross. Harding didn’t bother hiding his affairs, telling a private group of reporters, “It’s a good thing I am not a woman. I would always be pregnant. I can’t say no.”

10. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower is celebrated as one of America’s most successful military leaders, serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied invasion of Europe during World War II. The prolonged separations from his wife, Mamie, during the war may have sparked whispers of an affair back in Washington.

Photos often show Ike close to his secretary‑driver Kay Summersby, sometimes standing a little too near. After years of emotional intimacy, the pair allegedly consummated their relationship in spring 1944. According to Summersby, Ike was actually impotent, confessing that marriage had “killed something” in him, forcing her to take the lead and teach him about sex during their trysts.

When the war ended, Ike formally requested General Marshall to relieve him of duty so he could divorce Mamie and marry Kay. An outraged Marshall refused, threatening to ruin Ike’s career should the divorce proceed. Consequently, the affair ended, only surfacing publicly in 1975 when Kay, after Ike’s death, published a book detailing their relationship.

When it comes to the 10 presidential conspiracy world, few topics are as irresistibly gripping as the rumors that swirl around the Oval Office. Many of us have spent countless hours scrolling through forums, documentaries, and late‑night articles, chasing after the next juicy claim that might just rewrite history.

10 Presidential Conspiracy Overview

10 George W. Bush And 9/11

We’ll kick things off with one of the most massive and relatively recent conspiracy theories that still rattles the United States to its core. On September 11, 2001, two commercial jets slammed into the World Trade Center towers, an act of terror that terrified the nation and spurred a massive overseas response.

The crux of the conspiracy is that the Bush administration itself had a hand in the attacks. The question looms: why would the commander‑in‑chief orchestrate an assault on his own soil?

Proponents of the theory argue that the administration wanted to manufacture a crisis that would justify curbing civil liberties and expanding military power. Additionally, they claim the United States sought a foothold for an oil‑rich pipeline through Afghanistan, a goal made possible by the ensuing invasion.

Is there any factual basis for these allegations? Of course, we’re not President Bush nor a member of his inner circle, so absolute certainty remains out of reach. Yet, to date, no concrete evidence has surfaced to substantiate the claims.

While some of the arguments appear plausible on the surface, the absence of verifiable proof renders the theory speculative at best. The notion that a president could engineer such a catastrophe is chilling, underscoring how devastating the truth would be if it ever emerged.

9 Obama As A Puppet For True Power

This conspiracy suggests that President Barack Obama was merely a front for shadowy forces pulling the strings behind the scenes. In essence, the theory posits that Obama wasn’t the decision‑maker at all, but a puppet dancing to someone else’s tune.

The narrative paints a picture of deep‑seated corruption, where the elected leader is just a façade while hidden power brokers dictate policy from the shadows. It raises unsettling questions about the true locus of authority in Washington.

How did this theory take shape? Advocates point to the extensive network of wealthy and influential allies that backed Obama’s two successful campaigns. Many of these backers remained enigmatic, operating behind the curtain, and are alleged to have been the real architects of his administration’s agenda.

According to the theorists, these “puppet masters” also manipulated media coverage, emphasizing trivial events while diverting attention away from substantive policy moves. By flooding the public sphere with speeches and soundbites, they allegedly kept the nation’s focus away from the hidden directives.

While the theory is certainly captivating, it’s worth noting that similar accusations have been levied against numerous presidents throughout history. The lack of concrete evidence keeps this story firmly in the realm of speculation.

8 Zachary Taylor Assassination

In the year 1850, President Zachary Taylor met an untimely demise. Official medical reports listed acute gastroenteritis as the cause of death, a verdict that stood unchallenged for more than a century.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that skeptics began to wonder if Taylor had been poisoned. The intrigue stemmed from the fact that Taylor had been in robust health prior to his sudden collapse, making a fatal bout of gastroenteritis seem unlikely to many observers.

Conspiracy enthusiasts argue that the motive lay in Taylor’s stance on slavery. He opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories, a position that angered pro‑slavery factions in the South. With his death, his vice‑president, who was more amenable to the spread of slavery, could more easily push that agenda.

To this day, no forensic evidence has emerged confirming foul play. Nonetheless, the theory remains fascinating, especially given the century‑long gap between Taylor’s passing and the emergence of these suspicions.

7 Thomas Jefferson And Colds

Turning the clock back to the era of Enlightenment, we encounter a curious claim linked to Thomas Jefferson. The founding father allegedly swore that a nightly ritual of soaking his feet in cold water for roughly sixty years kept him virtually immune to the common cold.

Jefferson himself boasted that this simple practice dramatically reduced his susceptibility to colds, a claim he reportedly shared with friends and contemporaries.

Modern science, however, offers no validation for such a method. While it’s tempting to credit Jefferson’s claim to a super‑human immune system, other factors—genetics, lifestyle, or sheer luck—could explain his relative health.

Regardless of its veracity, the story adds a quirky footnote to Jefferson’s legacy, illustrating how even the most revered figures can become entwined with odd health anecdotes.

6 Benjamin Harrison And The Light Switches

Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president, harbored an unusual fear regarding the brand‑new electrical outlets installed in the White House. Despite being responsible for introducing electricity to the residence, Harrison was convinced that a single touch could electrocute him.

His anxiety was so intense that he never operated a light switch himself. Instead, he delegated the task to his staff, who would flick the switches on and off at his request.

On certain evenings, Harrison and his wife even chose to sleep with the lights left on, avoiding the act of turning them off entirely. While the phobia may seem extreme, early electrical systems were notoriously unsafe, with a higher risk of shock than today’s insulated outlets.

5 The Clinton Assassinations

One of the darker corners of American political folklore centers on Bill and Hillary Clinton. Over the years, a chilling narrative has emerged alleging that the couple was linked to the mysterious deaths of roughly 46 acquaintances.

According to the theory, each of these individuals died under suspicious circumstances, and the Clintons allegedly orchestrated their demises to silence potential whistleblowers who possessed damaging information.

Proponents argue that the victims were poised to expose corruption or illicit dealings, giving the Clintons a motive to eliminate them quietly.

Despite the sensational nature of these claims, no legal charges have ever been filed against the Clintons for murder or conspiracy. The theory persists, however, as a haunting reminder of how power can spark the most macabre speculation.

