John F. Kennedy was a speed reader, reading 1,200 words per minute. He also kept the White House pool at 90 degrees when he was President.
Photo Credit: FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Get Obsessed
Presidents In the Home
by Homesessive
When it comes to the presidents of the United States, certain facts and claims to fame are often associated with each man. Whether it be drastic, life-changing political moves or impactful speeches, the presidents of our country definitely made a lasting impression. In honor of President's Day, we wanted to take a look into the lives of these men as more than leaders of our country. That's why we've compiled this list of fun facts you may not know about the presidents life in the home.
View the gallery above to check out fun facts about the presidents and their homes.
Ranging from the first President to put a telephone in his home in the Oval Office or keeping the White House pool set to a specific temperature, all of these leading men have quirks and habits around the home. It can sometimes be hard to imagine the leader of our nation as anything more--but inside the home, they're just like the rest of us.
Photo Credit: FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images
-
Pin It
-
Pin It
Theodore Roosevelt's mother avoided entering his childhood room because he always had quite a few insects and bugs in is room. We wonder if he kept bugs in his home during his stay that the White House!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Abraham Lincoln was fond of pets of all kinds. Throughout his life, you would find horses, cats, dogs and even a turkey in his home.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Andrew Jackson was the first president born in a log cabin. Later, five other presidents were also born in log cabins.
Photo Credit: Corbis
-
Pin It
Ronald Reagan died on June 5, 2004, in his home in California. Here former first lady Nancy Reagan watches the funeral procession of her husband of nearly 52 years.
Photo Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images
-
Pin It
While they were making the White House their home, Bill Clinton developed an unspoken pact with the press that writing about his daughter Chelsea was strictly off limits.
Photo Credit: Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images
-
Pin It
Clinton was part of a Jazz trio in high school called Three Blind Mice. His affinity for the saxophone continued throughout his adult life.
Photo Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
-
Pin It
Thomas Jefferson was one of the preeminent wine connoisseurs of his age. His home, Monticello, had an enormous wine cellar that was 17 12 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet high. Talk about impressive!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Jefferson also had a sweet tooth and was known to have loved vanilla ice cream! He probably first tasted ice cream while traveling in France. He brought home a recipe for it, which can now be found in the Library of Congress.
Photo Credit: jupiterimages
-
Pin It
Although a great war hero and witness to some of the bloodiest battles in history, Ulysse's S. Grant couldn’t stand the sight of blood. In fact, rare steak nauseated him and he was known to cook his meat in his kitchen to the point of charring.
Photo Credit: Alamy
-
Pin It
Lyndon B. Johnson died very near his hometown. His final resting place was only one mile from the house he was born in.
Photo Credit: Shel Hershorn/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
-
Pin It
James Monroe's daughter was the first to be married in the White House. Following this, many president's children were married in on Pennsylvania avenue. To the left President Nixon and his daughter dance at her wedding celebration.
Photo Credit: National Archive/Newsmakers
-
Pin It
In 1970 the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley visited Richard Nixon in his home at the White House.
Photo Credit: National Archive/Newsmakers
-
Pin It
Dwight D. Eisenhower was an avid golfer. It is reported he spent approximately 150 days a year on the golf course. The former president even installed a putting green on the White House lawn.
Photo Credit: Pete Souza/White House via Getty Images
-
Pin It
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a true family and home man, he had 6 children and 13 grandchildren.
Photo Credit: Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
-
Pin It
President Barack Obama once filled in as a coach for one of daughter Sasha's basketball games. He tapped then-personal aide Reggie Love, a former Duke basketball player, to sub as a coach as well. Here President Obama and Sasha enjoy the game from the bleachers.
Photo Credit: Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images
-
Pin It
Rutherford B. Hayes' wife Lucy banned dancing, smoking, alcohol and card playing from the White House. Lucy came to be known as “Lemonade Lucy” for her decision to not serve any alcohol.
Photo Credit: Fotosearch/Getty Images
-
Pin It
President Hayes was also the first president to use a telephone while in office. It was installed in the White House in 1879 by none other than Alexander Graham Bell.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
Chester Arthur was the first president to take the Oath of Office in his own home. He actually took the oath twice. The first time was at his personal residence in New York City hours after President Garfield died. Arthur took the oath again two days later after returning to Washington.
Photo Credit: Buyenlarge/Getty Images
-
Pin It
James Garfield liked to juggle Indian clubs to stay in shape and build muscles. This was a popular exercise device during the late 19th and early 20th century. The clubs were shaped like bowling pins and were swung in patterns as part of an exercise routine.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
-
Pin It
The heaviest President was William Howard Taft who sometimes tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms) during his tenure. After he became stuck in the White House bathtub, Taft ordered a new one installed. The replacement was big enough to hold four grown men of average size.
Photo Credit: Louis Van Oeyen/Western Reserve Historical Society/Getty Images
-
Pin It
James Buchanan was the first US President to wear blue jeans in the Oval Office. In his spare time, he raised pygmy goats in the White House Rose Garden.
Photo Credit: Alamy
StyleList Home