PRESIDENTS

John Wilkes Booth shooting Abraham Lincoln, with Clara Harris and Henry Rathbone seated to the right of the president and first lady.

The Couple Who Sat with Lincoln on the Night of His Assassination

The Lincolns weren't alone in the presidential box at Ford's Theater that night.

The Reason U.S. Presidents Aren't Allowed to Drive Cars

From Lyndon B. Johnson to Joe Biden, presidents can get neither fast nor furious behind the wheel.

11 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, was one of the most esteemed humanitarians ever to hold the office. He was also once chased by a wild rabbit.

President Theodore Roosevelt by John Singer Sargent

Roosevelt's "The Man in the Arena"

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better."

The 10 Worst Presidents in American History, According to Historians

According to historians, these are the worst American presidents ever to hold the highest office in the land.

Did Thomas Jefferson really bring ice cream to the U.S.?

1 Misconception About Each U.S. President

George Washington wasn’t the only U.S. president for whom a healthy dose of fiction gets mixed in with the facts.

Thomas Jefferson wasn't a fan of Turkey Day.

What a Turkey: When Thomas Jefferson Refused to Acknowledge Thanksgiving

The nation's third president didn't want to give Americans the bird.

White House portraits of Abraham Lincoln (by William F. Cogswel), Harry Truman (by Greta Kempton), and Theodore Roosevelt (by John Singer Sargent).

9 U.S. Presidents Who Testified Before Congress

Can Congress subpoena a former president? Yes—but it’s often more of a voluntary situation.

Lizzo plays Madison's crystal flute at the Library of Congress.

How Lizzo Came to Play James Madison’s 200-Year-Old Crystal Flute During a D.C. Concert

“I want everybody to make some noise for James Madison’s crystal flute, y’all!” —Lizzo, international pop star and classical flautist.

10 Things You Might Not Know About Calvin Coolidge

Our 30th president, born on the Fourth of July in 1872, once pardoned a raccoon.

John W. Dean testifying during the Senate Watergate hearings in June 1973.

You Can Stream All 51 Days of the Watergate Hearings Online for Free

The Watergate scandal didn’t actually result in Richard Nixon’s impeachment—but it did generate months of riveting congressional hearings.

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

15 Big Facts About the Lincoln Memorial

Seated proudly at the west end of Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most beloved American monuments. Here are a few things to know on its 100th anniversary.

Harry S Truman in a new Ford automobile, 1945

10 Things You Might Not Know About Harry S. Truman

After two terms, all Truman wanted to do was visit diners on a cross-country road trip.

13 Surprising Facts About Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant was a complicated man in one of the most complicated times in United States history.

Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.

George H.W. Bush’s Broccoli Ban, George Washington’s Cherry Tree Debacle, and 44 More Presidential Misconceptions

Did George Washington really chop down a cherry tree? Did William Howard Taft really get stuck in the bathtub? Those answers and more.

America's 10 Tallest and Shortest Presidents

The average height of the U.S. presidents is 5 feet 10 inches, but there have been plenty of outliers in American history.

Richard Nixon's presidency became defined by the Watergate scandal.

10 Facts About the Watergate Scandal

The Watergate scandal forever changed the public's opinion of the government and took down dozens of political careers in its wake. Find out more about the scandal that rocked Washington back in the '70s.

Rest Easy By Saving Up to $700 During Purple's President's Day Mattress Sale

Starting now, you can save up to $700 during Purple's President's Day sale on mattresses, bed frames, and bedding bundles.

Yes, President William Howard Taft had a little trouble while taking a bath. No, it's probably not the story you're thinking about.

From George Washington's Teeth to Taft's Bathtub Drama: 6 Presidential Myths, Debunked

History classes haven't done a great job of ridding these popular presidential myths from the American consciousness.

The Time Jimmy Carter Was Lowered into a Nuclear Reactor—And Then Peed Radioactive Urine

In 1952, Carter—then a Naval officer—was lowered into a nuclear reactor to avert a disaster. His urine became radioactive.

Barack Obama Shares His 13 Favorite Books of 2021

From heart-wrenching memoirs to socially conscious fiction, the list of Barack Obama's favorite books from the past year will definitely add more titles to your TBR pile.

Dolly Parton performing in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2016.

Yes, Dolly Parton Really Did Turn Down the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Twice)—Here’s Why

Dolly Parton, of 'Jolene' and Dollywood fame (among many, many other things) may get her Presidential Medal of Freedom yet.

Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States.

11 Fascinating Facts About Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce was, by all measures, set up for a life of military and political success, the height of which he achieved when he took the oath of the nation's highest office on March 4, 1853. Here's what you should know about "Fainting Frank."

The Red Baron (center) posing with fellow German military officers.

Mata Hari’s Espionage, The Lusitania’s Aftershocks, and More Misconceptions About World War I

From Mata Hari’s misdeeds to the Red Baron’s reputation, here’s all the stuff you thought you knew about World War I.