4 Obama And Benghazi

The 2012 Benghazi attack, which claimed the life of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, ignited a torrent of controversy and conspiracy. One prominent narrative alleges that President Obama deliberately orchestrated the assault, hoping to secure a high‑profile prisoner exchange.

The theory posits that the administration wanted Stevens kidnapped so they could trade him for Omar Abdel‑Rahman, a notorious terrorist involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

According to supporters of the claim, the operation was called off when Stevens was inadvertently killed during the chaos, thwarting the intended swap.

To date, no credible evidence has surfaced linking Obama directly to the planning or execution of the Benghazi attack, leaving the theory in the realm of speculation.

3 Paranoid Nixon

President Richard Nixon’s tenure was marred by a deep‑seated paranoia that permeated his decision‑making. He believed that virtually everyone—from journalists to academic elites—was out to undermine him.

His mistrust manifested in tangible ways: the Secret Service installed voice‑activated recorders in the Oval Office so he could capture every conversation, fearing that any slip could be weaponized against him.

Nixon’s suspicion extended to specific demographic groups, including Jewish communities, intellectuals, and Ivy League graduates, whom he deemed radical threats.

This pervasive anxiety contributed to a cascade of scandals, ultimately culminating in his resignation. The legacy of his paranoia serves as a cautionary tale about the corrosive impact of unchecked distrust.

2 John F. Kennedy And Marilyn Monroe

The tragic death of Marilyn Monroe in 1962 continues to fuel speculation that ties her demise to President John F. Kennedy. Officially ruled a probable suicide or accidental overdose, the case has never been definitively solved.

Rumors emerged suggesting that Monroe and Kennedy were embroiled in a secret affair, and that she may have been privy to classified information. The theory holds that the president, fearing exposure, orchestrated her death to protect national security.

Despite the intrigue, no concrete evidence has ever corroborated the alleged liaison or any direct involvement by Kennedy in Monroe’s untimely passing.

1 Trump’s Rigged Election

Rounding out our list is a theory that claims former President Donald Trump manipulated the 2016 election to secure his victory. Proponents argue that a sophisticated computer hack tipped the scales in Trump’s favor, while others point to alleged Russian collusion as the mechanism behind the alleged rigging.

Both strands of the narrative lack verifiable proof, yet they have persisted in public discourse. Adding to the intrigue, Trump himself has accused his opponent, Hillary Clinton, of rigging the election in her own direction—another claim that remains unsubstantiated.

The 2016 race was fraught with controversy from the outset, making it fertile ground for theories on electoral manipulation from both sides of the aisle.

As a teacher who enjoys writing in spare moments, I find these conspiracies both fascinating and cautionary, reminding us how quickly speculation can become part of the historical record.

In America we love to celebrate the Constitution and the wisdom of our founding fathers, but when it comes to picking a president, the ride has often been messy, fierce, and downright wild. Below we count down the 10 absolutely bonkers US presidential elections that have lit up the political sky with scandal, intrigue, and historic drama.

Why These Elections Are 10 Absolutely Bonkers

10 1800

It didn’t take long for the fledgling republic to stumble into a full‑blown political crisis that threatened the very legitimacy of the experiment in self‑government. By 1800 the party system was still in its infancy, and the bitter rivalry between the Federalists and the Democratic‑Republicans set the stage for a spectacular showdown. Mud‑slinging reigned supreme, with candidates hurling accusations of godlessness, tyranny, and every other imaginable vice at each other.

Complicating matters, the Democratic‑Republicans faced their own internal turmoil. Thomas Jefferson, the party’s presidential hopeful, ran alongside Aaron Burr as his vice‑presidential choice, creating a puzzling scenario. The electoral mechanism of the day was a tangled mess—so tangled, in fact, that Jefferson and Burr each received an identical number of electoral votes, producing a literal tie. This deadlock forced the House of Representatives to intervene, and after a grueling 36 rounds of voting, Jefferson finally emerged victorious, while incumbent President John Adams watched his hopes evaporate. The 1800 election exposed glaring flaws in the young democracy but also proved its remarkable resilience and capacity for self‑correction.

9 1824

The presidential race of 1824 is forever remembered as the infamous “Corrupt Bargain,” a moniker that captures the chaos of a contest featuring four major contenders—all hailing from the same Democratic‑Republican party. With no clear majority emerging from the Electoral College, the decision was thrust into the House of Representatives, where political maneuvering ran rampant.

John Quincy Adams ultimately secured the presidency, but the path to his victory was mired in controversy. Henry Clay, who served as Speaker of the House, threw his weight behind Adams and, in a move that raised eyebrows across the nation, was subsequently appointed Secretary of State. Critics decried this as a back‑room deal, accusing the triumphant duo of outright corruption. The 1824 debacle highlighted the urgent need for a more transparent nomination process, paving the way for the rise of the modern Democratic Party and reshaping the nation’s political architecture.

8 1860

The 1860 presidential contest unfolded against a backdrop of searing sectional tension, with the nation sharply divided over the moral and economic quagmire of slavery. The Democratic Party, representing the entrenched Southern interests, fractured into two factions, each fielding its own candidate. Meanwhile, the newly formed Republican Party rallied behind Abraham Lincoln, a candidate who would never even appear on a Southern ballot.

Lincoln’s victory, achieved without carrying a single Southern state, sent shockwaves through the South. In a dramatic response, South Carolina seceded from the Union just a month after the election, and a cascade of other Southern states followed suit, coalescing into the Confederate States of America. Lincoln’s attempts at conciliation—promising not to interfere with slavery where it already existed—proved futile, and the nation plunged into the Civil War, a conflict that would reshape the United States forever.

7 1872

The 1872 election may not have been the most tumultuous in U.S. history, but it certainly delivered its share of drama and intrigue. Incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant, fresh from his first term marked by Reconstruction efforts, sought re‑election against Horace Greeley, who represented the newly minted Liberal Republican Party and also garnered Democratic support.

The election’s most astonishing twist came when Greeley died unexpectedly before the Electoral College could cast its votes. Though his death left a handful of electors in a quandary—some had already pledged to vote for him—the ultimate outcome was clear: Grant secured a decisive victory, winning his second term. Greeley’s demise, however, created an unprecedented Electoral College scenario, with his remaining electors scattering their votes among several other candidates, underscoring the unpredictable nature of American politics.

