Jason English
Group Activity! Presidential Library Scavenger Hunt
by Jason English - November 19, 2009 - 2:24 PM

Travolta-Diana

I was poking around the Reagan Library’s online archives (just for kicks) when I found this photo, captioned “Princess Diana dancing with John Travolta in the entrance hall at the White House. 11/9/85.” You can see the President and First Lady in the background. I found this image roughly 33 seconds into my visit, which leads me to believe there’s gold in them thar hills. If you’re just sitting around waiting for a research project, this one’s for you—and you might win a t-shirt for your troubles.

Let’s compile the coolest, weirdest, most impressive and most embarrassing photos put online by presidential libraries. Here are some links to get you started:

The Reagan Library
*
Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
*
Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace Foundation
*
Ford Library & Museum
*
Carter Library & Museum
*
George H.W. Bush Library & Museum
*
George W. Bush Presidential Center
*
LBJ Library & Museum
*
JFK Library
*
Eisenhower Library & Museum
*
Truman Presidential Museum

We’ll award free mental_floss t-shirts to the (three) readers who find the most bizarre photos. Just leave a comment with the link to the photo and a caption—an original caption or quote from the library’s site. And I’ll post a round-up of the best of the bunch next week. Happy hunting.

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Comments (55)

  1. Actually that’s not Nancy dancing with Ronnie, she’s a little further to the left

    posted by Lee on 11-19-2009 at 2:27 pm

  2. The first of what willprobably be several entries:
    http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/FAQs/dog/JPEG/A5564-10.jpg

    LBJ “singing” with one of his dogs.

    posted by Tom on 11-19-2009 at 2:34 pm

  3. I found a picture of Truman (while he was Vice-President) playing piano for Lauren Bacall
    February 10, 1945

    http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/64-13-02.jpg

    posted by Chanel on 11-19-2009 at 2:36 pm

  4. Can we enter more than once? These sites are goldmines.

    http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/images/avproj/pop-ups/H0023-04.html

    Best Oregon Trail Halloween costumes I’ve ever seen! (OMG, the dog pulling the Ponderosa wagon is priceless.)

    On a completely unrelated note, holy crap, college-aged Gerald Ford was really hot. That’s so wrong somehow.

    posted by Rachael on 11-19-2009 at 2:42 pm

  5. http://www.garfieldasgarfield.com/?p=150

    Not found on a Presidential website, but contains a president and is hilarious to boot!

    posted by Jeff on 11-19-2009 at 2:48 pm

  6. President Kennedy with ice cream cone, 31 August 1963

    Everybody needs a little ice cream in their life.

    posted by Megan on 11-19-2009 at 2:49 pm

  7. http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset+Tree/Asset+Viewers/Image+Asset+Viewer.htm?guid=A79F21C4-023E-47C8-8B41-F59517738D1D&type=Image

    Woops. Here’s the link.

    posted by Megan on 11-19-2009 at 2:50 pm

  8. http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset+Tree/Asset+Viewers/Image+Asset+Viewer.htm?guid=A79F21C4-023E-47C8-8B41-F59517738D1D&type=Image

    posted by Megan on 11-19-2009 at 2:51 pm

  9. Cool pictures? How about George Harrison and Billy Preston with President Ford

    http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/images/avproj/pop-ups/A2428-14A.html

    posted by Kristine on 11-19-2009 at 2:52 pm

  10. President Bush – Is he stretching or pushing a golf cart?

    posted by Cindy on 11-19-2009 at 2:55 pm

  11. http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/gallery.php?id=26

    I can’t link directly to the photo, but it’s #10 – “Baseball glove used by George Bush at Yale, 1945-1948″.

    Wait, so… they gave George H W Bush his OWN baseball glove from his time at Yale? It doesn’t say who presented him with the gift, but can you imagine opening up presents and finding your OWN glove in there? “Wow Stevie, thanks for giving this back, even though you borrowed it in 1948 for a ‘quick throw’.” Or perhaps it was more of a gift to remember his athletic days now that he was an old man?

