I’ve been attempting to delve into learning strange facts about U.S. presidents in conjunction with also writing a “jig” style song with a line about each president. In the midst of that, here are some fascinating things I’ve learned:

Chester Arthur would have loved shopping malls! More about his inner fashionista in a bit…

• William Taft hoped that a line of stuffed opossum toys named “Billy” would overtake the teddy bear in popularity (sadly they did not though I would love to get my hands on one)
• Andrew Johnson previously worked as an indentured servant as a child and was trained as a tailor. He ran away from his “master” and was never caught. However, he retained his skills as a tailor and made all of his own suits while he was president!
• Calvin Coolidge had a couple of pet raccoons named Reuben and Rebekah. Not to be outdone, Herbert Hoover’s sons had a couple of pet gators!
• The 19th century boasted a couple of teetotaler presidents – Polk – and Hayes (who prohibited booze at the White House). Kind of makes you wonder if the writer of Married With Children made Polk High Al Bundy’s alma mater for a reason!
• Everyone virtually hated John Tyler.
• Grover Cleveland wound up marrying a woman whom he became the legal guardian of when she was 11 after a friend’s death.
• James Garfield could write Latin with one hand and Greek with another.
• Chester Arthur was a bit of a dandy (which today would mean “clothes horse”) – and had – at one time – 80 pairs of pants!