6 1876

The 1876 presidential contest stands as one of the most disputed and chaotic elections ever recorded. Republican Rutherford B. Hayes faced Democrat Samuel J. Tilden in a battle that saw the popular‑vote winner, Tilden, fall short of an Electoral College majority because several Southern states sent in duplicate sets of electors, creating a bewildering impasse.

To defuse the looming constitutional crisis—and to avoid another civil war—the Compromise of 1877 was struck. Democrats agreed to concede the presidency to Hayes in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South. This bargain effectively ended the Reconstruction era, allowing Southern states to re‑establish local control, but also ushered in an era of disenfranchisement and Jim Crow laws that stripped newly freed African Americans of many hard‑won rights.

5 1912

The 1912 election was a spectacularly chaotic contest featuring four major candidates: Democrat Woodrow Wilson, former President Theodore Roosevelt running under the Progressive banner, incumbent Republican William Howard Taft, and Socialist Eugene V. Debs. The split within the Republican Party was the defining drama, as Roosevelt’s third‑party run siphoned votes away from Taft, effectively handing the Electoral College to Wilson.

Roosevelt’s Progressive Party campaign championed sweeping reforms, while Taft’s traditional Republican platform struggled to keep pace. Wilson’s victory ushered in a wave of progressive legislation, and the election itself highlighted the growing ideological rifts within American politics, setting the stage for future realignments.

4 1972

The 1972 race saw incumbent Republican Richard Nixon cruise to a landslide re‑election against Democratic challenger George McGovern. Nixon’s campaign highlighted his foreign‑policy achievements, including détente with the Soviet Union and the historic opening of diplomatic relations with China, which resonated strongly with voters.

Yet, the shadow of the Watergate scandal loomed large. Operatives linked to Nixon’s re‑election effort broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters, initiating a cascade of illegal activities, cover‑ups, and obstruction attempts. Though Nixon was not directly implicated in the break‑in, the ensuing investigations revealed a pattern of abuse of power that culminated in his resignation in 1974—the only U.S. president ever to leave office voluntarily before the end of his term.

3 2000

The 2000 presidential showdown between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore became one of the most contentious and protracted contests in American history. The pivotal battleground was Florida, where the vote margin narrowed to a razor‑thin 537 votes, igniting a flurry of legal battles over recount procedures and ballot validity.

The Florida Supreme Court ordered a manual recount, but the U.S. Supreme Court intervened in the landmark case Bush v. Gore, halting the recount and effectively awarding the state’s electoral votes—and the presidency—to Bush. The decision sparked fierce debate over judicial overreach, and Bush’s victory marked the fourth instance of a president winning the Electoral College while losing the popular vote.

2 2016

The 2016 contest pitted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—who made history as the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party—against Republican real‑estate mogul and reality‑TV personality Donald Trump, a candidate whose bombastic style and controversial statements shocked the political establishment.

Defying most predictions, Trump secured the Electoral College while Clinton captured a larger share of the popular vote. The outcome ignited fierce debates about the Electoral College’s relevance, exposed alleged foreign interference—particularly Russian efforts to sway public opinion—and ushered in an era of unprecedented political polarization, with Trump’s presidency reshaping the nation’s political discourse.

1 2020

The 2020 election unfolded amid a maelstrom of crises: a raging COVID‑19 pandemic, nationwide protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd, and the lingering fallout from President Donald Trump’s first impeachment. The Democratic ticket of former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris ultimately triumphed, but not without a storm of controversy.

Trump and his allies relentlessly claimed, without credible evidence, that the election was stolen—a narrative that galvanized the “Stop the Steal” movement. Their attempts to overturn the results spanned court challenges and pressure on state officials, climaxing on January 6, 2021, when a mob of supporters stormed the Capitol, resulting in five deaths and a second impeachment of Trump. The episode underscored deep fissures in American democracy and left an indelible mark on the nation’s political landscape.

Since Richard Nixon’s Watergate debacle, the public has grown accustomed to presidential scandals becoming almost routine. Reagan’s Iran‑Contra affair, Clinton’s liaison with Monica Lewinsky, Biden’s alleged plagiarism, and Trump’s endless impeachment‑level controversies have all dominated headlines. Yet, tucked away in the annals of American history are a handful of scandals that have slipped from popular memory. In this roundup of the 10 us presidential missteps, we’ll revisit ten long‑forgotten episodes that once rocked the nation’s capital.

10 Us Presidential Scandals Overview

Before we dive into each scandal, remember that every president has a shadowy side. The stories below range from social snubs and secret oil deals to duels fought over honor. Grab a popcorn‑filled seat and prepare for a whirlwind tour of intrigue, betrayal, and occasional drunken bravado.

10 The Petticoat Affair

The Petticoat Affair, sometimes called the Peggy Eaton scandal, erupted in the early 1830s during Andrew Jackson’s presidency. At its heart was the marriage of Peggy Eaton—a young widow—to John Henry Eaton, a close confidant of the president and a prominent cabinet member.

Trouble began when Washington’s elite ladies, led by Floride Calhoun (the wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun), shunned Peggy, spreading rumors that her conduct before her first husband’s death was less than respectable. Their cold shoulder turned the social scene into a battlefield.

President Jackson, drawing empathy from his own experience losing his beloved wife Rachel, threw his full support behind the Eatons. The resulting controversy forced a reshuffle of his cabinet—dubbed the “Kitchen Cabinet”—as several members, including Vice President Calhoun, resigned in protest.

9 The Teapot Dome Scandal

The Teapot Dome Scandal unfolded in the early 1920s under President Warren G. Harding’s administration. It centered on the secret leasing of federal oil reserves—most famously the Teapot Dome in Wyoming and additional sites in California—to private oil firms without open competition.

Albert B. Fall, Harding’s Secretary of the Interior, played the chief architect of the fraud, accepting bribes and loans from oil magnates in exchange for granting them lucrative leases. Notable conspirators included Harry Sinclair of Sinclair Oil and Edward Doheny of Pan American Petroleum.

When investigators finally pulled back the curtain, they uncovered a web of corruption that led to Fall becoming the first U.S. cabinet officer ever imprisoned for crimes committed while in office. The scandal tarnished Harding’s legacy and sparked a nationwide call for greater governmental transparency.