    Worst gift ever. It’s like stealing someone’s laptop nowadays and just wrapping it up and returning it for Christmas.

    posted by AM on 11-19-2009 at 2:58 pm

  12. president bush with a naval cadet – looks like the tango, but i’m no expert…

    http://www.georgewbushcenter.com/c.rvI2IaNVJyE/b.5574193/k.9680/We_the_People/siteapps/tools/PhotoDetail.aspx?c=rvI2IaNVJyE&b=5574193&p={792D4D70-B252-4EE5-AA76-C9B64EE03D45}&st=ASC

    posted by casual_observer on 11-19-2009 at 3:00 pm

  13. No where near as cool, but here’s a stunningly beautiful Angela Lansbury with president Truman

    http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/displayimage.php?pointer=25456&people=&listid=5

    posted by Angela on 11-19-2009 at 3:00 pm

  14. http://www.georgewbushcenter.com/atf/cf/%7B6433AFB8-BFEA-45CA-B031-405CB48AA120%7D/We-the-People-img-05.jpg

    let’s try that again!

    posted by casual_observer on 11-19-2009 at 3:01 pm

  15. I like the 1989 Bush Family Christmas Portrait. Eighties fashion and style on full display here…The big hair, the bright, clashing colors, gigantic eye glass frames…and for that added touch of class: President Bush’s cowboy boots adorned with the Texas flag.

    Can I get a yee-haw?!

    http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/gallery.php?id=25

    Photo #: P09088-08A (2nd row, sixth photo over)

    posted by Jennifer on 11-19-2009 at 3:01 pm

  16. Truman’s teeny, tiny, little, psychedelic, bathing suit:

    http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/view.php?id=3154&rr=

    posted by Maria on 11-19-2009 at 3:03 pm

  17. Oops. Forgot the link.

    http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/image.php?id=2432&filename=P39219-17.jpg

    President Bush – Stretching or pushing a golf cart?

    posted by Cindy on 11-19-2009 at 3:05 pm

  18. http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/h23-3.jpg

    and everyone was up in arms about seeing Obama shirtless…Look at those short shorts on Pres. Reagan.

    posted by Al on 11-19-2009 at 3:06 pm

  19. Also: Reagan pretending to be a statue head
    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c21497-34.jpg

    And White House The Musical
    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c48662-27.jpg

    posted by Angela on 11-19-2009 at 3:11 pm

  20. http://media.nara.gov/media/images/24/2/24-0106a.gif
    Zbigniew Brzezinski, 08/19/1977
    ^ Carter white house photos
    No idea who the dude is but this made me laugh.

    http://media.nara.gov/media/images/30/3/30-0211a.gif
    Richard M. Nixon shaking hands with armed forces in Vietnam, 07/30/1969

    Magical Mystery Tour
    bit of irony, bit of tragedy, bit of funny

    http://media.nara.gov/media/images/30/2/30-0123a.gif
    NIxon meeting with Sammy Davis Jr, 03/04/1973

    The book intrigues me. What could it be? A bible? Poetry? One of those sneaky things with the hole cut inside for hiding
    guns and or knives?

    posted by blink on 11-19-2009 at 3:19 pm

  21. Another one:

    http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/Museum/exhibit/page_7.php

    First picture at the top, can’t link directly thanks to Flash-based interface.

    Not only does Ike look ridiculous in his chef’s hat, he also appears to be pushing the head of a miniature woman into his frying basket.

    captcha: Burke’s hocks, strikingly appropriate given this picture

    posted by Rachael on 11-19-2009 at 3:20 pm

  22. From the Truman Library, a picture of American and Russian soldiers dancing after dinner outside, with a picture of Stalin hanging from the three… Bizarre.

    posted by Janelle on 11-19-2009 at 3:21 pm

  23. http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/displayimage.php?pointer=602&people=&listid=1

    posted by Janelle on 11-19-2009 at 3:22 pm

  24. Not sure if I’m posting this website correctly…

    http://www.trumanlibrary.org/photographs/displayimage.php?pointer=602&people=&listid=1

    posted by Janelle on 11-19-2009 at 3:23 pm

  25. Here is a link of Eisenhower’s Senior Class photo. (All 4 of them!)

    The discription of senior fellowoman Nelle Graves is priceless! Can you imagine having a discription like this in today’s world? I think not.

