8 Little-Known Facts about US Presidents
From George Washington’s dentures to Barack Obama’s basketball obsession, there are plenty of fascinating facts about U.S. presidents that don’t make it into history books. Here are eight little-known tidbits you might not know about some of our nation’s leaders.
1. **George Washington’s Dentures** – Our first president is known for his wooden teeth, but did you know he actually had several sets of false teeth throughout his life? His first set was made from hippopotamus ivory and human teeth, while later sets were made from gold, ivory, and even animal teeth.
2. **Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination Attempts** – The 16th president survived multiple attempts on his life before finally being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in 1865. In fact, one attempt occurred just a few weeks after he took office when an unstable man tried to shoot him as he walked through Baltimore.
3. **John F. Kennedy’s Love for Jelly Beans** – While campaigning for presidency, JFK discovered jelly beans and ordered them by the jarful. He loved them so much that they became a staple at White House events and press conferences.
4. **Ronald Reagan’s Hollywood Career** – Before becoming governor of California and eventually President of the United States, Ronald Reagan worked as an actor in Hollywood. He appeared in over 50 films during his career, including “Casablanca” and “The Voice of the Turtle.”
5. **Bill Clinton’s Saxophone Skills** – During his time at Oxford University, Bill Clinton studied saxophone under jazz legend David Sanborn. He continued playing throughout his political career and even performed with famous musicians like Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.
6. **Barack Obama’s Basketball Obsession** – A self-proclaimed sports fanatic, Barack Obama played basketball regularly throughout his presidency. He even installed a court at the White House and hosted games with friends and staffers.
7. **Donald Trump’s Miss USA Scandal** – As owner of the Miss Universe Organization, Donald Trump faced controversy when a contestant accused him of rigging the competition to favor certain countries. Despite denying any wrongdoing, he ultimately sold his ownership stake in the organization in 2015.
8. **Joe Biden’s Amtrak Habit** – Vice President Joe Biden has been riding Amtrak trains between Delaware and Washington DC since he was elected to Senate in 1972. He loves the train so much that he once said, “I wish I could ride Amtrak more often than I do.”