Here Are 10 Amusing Anecdotes About U.S. Presidents!

Although it's been a long time since Washington's passing, credible medical research suggests he died due to acute epiglottitis, leading to airway obstruction and ultimately suffocation. His treatment was quite perilous. Stricken with a high fever, hoarse voice, and labored breathing, Washington, before the doctor's arrival, instructed his servant to perform bloodletting. Because he had seen that when his serfs were sick, they would automatically get better if they let blood out, so he decided to try. There were 4 times bloodletting, which amounted to a third of his total blood.

2. Jackson's Comical Misunderstanding of a Stroke

After his wife's death, Jackson, feeling lonely, was always suspicious of falling ill. Given his family history of strokes, he feared the same fate. Once, while playing chess with a young lady, Jackson turned pale, and his hand went limp. Startled, friends rushed to him, and Jackson exclaimed, "The dreaded moment has arrived! I've had a stroke!" When asked how he knew, Jackson weakly replied, "I just pinched my right leg several times, and I didn't feel a thing!" The young lady corrected him, saying, "Sir, you've been mistaken; you were pinching my leg!" Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.

3. First President to Reside in the White House: John Adams

John Adams, the second U.S. President, moved the capital from Philadelphia to Washington, becoming the first president to occupy the White House. As it was still under construction, Adams and his wife had to hang laundry in the East Room. Today, this room serves as the official reception area for the President.

4. Adams Forced to Be Interviewed in Water

President Adams had an unusual affinity for skinny-dipping. One day, while swimming, he discovered a lady sitting on his clothes. Surprised, he inquired, "What are you doing?" She replied, "I'm a journalist who has been trying to interview you about the state bank for months. Unable to meet you at the White House, I followed you here. If you don't grant the interview, I'll sit on your clothes forever." Adams, compelled, conducted the interview while in the water.

5. First Father-Son Presidents: John and John Quincy Adams

John Adams' son, John Quincy Adams, became the sixth President of the United States. The second father-son president is Bush. John Quincy Adams achieved little during his presidency. After his term, he returned to Congress as a representative, where his reputation far exceeded his time as president. Adams endeavored to abolish slavery, and the public began to reevaluate his actions during his presidential term, recognizing him as a person with insightful and noble ideals. He fell to the floor of the House of Representatives in 1848 after suffering a stroke and died two days later at the age of 80.

6. Two Presidents Associated with the Origin of "OK"

Whenever important documents were presented, One explanation traces the origin of "OK" to President Jackson's limited education. Whenever important documents were presented, Jackson tried to understand them as well as he could, but his poor literacy required his assistant to reinterpret them. However, due to his lack of spelling skills, he struggled to sign "all correct" correctly, resulting in the actual signature being "ol korekt." Eventually, he simplified it to the abbreviation "OK." Another explanation is linked to the birthplace of the eighth president, Martin Van Buren. Van Buren was born in Kinderhook, New York. Friends organized a club named the Old Kinderhook Club to support his presidential campaign. Supporters of Van Buren were then referred to as "OK."

7. The Man Pushed into the Presidency Through Deals By His Supporters

The nineteenth president, Rutherford Birchard Hayes, was known for his honesty and integrity during his tenure. However, his election to the presidency involved an unusual deal. At that time, another presidential candidate, Tilden, had secured the majority of the popular vote. Hayes's supporters privately promised certain favorable conditions to South Carolina, Louisiana, and Florida, with the requirement that they shift their votes towards Hayes. Hayes himself was unaware of this, continuing to exhibit his steadfast loyalty, practicality, and remarkable courage. Once in office, President Hayes demonstrated remarkably efficient governance, earning widespread praise nationwide.

8. The Last Civilian President Shot

James A. Garfield, the successor to Hayes, may well be the last president born into a civilian background. He was born in a small log cabin and lost his father during infancy. Just four months into his presidency, he was shot. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, attempted to use an induction balance device to locate the bullet in his spine, but with little success. Garfield persisted in his battle against the pain until exhaustion overcame him. Ten weeks later, in September 1881, he bid farewell to the world in his sleep.

9. Roosevelt's Unusual Reaction to Theft

After Theodore Roosevelt was robbed of many belongings, a close friend wrote a comforting letter to him. In response, Roosevelt wrote back, "Thank you for your consolation; I am doing well now. In reality, I am fortunate and should thank God. Firstly, the thief took my possessions without harming my life. Secondly, the thief only took a portion of my belongings, not everything. Thirdly, what is most pleasing is that the thief is the one facing consequences, not me."

10. Taft, the 300-pound President and Chief Justice

In American history, the only individual to hold both the positions of President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was William Howard Taft. Taft's presidency was largely due to the nomination and recommendation by his predecessor, President Theodore Roosevelt, who praised him for having the "most amiable character." Taft easily won the presidency in 1908 with an absolute majority of votes, becoming the 27th President of the United States. Weighing over 300 pounds, Taft is recognized as the heaviest president in terms of personal weight. Perhaps he could also be considered the most melancholic president, as he once remarked, "The White House is the loneliest place on Earth."