PRESIDENTS

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.

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.

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."

Abraham Lincoln's hair was used to make the eagle's head in this one-of-a-kind sculpture.

This Priceless 'Hairy Eagle' Sculpture Is Made Out of Abraham Lincoln's Hair

At the height of the Civil War, a soldier advocacy group displayed a sculpture made from the presidential follicles of Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary to raise money for troops. Now it's a historical curio.

11 Facts About Air Force One

Just as much a symbol of the presidency as the White House itself, Air Force One is probably the world’s most recognizable plane.

James Garfield sometime between 1855 and 1865.

The Library of Congress Needs Your Help Transcribing James Garfield’s Diaries

James Garfield kept detailed diaries from his teen years right up until the day before his assassination.

John F. Kennedy’s Harvard Sweater, Plus Locks of Abe Lincoln and George Washington’s Hair, Are Among Presidential Oddities Up for Auction

Six months after JFK’s assassination, a staff member lent his Harvard cardigan to a cold CBS cameraman. It could now fetch $35,000.

The 12 Most Googled Questions About the White House, Answered

The White House’s location hasn’t ever changed, but it’s seen a lot of renovations in its 229 years.

These Neglected Presidents Are Getting the Bobblehead Treatment They so Richly Deserve

The Neglected Presidents line over at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum gives the spotlight to Chester A. Arthur, Calvin Coolidge, and more.

Mariska Hargitay and Joe Biden in a 2016 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

When Joe Biden Appeared on Law & Order: SVU

'Law & Order: SVU' is known for its shocking twists, but in 2016 the show featured a surprise of a different variety: A cameo appearance from then-VP Joe Biden.

Abraham Lincoln once penned a true crime tale.

When Abraham Lincoln Tried His Hand at Being a True Crime Writer

In another era, Abraham Lincoln could have made for a great 'Dateline NBC' producer. The future president once penned a true crime tale based on a murder case he worked on as a lawyer.

Richard Nixon's presidency was marred by scandal, including a bird massacre.

The Pigeon Massacre That Cast a Pall Over Richard Nixon’s 1973 Inauguration

When entering his second term, Richard Nixon was worried a surplus of pigeon poop would ruin his inauguration. But even in death, these pigeons would have their day.

The National Hotel Epidemic: The Mysterious Disease That Nearly Sidelined James Buchanan on His Inauguration Day

In the weeks leading up to his inauguration on March 4, 1857, James Buchanan was recovering from a disease that got hundreds of people sick in Washington, D.C.

Presidents Day 2021: A Handy Guide to What’s Open and What’s Closed?

Presidents Day is a federal holiday, so lots of government-run offices are closed. Retailers, on the other hand, are not.

The U.S. Capitol Crypt in all its splendor.

The Empty Crypt Beneath the U.S. Capitol Rotunda

Beneath the ornate Capitol Rotunda is a drafty crypt with 40 Doric columns, a dozen statues, and zero human remains.

The official campaign portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

11 Presidential Facts About Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Most people know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only U.S. President who served more than two terms. Here are some other FDR facts you may not have learned in your history classes.

President John F. Kennedy urged Americans that going to the moon was within reach.

When John F. Kennedy Told the World Why 'We Choose to Go to the Moon'

John F. Kennedy's stirring speech on September 12, 1962, sparked a passion for space exploration that eventually led us right to the moon.

Theodore Roosevelt would want you to transcribe these letters.

The Library of Congress Needs Help Transcribing More Than 20,000 Letters Written to Teddy Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was constantly writing letters, so it’s no surprise that he received plenty, too.

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