8 The Credit Mobilier Scandal

The Credit Mobilier scandal was a classic 19th‑century graft episode involving the First Transcontinental Railroad. In the late 1860s, a construction firm called Credit Mobilier was formed by insiders who also held key positions at the Union Pacific Railroad, the company awarded the contract to build the eastern segment of the line.

The scheme’s crux was that Credit Mobilier dramatically overbilled the government for construction costs, pocketing massive profits while the public footed the bill. To keep legislators quiet, the firm handed out cheap stock to numerous politicians—a bribe masquerading as a generous investment.

Journalists eventually exposed the scheme, prompting congressional investigations that implicated several high‑profile figures, including Vice President Schuyler Colfax, though he was ultimately cleared. The public outcry underscored the era’s rampant corruption.

7 The Whiskey Ring Scandal

Ulysses S. Grant, celebrated for his Civil War victories and the establishment of the Justice Department, presided over a government riddled with corruption. The Whiskey Ring scandal, a dramatic blend of tax evasion and bribery, exemplified this dark side.

In the early 1870s, a network of distillers and government officials conspired to underreport whiskey production, thereby siphoning off millions in tax revenue. The scheme thrived because friendly officials were placed in key Treasury positions, ensuring the illicit operation ran smoothly. Grant’s own private secretary, Orville Babcock, was alleged to be part of the ring.

The conspiracy unraveled when Treasury clerk John McDonald blew the whistle, leading to a series of indictments and convictions—including Babcock’s. The scandal highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of tax laws and reinforced the perception of a corrupt Grant administration.

6 Nixon’s Secret Bombing of Cambodia

During the chaotic Vietnam War years, President Richard Nixon authorized a covert operation that would later spark fierce controversy: the secret bombing of Cambodia, known as the Cambodian Incursion. Beginning in 1969, the campaign aimed to disrupt North Vietnamese supply routes and base camps that spilled over into Cambodian territory.

What made the operation especially scandalous was that Nixon carried it out without informing Congress, effectively sidestepping the constitutional checks and balances designed to curb executive overreach. The secrecy fueled public distrust, feeding the already volatile anti‑war sentiment.

Beyond the political fallout, the bombings devastated Cambodia, destabilizing the nation and inadvertently paving the way for the rise of the Khmer Rouge—a regime that would later unleash a horrific genocide.

5 Grover Cleveland’s Illegitimate Child

Grover Cleveland, the only president to serve two non‑consecutive terms, found himself caught up in a personal scandal that threatened his political future. In 1874, while still a bachelor and practicing lawyer in Buffalo, New York, he became involved with Maria Halpin, a widowed woman.

The liaison ended, but Halpin gave birth to a son, Oscar Folsom Cleveland, later that year. When the child’s existence became public, Cleveland openly acknowledged his responsibility, providing financial support and refusing to deny paternity.

During the heated 1884 presidential campaign, opponents tried to weaponize the affair, but Cleveland’s candid honesty won over many voters. He ultimately secured the presidency, and his forthright handling of the episode became a testament to his integrity.

4 Warren G. Harding’s Extramarital Affairs

Warren G. Harding, the 29th president, cultivated a reputation for charm and affability, yet behind the scenes he pursued a series of extramarital relationships. Among the women linked to him were Nan Britton and Carrie Fulton Phillips.

His most notorious affair involved Nan Britton, which began before he took office. Britton claimed the relationship produced a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, born in 1919. The affair remained concealed during Harding’s life, only emerging after his death and tarnishing his posthumous image.

Although these romantic entanglements were widely known among political insiders, they were not fully disclosed to the public until years later, illustrating how personal indiscretions can linger beneath the surface of a presidency.

3 Andrew Johnson’s Drunkenness

Andrew Johnson, the 17th president, earned a reputation not just for his political battles but also for his penchant for heavy drinking. Long before his ascent to the nation’s highest office, Johnson’s fondness for alcohol was well‑known throughout Tennessee politics.

During his presidency, numerous accounts described him appearing visibly inebriated at public events, raising serious questions about his capacity to govern effectively during a period of national reconstruction.

Critics argued that Johnson’s alcohol‑induced lapses compounded the already turbulent post‑Civil War era, casting doubt on his leadership and contributing to his eventual impeachment proceedings.

2 Nixon’s Enemies List

Beyond Watergate, Richard Nixon cultivated a notorious “Enemies List,” officially titled the “Opponents List.” Compiled by senior aides, the list catalogued politicians, journalists, activists, and public figures deemed hostile to the administration.

The existence of the list surfaced during Senate hearings on the Watergate break‑in, when former White House counsel Dean Butterfield disclosed its contents. The revelation shocked the nation, exposing a systematic effort to monitor and undermine political adversaries.

The list underscored Nixon’s deep‑seated paranoia and willingness to weaponize the power of the presidency against dissenting voices, further staining his legacy.

1 Andrew Jackson’s Duels

Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, was no stranger to personal combat. In 1806, he faced off against Charles Dickinson after Dickinson published a scathing letter insulting Jackson’s wife, Rachel.

During the duel, Dickinson’s pistol struck Jackson in the chest, dangerously close to his heart. Unfazed, Jackson returned fire, killing Dickinson. The bullet that wounded Jackson remained lodged near his heart for the rest of his life.

Jackson later engaged in another duel with Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton in 1813. Both men missed, later reconciling and forming a lifelong friendship—proving that even deadly confrontations could evolve into camaraderie.

Becoming the President of the United States isn’t easy. Some people devote years to the pursuit and never make the grade like Lyndon LaRouche, who ran for President 8 times and never succeeded. Others show up once and inexplicably win the day. And while being President is impressive all on its own, a number of Presidents also had other remarkable claims to fame they could make that have followed them throughout history. 

10. Lincoln is the Only President Who Holds a Patent

Around 25% of people in surveys will identify Benjamin Franklin as a past president, despite the fact he never was. But Franklin was a prominent inventor. When you take him out of the presidential pool, the number of actual inventors who have been President shrinks considerably. In fact, only one president has ever had a patent granted in their name, and that was Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln was elected in 1861, but some years earlier, in 1849, he was granted a patent for a device that could be used to buoy vessels over shoals. Patent No. 6,469 was Lincoln’s only patent and came about thanks to a stint working as a ferryman who had to deal with the hassle of getting a vessel over shoals. He ended up stranded twice when his boats ran aground. 