    http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/All_About_Ike/Early%20Years/Images/Yearbook_photo_300.JPG

    posted by Scott on 11-19-2009 at 3:30 pm

  26. Nancy Reagan having a bad acid trip.

    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/C1580-15.jpg

    posted by Shnax on 11-19-2009 at 3:42 pm

  27. http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/photo-ClintonWH6.html

    Right corner, top picture and the picture beneath it

    posted by David on 11-19-2009 at 4:01 pm

  28. http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/photo-ClintonWH7.html

    2nd Row, Right Side and 5th Row…Clinton sure likes his cat.

    posted by David on 11-19-2009 at 4:02 pm

  29. http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c2733-18.jpg

    posted by Ryan on 11-19-2009 at 4:04 pm

  30. Bizarre photo, but totally something you’d see in MentalFloss content:
    President Kennedy’s desk with coconut shell, 09 August 1962
    http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset+Tree/Asset+Viewers/Image+Asset+Viewer.htm?guid={4CCBCD58-4877-42F2-986F-A43C40218AA7}&type=lgImage
    There’s actually a story behind it that makes it not as bizarre, but interesting nonetheless:
    “While John F. Kennedy was serving in WWII as commander of the PT109, his boat was hit by a Japanese destroyer and his crew was stranded in the Solomon Islands. Lieutenant (jg) John F. Kennedy carved this coconut shell with a message and gave it to two natives to deliver to the PT base at Rendova so he and his crew would be rescued. The message carved on the coconut shell reads “NAURO ISL…COMMANDER…NATIVE KNOWS POS’IT…HE CAN PILOT…11 ALIVE…NEED SMALL BOAT…KENNEDY”

    posted by Nicole on 11-19-2009 at 4:05 pm

  31. http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/photo-ClintonWH15.html

    5th Row, Left Side…I love this Clinton Archive!

    posted by David on 11-19-2009 at 4:05 pm

  32. I vote for Ryan’s @ 4:04 PM. I doubt anyone will top that.

    posted by Witty Nickname on 11-19-2009 at 4:06 pm

  33. My link didn’t work, but you can figure it out I’m sure:
    Select from http until lgImage and copy/paste into browser.

    posted by Nicole on 11-19-2009 at 4:07 pm

  34. The first lady Betty Ford dancing on the table… I saw this awhile ago and thought it was too funny

    http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/images/avproj/pop-ups/B2843-09A.html

    posted by Lisa on 11-19-2009 at 4:31 pm

  35. Ernest Hemingway in Havana Harbor with a marlin (“It was THIS big!”)

    (JFK Library)

    http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset+Tree/Asset+Viewers/Image+Asset+Viewer.htm?guid={6250FA41-942A-4582-BF56-D8A7437DCED9}&type=Image

    posted by Heather on 11-19-2009 at 4:50 pm

  36. Socks (the Clinton cat) and his stocking, under the White House Christmas Tree.

    (about halfway down the page)

    http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/photo-ClintonWH13.html

    posted by Heather on 11-19-2009 at 4:54 pm

  37. Definatley an akward picture for him and the cadet

    http://www.georgewbushcenter.com/c.rvI2IaNVJyE/b.5574193/k.9680/We_the_People/siteapps/tools/PhotoDetail.aspx?c=rvI2IaNVJyE&b=5574193&p={792D4D70-B252-4EE5-AA76-C9B64EE03D45}&st=ASC

    posted by Phil on 11-19-2009 at 5:03 pm

  38. I meant to put thet it was George W. Bush in the picture.

    posted by Phil on 11-19-2009 at 5:09 pm

  39. I thought this was a fun one of Reagan (sorry if it has been posted already!)

    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c3626-22A.jpg

    posted by Erin on 11-19-2009 at 5:20 pm

  40. It’s the famous 3am phone call!!

    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c32360-23.jpg

    posted by Erin on 11-19-2009 at 5:25 pm

  41. I’m sorry, but I win. George H.W. Bush with the first lady and two very scary Easter bunnies:

    http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/image.php?id=848&filename=P01628-27.jpg

