Debunked Myths about U.S. Presidents

Debunked Myths About U.S. Presidents by Galen Black

There are many stories that are told about the Presidents of these United States. Many of these stories are lies. They are made up by political enemies to embarrass or concocted by campaign managers to glorify or invented by internet web sites to help fill out lists of "Strange but True Facts about the Presidents." Well we are here to set the record straight on some of these lies that have become thought of as fact in our country. The following is a list of statements about U.S. Presidents that are completely and utterly untrue. I hope this will clear up any and all misconceptions that you have about those men that have lead the USA.

George Washington was a non-practicing vampire.
John Adams' inaugural speech was taken from a bawdy Irish pub song called "Miss O'Sullivan's Knickers"
Thomas Jefferson spent most of his spare time writing jokes for the popular 18th century comedy team, Williams and Rothchild.
James Madison could not speak a word of English.
James Monroe only ate soup.
John Quincy Adams milked cows with his toes.
Andrew Jackson's last will and testament bequeathed his entire estate to a flower bed.
Martin Van Buren had his name legally changed from "Marten" at the age of 17.
William H. Harrison's death from pleurisy was an act of Congress (HR 12).
John Tyler signed a bill over turning the death of William H. Harrison. (SB 109)
James K. Polk spent most of his nights in office sleeping in a tree.
Zachary Taylor routinely called his Vice President, "Fillard Millmore"
Millard Fillmore preferred dusting to the duties of President and let his maids run cabinet meetings while he cleaned.
Franklin Pierce won the 1852 election 2 days after he was paroled from prison.
James Buchanan never left the oval office while President.
Abraham Lincoln wrote two plays with John Wilkes Booth in mind to play the lead.
Andrew Johnson never met Abraham Lincoln.
Ulysses S. Grant invented the "pull my finger" gag.
Rutherford B. Hayes refused to walk, he would only skip from place to place.
James A. Garfield was shot because he was a practicing vampire.
Chester A. Arthur(There are no known lies or untrue facts about Chester A. Arthur)
Grover Cleveland attended the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty dressed like the monument.
Benjamin Harrison petitioned Congress to split the Dakotas into East and West Dakota instead of North and South.
Grover Cleveland is unrelated to the 22nd president, Grover Cleveland.
William McKinley's assassin was acting in self-defense, after the Commander in Chief drew a knife and asked for the man's wallet.
Theodore Roosevelt never said the words "I love you."
William H. Taft wore a helium filled suit in order to cover his gaunt appearance.
Woodrow Wilson's twin brother, Pete, acted as President during Wilson's first and second term.
Warren G. Harding did not have a belly button.
Calvin Coolidge never bathed.
Herbert Hoover was made of a mixture of cheese and pasta.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was forced by the Depression to work a second job as a shoe salesman, during his first term in office.
Harry S Truman often announced his trips to the lavatory by saying "time for the Enola Gay to make another drop."
Dwight D. Eisenhower hated the nickname "Ike".
John F. Kennedy used the alias "Lee Harvey" while working as a dishwasher at a New Hampshire brothel.
Lyndon B. Johnson used the Lincoln Bedroom as his favorite hiding place during the daily Cabinet hide-n-go seek games.
Richard M. Nixon believed the moon landing was faked to make Kennedy look good.
Gerald R. Ford saw "A Chorus Line" 90 times while in office.
Jimmy Carter snorted cocaine off the presidential portrait of William Henry Harrison.
Ronald Reagan fired 200 painters for not painting the White House the correct shade of white.
George Bush ordered the White House staff to call him "Mistah President."
William Clinton loved to challenge foreign heads of state to games of "Mouse Trap."
George W. Bush, Jr. plays third base for the Texas Rangers.

Back to the Archive