The invention was essentially airbags for a boat. The inflatable devices could be lowered on the sides of a boat, inflated, and used to get the boat over the shoals and back in the water again. Apparently, it was never actually built and there is some doubt about whether it would even work.

9. Teddy Roosevelt is the Only President Confirmed to Have a Tattoo (Sort Of)

Word is that 30% of Americans have tattoos as of 2019. That means, statistically, about 13 Presidents should have had tattoos. Of course, no one was likely to have tattoos back in Washington’s day, but surely at least one President had a tattoo, right? Well, yes. Just one. At least after a fashion.

Though rumors about that both Roosevelts were inked along with Polk, Eisenhower, and even Andrew Jackson, there is only one confirmed presidential tattoo and that belonged to the most hardcore man to ever hold the office: Teddy Roosevelt. 

You can Google it right now and discover no end of articles that claim Roosevelt had his family crest tattooed on his chest. Turns out, that’s not true. It started as a joke in an old humor magazine from 1912. They included doctored photos of a fully tatted-up Roosevelt to sell the joke. 

In fact, Roosevelt did have a kind of tattoo on his chest, but it wasn’t intentional. Ever the man’s man, apparently the President had run afoul of some gunpowder when he was 13 and given himself a gunpowder tattoo across his chest. That’s what you call it when you fire a weapon and hot gunpowder blows back across your flesh, burning its way into you, leaving a permanent reminder. 

8. Martin Van Buren Was the Only President Who Spoke English as a Second Language

Most American Presidents only speak English. That said, there have been a handful of bilingual Presidents over the years as well. A number of early Presidents like John Adams and James Monroe were fluent in French. Both Roosevelts could speak German to some degree, as could Bill Clinton. A few even spoke Latin. But Martin Van Buren was not just the only one who spoke Dutch, he was the only one for whom English was his second language.  

Van Buren’s family was Dutch and though he was born in Kinderhook, New York, he grew up speaking his family’s native tongue and learned English later. His father owned a tavern which, at the time, was essentially the hub of political activity in any given community. People would get together, have a drink, and talk politics, so he would have been exposed from an early age. 

7. Woodrow Wilson Was the Only President With a PhD

When you wade into the waters of “who was the smartest President” you’re going to find a lot of answers and probably a lot of insults. Intelligence, of course, is not as easy to measure as some might think. But we can, at least, compare how educated and accomplished the Presidents were to see how they stack up to one another. And while many had diverse careers and educations and practiced law and other such things, only one President has ever attained a PhD.

Woodrow Wilson, who served from 1913 to 1921, had earned a PhD from Johns Hopkins University. His area of speciality was Political Science, which seems fitting.

A number of Presidents had degrees, but they didn’t stick around for advanced one. Washington earned a surveyor’s license from college but didn’t do a Bachelor’s. Lincoln, Van Buren, Jackson, Fillmore, Taylor, and Cleveland never attended college at all. Truman, McKinley, Monroe and Harrison attended colleges but never finished out their degrees. 

6. James Buchanan Was the Only Bachelor President

We take it for granted these days that a President has a First Lady. When a woman gets elected, if she’s married, it’s likely her husband will be called the First Gentleman. James Buchanan is the only President so far who has thrown this tradition for a bit of a loop as he was the only President ever elected as a bachelor.

He had been engaged years before taking office, but he broke off that engagement shortly before the wedding. During his time in office, he had a “sort of” First Lady in the form of his niece, Harriet Lane. It’s said that she performed many of the same functions as other First Ladies and she became fairly well-liked as a result. 

5. President Tyler is the Only President to Not Be Buried Under an American Flag

When a President dies, the funeral is typically a big deal. A state funeral is held and people will come from all across the country to pay their respects. When George H. W. Bush died in 2018, world leaders attended and a day of mourning was held. President Bush’s casket, draped with the American flag, was on display during the proceedings. It was similar to every presidential funeral before it with the notable exception of one. 

When John Tyler died, he was the only President in history to be laid to rest under a flag that did not belong to the country he represented. Instead, he was buried under the Confederate flag. There’s a reason Tyler is generally considered one of the worst Presidents in history. 

Tyler is buried at the Hollywood Cemetery, which, despite the name, is located in Richmond, Virginia. His was the only funeral not to be officially recognized in Washington DC. Confederate President Jefferson Davis made the funeral a spectacle and included the Confederate flag across the President’s casket. 

4. Rutherford Hayes is the Only President Revered in Paraguay

You can’t shake a stick without hitting something that was named in honor of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and so on. Schools, bridges, parks, roads, you name it. There’s no end to the things named for some of those most iconic Presidents all across the country. But what about beyond the US borders?

One president stands head and shoulders above the others when it comes to appreciation on foreign soil.Rutherford B. Hayes is a legend unto himself in the country of Paraguay. Unlike in America, where just short of nothing is named after Hayes. Paraguay offers up a river, a province, a town and even a soccer team all named in honor of the one-term president.

The reason for the Paraguayan love of Hayes dates back to 1877. After Paraguay had gone to war with Brazil and Argentina, the country had lost huge amounts of land to the other nations. When Argentina tried to claim a chunk of wilderness space, the two countries agreed to forgo an actual war in favor of neutral, third party arbitration. This was before the UN existed, so the countries asked the USA to determine who got the land. President Hayes decided in favor of Paraguay, making him a local hero for years to come. 

3. James Madison was a Tiny Man

You may think of a President as a larger than life character. It helps that some Presidents really were incredibly large. Abe Lincoln was 6-foot-4. Lyndon Johnson and Donald Trump were both about 6-foot-3. But if Lincoln is the tallest (he was), then one of those 46 men has to be the shortest. The smallest President in history was James Madison and appreciating just how slight a man he was takes a bit of time. He was short statured and also alleged to be incredibly light as well.

Official records indicate Madison was 5-foot-4. His weight seemed to hover somewhere around 100 pounds. That would generally be considered underweight for someone of that height. It was also said he was so soft spoken it was hard to hear him when he made speeches. 

2. Ronald Reagan Was the Only President to Wear a Nazi Uniform (in a movie)

In contemporary history, you’d be hard pressed to find a more deservedly hated group than the Nazis. They were terrible in pretty much every conceivable way. Since the end of the war, and even before actually, they’ve also been firmly enshrined in pop culture. They’re almost perfect villains and can be thwarted by any hero without risk of offending people by using them as foils in a story because they’re so terrible no one doesn’t want to see them destroyed. That’s why Captain America has been punching out Nazis since the early 1940s and literally hundreds of films have been made showing other heroes doing the same.