    posted by Terri on 11-19-2009 at 7:19 pm

  42. OK I have always thought that this photo of LBJ was the most inhumane thing you could do to animals, but he was a dog lover.
    http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/FAQs/dog/JPEG/C311-7-64.jpg

    posted by Don on 11-19-2009 at 7:48 pm

  43. From ‘PEOPLE Pets, 100 years of Famous Dogs’…

    —————————————–
    In the campaign for vice president in 1952 Richard Nixon used the American cocker spaniel, Checkers, to defect criticism for taking gifts. The Nixon kids loved the dog dearly, so, “we’re gonna keep it,” he famously said.
    —————————————

    Aw, there almost (ALMOST) seems to be a WARMTH there! ;-)

    And, how fitting, my recaptcha reads ‘Chna dealing’!

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 8:45 pm

  44. Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon yucking it up…

    http://www.mardecortesbaja.com/DwightEisenhower_RichardNixon.jpg

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 8:49 pm

  45. Re above:

    Link is one INSIDE message,* not* my Name

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 8:51 pm

  46. ‘W’ during and immediately following a ‘Chest Bump’ with a US Air Force Academy grad – from Texas – in Colorado Springs.

    http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05/29/article-1022718-01693FA600000578-136_468x313_popup.jpg

    http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05/29/article-1022718-0169409700000578-435_468x313_popup.jpg

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 8:58 pm

  47. Not so notable for Ronnie Reagan, but rather for who else is in the pic (PUTIN – then a KGB spy)

    http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/PICTURES/news/2009/03/2009-03-20-vladimir-putin-ronald-reagan/reagan-11810069-mfbq,templateId=renderScaled,property=Bild,height=349.jpg

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 9:07 pm

  48. Aw, NUTS! I posted before seeing these need to be from Presential LIBRARIES… and I loved the shots of ‘Chest Bump Bush’! :-(

    I’ll try again – the right way this time.

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 9:18 pm

  49. This is from someone’s pics from the Clinton Presidential Library…

    An ‘Aren’t you glad time marches on?’ pic of Bill and Hill

    http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2635852290034294938rzCsEA

    posted by Amy on 11-19-2009 at 9:22 pm

  50. http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/avproj/hseries/h68-1b.gif

    Gerald Ford’s mother giving him the evil eye at his wedding. I’m sure she’s thinking, “Gerald, do you really want to marry a woman who didn’t wear white on her wedding day?”

    posted by jodie on 11-19-2009 at 9:36 pm

  51. In the JFK Library I found:

    Ernest Hemingway in Kenya, 1953

    http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset+Tree/Asset+Viewers/Image+Asset+Viewer.htm?guid={F4B4288D-F00F-4FCB-907E-CFF0B82C10ED}&type=Image

    posted by Matt on 11-19-2009 at 10:01 pm

  52. Anyone with a large “lap dog” will appreciate Reagan with Lucky on his lap:
    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c31744-13a.jpg

    posted by Corrine on 11-20-2009 at 2:08 pm

  53. Sadly, all the furniture at Camp David had been removed for cleaning. President Carter was forced use improvised seating during his visit: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/documents/photos/jec/campdavid.jpg

    posted by Marilyn Welling on 11-20-2009 at 5:04 pm

  54. New York Giant football player Harry Carson dumping Gatorade (popcorn) on President Reagan with Mrs. Reagan watching at the Diplomatic entrance. 2/13/1987.
    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/C39093-5.jpg

    posted by Matthew393 on 11-29-2009 at 11:11 am

  55. Nixon bowling at the White House bowling alley
    http://www.nixonlibrary.gov/virtuallibrary/images/RNbowling_194671.jpg

    posted by Matthew393 on 11-29-2009 at 11:50 am

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