The task of playing a Nazi on film has to be at least a little daunting for actors who don’t want people associating them with hatred but, if we all understand it’s fiction, what’s the harm, right? And maybe that’s why the only President in American history to ever wear a Nazi uniform, at least that we know of, was the one who was acting in a movie. Ronald Reagan once dressed as a Nazi for the movie Desperate Journey back in 1942. 

1. Grover Cleveland is the Only President Who Worked As An Executioner

No one’s first job is ever President. You have to do a lot to get to that point. In fact, you can’t even be President unless you’re 35. So that means every President likely had a handful of jobs before they got to where they were. Some were senators or congressmen, some were lawyers or business people. And Grover Cleveland? He was an executioner.

Before he took office, Cleveland was a lawman in New York. He worked as the sheriff of Erie County and that job also involved doing double duty as the county executioner. The chosen method at the time, and this was in the mid-1800s, was hanging.

During his tenure as sheriff/hangman, Cleveland was responsible for putting two men to death. Both were murderers and both were hung by Cleveland publicly. 

Cleveland was not the only president to take another’s life – many were soldiers before they took office and fought in battles that saw large losses of life. Some, like Andrew Jackson, fought duels. Cleveland was just the only one to do so presumably with a black sack over his head in an official capacity.

Abraham Lincoln developed a reputation for being a politician with integrity, honor, and ethics, which is why he was nicknamed Honest Abe. He was also called The Great Emancipator, for his role in ending slavery. Another example: John F. Kennedy was known simply as JFK, after the initials in his name. It was basic, but instantly recognizable and memorable.

The point is that, even when you are President of the United States, you don’t always get addressed with the esteem that your position should include. Sure, some nicknames are meant to be jovial, even loving, but plenty of others are belittling or just plain weird.

We’ve all heard of Tricky Dick and The Gipper, but here are the stories behind 10 other bizarre presidential nicknames.

10. The Last Cocked Hat

Fashion can be a fickle mistress, even when you are the commander-in-chief. That’s the lesson that James Monroe, fifth President of the United States, learned when he became known as “the Last Cocked Hat.” 

This moniker referenced Monroe’s outdated sartorial choices. Even though he was in office during the 1820s, he still dressed in the manner common during the American Revolution: knee-breeches, white, powdered wigs, and the tricorn hat. The presidents who followed him adopted more modern fashion choices, which is why Monroe was called “the last cocked hat.”

This nickname followed him around for the rest of his life and, although we don’t know how Monroe felt about it, we can at least say that the epithet was still an affectionate one and was never intended to be used in a derogatory manner, which is definitely not the case for all the entries on this list. Speaking of which…

9. Ten-Cent Jimmy

“There’s an old saying in Tennessee — I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can’t get fooled again.”

This little gaffe from George W. Bush taught him that when you are President of the United States, everything you say is scrutinized and your political opponents are more than happy to criticize you whenever you put your foot in your mouth. This is especially true during an election when just one flub could cost you the race, as James Buchanan almost found out to his own detriment.

During the 1856 presidential election, Democratic Party candidate James Buchanan drew the ire of the working classes when he said that he thought that ten cents a day represented a fair wage for manual laborers. The Republicans pounced on the opportunity and mockingly referred to Buchanan as “Ten-Cent Jimmy,” a nickname that followed him at rallies throughout the election campaign.

This could have cost Buchanan the election, but he played the slavery card, claiming that each state should decide on its own if slavery should be outlawed or not, whereas his Republican opponent, John C. Frémont, wanted the practice abolished in the entire country. This secured Buchanan the southern vote and won him the election, despite his “Ten-Cent Jimmy” gaffe.

8. Uncle Jumbo

There were quite a few presidents who were well-known for their voracious appetites and prodigious girths. One of them was Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, best remembered for being the only one in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms. In fact, weighing between 260 and 280 pounds during his political career, Cleveland was the second-heaviest US President in history, behind only William Taft. (But, more on him later.)

It is no surprise, then, that Cleveland had gained the moniker “Uncle Jumbo.” However, it seems that the nickname at least came from a place of affection, starting with his nieces and nephews and then extending to his friends and family. Cleveland embraced the name and used it to paint this picture of himself as the friendly, caring uncle, which resonated with the voters and helped him get elected.

7. The Human Iceberg

“The Human Iceberg” sounds like a nickname you would give to an NFL player, or maybe a supervillain, but instead it went to the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison.

Allegedly, this sobriquet was due to his private character, which was frigid, quiet, and stiff, in stark contrast to his lively and engaging public persona. Put Harrison in front of a crowd of 30,000 and he would have no problem capturing and captivating their attention, but place him in a room with just a handful of people and he would struggle to string words together for longer than two minutes.

Critics of Harrison believed the “human iceberg” moniker also suited his presidency since he slowly lumbered through it without any events of note.

6. Big Lub

As we previously mentioned, Grover Cleveland was the second-heaviest president after William Howard Taft, who weighed up to 350 pounds during his time in office. Nowadays, Taft is most famous for being so fat that he once got stuck inside the bathtub of the White House, although that story is likely an urban legend that doesn’t really hold water.

Even so, it is true that Taft was mocked in his time for his size and appetite, often being referred to as “Big Lub.” While you may say that that didn’t sound worse than “Uncle Jumbo,” it was the maliciousness behind the words that made the difference. While “Uncle Jumbo” was a term of endearment for Cleveland from his family, “Big Lub” was a nickname that Taft picked up during his school years and it haunted him all his life, even when he became President of the United States.

At least his wife Nellie had a more affectionate moniker for the portly president. She called him “Sleeping Beauty” because Taft often nodded off at parties.

5. Uncle Corn Pone

While we are discussing hurtful nicknames, we have to include “Uncle Corn Pone,” a moniker reserved for the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. In this case, “corn pone” refers to a rural, unsophisticated person, thus ridiculing LBJ’s southern roots since he was born in Texas. 

But the most upsetting thing about the nickname was who came up with it – none other than the Kennedys. While Johnson served as vice president, JFK and his brothers mocked him by calling him either “Uncle Corn Pone” or “Rufus Corn Pone.” But perhaps even more hurtful was their name for LBJ’s wife, Lady Bird Johnson, whom they referred to as “Uncle Corn Pone’s little pork chop.”

4. The Madman from Massachusetts

Again, the “Madman from Massachusetts” sounds like the kind of nickname that you would use for someone making their way to the ring at Wrestlemania, but instead, it was the moniker given to the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams. 

What did Adams do that got him branded as a madman? Well, he dared question the value of slavery. Initially, Adams deemed slavery immoral, but necessary in order to continue the Union. As the years went on, he blossomed into a full-blown abolitionist who believed that either the South would abolish slavery, or there would be civil war.

As you might imagine, such ideas earned him plenty of enemies, especially south of the Mason-Dixon Line. He narrowly avoided an official motion to be censured for his antislavery agitation back in 1842, when he was still a member of the House of Representatives. He garnered plenty of snubs and even threats on his life for his actions so, in retrospect, being called the “Madman from Massachusetts” was far from the worst thing he had to endure.

3. The Sphinx

Weirdly enough, there were two American presidents who were called “The Sphinx.” The first one is pretty straightforward. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was renowned as a man of few words, so he earned quite a few nicknames that referenced his taciturn demeanor – Silent Cal, Cautious Cal, and, strangest of all, the Sphinx of the Potomac.

The story behind the second nickname is a bit more interesting and it concerns Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only American president to serve three terms, even though he actually won four. The nickname actually has to do with his third, elusive presidential term. In 1939, FDR appeared ready to hang up his boots once his second term would end in 1940, following the presidential tradition of retiring after two turns as commander-in-chief. However, once World War II broke out, there was a lot of speculation that Roosevelt might run for a third term to guide the country through this crisis.

On this issue, FDR kept his cards close to his vest and said very little in the lead-up to the election. This prompted several newspapers to publish cartoons depicting Roosevelt as the Great Sphinx of Giza, unwilling to share the answer to the “third term question” with anyone else.

Then, on the evening of December 9, 1939, FDR attended the Gridiron Club’s winter dinner as the guest of honor. It included Washington journalists doing skits and poking fun at politicians, and the highlight of the night involved them bringing out an 8-foot-tall statue out of papier-mâché, with Roosevelt as the Sphinx. FDR loved it so much that he asked to keep it after the night was over, and it still sits at a place of honor inside the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

2. His Fraudulency, “Rutherfraud” B. Hayes

We have another twofer here, except this one involves two nicknames for the same president instead of the other way around.

When Rutherford B. Hayes became the 19th President of the United States, he did so under a cloud of controversy. The 1876 election was fraught with dissension because Hayes’s opponent, Samuel J. Tilden, actually won the popular vote. He was leading in the electoral vote, as well, but the race was so close in three states that both parties claimed the win. A special commission was set up by Congress to determine the winner and they declared the election in favor of Hayes, 185 electoral votes to 184.

After Hayes took office, his fiercest critics accused him of striking a “corrupt bargain” to win the presidency and gave him two nicknames to remind him of his undeserving win: “His Fraudulency” and “Rutherfraud B. Hayes.”

1. The Dude President

Without a doubt, the coolest presidential nickname goes to Chester A. Arthur, who was known as “The Dude President.” It’s a little weird how a man who constantly ranks among the most forgettable presidents got such a snazzy sobriquet, but it makes sense since the word had a slightly different meaning back then. 

Arthur didn’t become known as “The Dude” because he put a rug in the Oval Office that really tied the room together. Instead, he gained it due to his love of fashion, fripperies, and the finer things in life. Back then, a “dude” basically meant a “dandy” – a young man completely devoted to the latest styles and fads. 

And Chester A. Arthur was one such man. Tales of his expensive habits became common during his stay in office. He spent over $30,000 in 1880 money just to redecorate the White House and make it more glamorous for his parties. He had a wardrobe full of silk top hats and expensive clothes and shoes imported from Europe that would put any contemporary heiress or fashionista to shame.

Arthur also wasn’t exactly what you would call a workaholic. He was definitely a man who cherished his free time. Unsurprisingly, the “dude” nickname was used derogatorily in his own time, but Arthur didn’t seem to mind too much because he understood the golden rule…the Dude abides.

The United States has had 45 different Presidents up to and including Joe Biden, who is the 46th President. How can he be 46 if there were 45? Because Grover Cleveland was elected to two non-consecutive runs and is considered both the 22nd and the 24th President. That was a first! But it was far from the only Presidential first that is noteworthy. Let’s take a look at some other things pioneered by various Commanders-in-Chief.

10. William McKinley Was the First President to Ride in an Automobile

These days you can see photos online of Presidents driving around in semi-trucks, falling off Segways or flying around in helicopters. But the Office of the President is an old one and dates back to a time when, if the President needed to get to the White House in a hurry, he needed a fast horse.  One President had to be the first to ever actually ride inside an automobile and that was William McKinley.

The 25th President, McKinley was born in 1843 and was elected to office in 1897. Automobiles were extremely new at this time and, in fact, the first patent for a vehicle powered by a gasoline engine dates back to 1886.

The concept obviously caught on and it was in 1899 that McKinley would go for a ride in a Stanley Steamer, driven by Freelan Stanley, one of the creators of the vehicle. McKinley apparently didn’t enjoy the ride at all, said it felt like it was going to explode at any moment, and figured Stanley was a bit misguided if he thought they’d ever replace horses. 

9. Jimmy Carter Was the First President Born in a Hospital

In 2017, under 2% of all US births took place outside of hospitals. It’s just common practice for most people to go to a hospital to have a baby nowadays. Not so in the past, of course, and not every US President was born in the hospital. More surprising is that most US Presidents weren’t and the first President who was born in a hospital is still alive.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President, was born in 1924, in Plains, Georgia. His mother was a nurse and his family was somewhat prosperous but, despite being born in a hospital, his family home had no electricity and no indoor plumbing. The hospital where he was born is still around but, perhaps not surprisingly, it has undergone a name change and today it bears his mother’s name – the Lillian G. Carter Nursing Center.

8. Teddy Roosevelt Was the First President to Ride in an Airplane

McKinley may have been the first President to master motorized travel by land, but the skies belonged to the 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. Always known as something of an adventurer and an outdoorsman, Roosevelt had the opportunity to take to the air back in 1910 at a time when an airplane was mostly just wings and an engine and had few other amenities like walls or a windshield.

Roosevelt described his flight as “the bulliest experience” he ever had, which seems to mean he felt it was excellent and exciting. The plane, a Wright model A-B, managed to travel about three miles in three minutes which may not seem all that fast by today’s standards but if you’ve never flown anywhere ever than 60 miles per hour is probably the most amazing thing you’ve ever experienced. 

While Roosevelt seemed to love the flight, the pilot Arch Hoxsey pointed out that Roosevelt literally leaned over to wave at the crowd which was probably more risky than it needed to be.

7. Benjamin Harrison Was the First to Install Electricity in the White House

By 1925 only half of the homes in the United States had electricity. Acceptance and implementation was a slow process, and that was at every level. In Washington, 23rd President Benjamin Harrison would be the first to leap into the future by bringing electricity to the White House in 1891. But he never used it.

Like so many others, Harrison was mistrustful of the power flowing through the wires in his walls. It’s said his fear of electrocution ensured that, while the White House was wired and good to go, he never touched a light switch during his time there. The Chief Usher at the White House once said that he had to turn the lights on for the President at night and when he came back to work the following morning he’d have to turn them all off again. 

6. Martin Van Buren Was the First President Born an American

It’s somewhat ironic that Martin Van Buren was the first President born an American citizen and also the only President who didn’t speak English as a first language, a pair of curious firsts for the 8th President of the United States. Van Buren spoke Dutch growing up as his family was of Dutch ancestry and didn’t learn English until later.

Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York in 1782. Before him, all the previous Presidents had not been American citizens at birth. That’s not to say they were born in England or anything of that nature, they just didn’t technically qualify as American citizens at the time of their birth. For instance, George Washington was born at Popes Creek in what was then the British colony of Virginia. The previous Presidents all had to become American citizens later in life.

5. Andrew Jackson Was the First President to Kill a Man in Anger

Most Presidents have had some kind of military experience in the past. Of the 45 men who have served, 29 have a military background. Because of that, a number of US Presidents have also killed people before in combat situations. It’s not hard to imagine that General George Washington took the life of more than one enemy on the battlefield. And Grover Cleveland, while not a military man, worked in law enforcement and personally hanged men in that capacity.

Of all the Presidents who have personally taken lives, and there are a few, it’s Andrew Jackson who stands out as the first and only to do so out of any official capacity whatsoever. He didn’t kill enemy combatants; he didn’t execute criminals. The man just killed someone in a duel. 

Jackson, the 7th President, had a reputation as a hothead. He was known to be violent and combative and had already amassed a history of dueling when he squared off with Charles Dickinson in 1806.

The two men had a history of animosity already but things got worse when Dickinson accused Jackson of cheating him on a bet and then calling him a coward. The icing on the cake was him accusing Jackson’s wife of being a bigamist which wasn’t actually incorrect since she was not aware that her first husband had not finalized their divorce. Oops 

Dickinson hated Jackson so much he actually published his insults in a newspaper and that was more than the future President could handle. The two met and Dickinson shot Jackson square in the chest. Jackson, for his part, covered the wound and fired his own gun which failed. Then, in a breach of dueling rules, he re-cocked and fired again, killing the man. His own wound was obviously not enough to kill him.

4. John Quincy Adams Was the First President Ever Photographed

Photography dates back to 1826 in France. The first photo with a person in it was taken by Louis Daguerre in 1838. And the first American President to have his photo taken was John Quincy Adams back in 1843.

Word is that Adams thought the photos were hideous but one still managed to survive the experience and ended up in an antique shop in the 1970s. Someone bought it for 50 cents. It went on to sit at the National Portrait Gallery as the first photo of a President ever. Until someone found an earlier one.

Turns out Adams was a bit of a photo fanatic and while that one in the gallery was taken in August 1843, he’d sat for another photo earlier in the year as well. That one went on to sell at auction for over $360,000.

3. John F. Kennedy Was the First President to Pardon a Turkey

Every November when Thanksgiving rolls around you can count on seeing a somewhat official ceremony on TV in which the President of the United States grants clemency to the condemned by pardoning the official Thanksgiving turkey. 

For a time there have been a few stories about where and when this tradition started. It’s been said that Abraham Lincoln was once convinced by his son Tad to spare a turkey that he’d grown fond of but even if that tale is true, it was more of a one off than a tradition of pardoning a turkey. It was also claimed that President Truman came up with the turkey pardon ritual and his own Presidential Library had to release a statement saying that there were no documents to support the idea. 

It seems like the first President to ever officially pardon a turkey and start the annual tradition was John F. Kennedy. It had become a tradition to gift the sitting President with a turkey every Thanksgiving season and in 1963 the Washington Post used the term “pardon” when it detailed Kennedy saying “let’s keep him going” in reference to the turkey that Kennedy apparently felt sorry for. 

2. Dwight D. Eisenhower Was the First President of All 50 States

When someone is the President of the United States, that means they are the leader of all of those united states and any school kid in America should be able to tell you that there are 50 in total. That said, it wasn’t until 1959 when 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower was in office when anyone was actually President of all 50 states.

Arizona had become the 48th state way back in 1912 and that was where the states remained for 47 years. Hawaii and Alaska were not states, they were territories and didn’t count towards the total. But in 1959, Alaska officially became America’s 49th state in January and then Hawaii joined in August of that same year. 

The US has remained a country of 50 states ever since, nearly half a century at this point, but Eisenhower had the distinction of being the first President to claim he was the President of all 50.

1. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Was The First and Only President to Be Elected More Than Twice

A President can only serve two terms in office which is expressly stated in the 22nd Amendment. It begins with the line “No person shall be elected to the Office of the President more than twice.” So that’s pretty clear. It’s also why Franklin Delano Roosevelt qualifies as not just the first but the only President who can lay claim to winning more than twice. 

It was 1940 when FDR was elected to his third term in office. Prior to FDR there was no formal rule about serving long term in the office. In fact, there seemed to be an informal understanding that two was enough thanks to George Washington voluntarily passing on the idea of a third term. But as many people have learned throughout history, just because one person chooses to act a certain way, if it’s not a specific rule then someone else will act however they want.

When FDR was elected for a fourth term in 1945, it was pretty clear to some people that something needed to be done. The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, thus ensuring that no future president had the chance of coming dangerously close to emulating what America once considered to be tyranny by allowing one person to continuously rule.