1. George Washington (1732-1799)
The president with false teeth and a famous distiller. George Washington is a legend of America, both the first president and an unyielding symbol of freedom, but behind that serious demeanor, he had many very human aspects. He was one of the well-known distillers, and upon retirement, he opened a large distillery at his farm in Mount Vernon. Each year, this distillery produced up to 41,000 liters of whiskey, and he meticulously cared for the recipe, ensuring it had enough corn and was fermented to perfection. So, while he may seem serious, the thought of the president of the United States being a genuine distiller is quite surprising to many. And speaking of Washington, one must mention his legendary false teeth.
From the age of 20, Washington's teeth began to weaken and decay, and throughout his life, he had to wear false teeth. These were not the ordinary dentures we have today; they were made from ivory, wood, and even animal teeth. Some even rumored that some of his teeth were made from the teeth of other people. Whenever he wore his dentures, Washington had difficulty speaking, so in paintings, he often did not smile but maintained a serious expression.
2. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) - The true president who loved French fries
Jefferson was the one who brought the legendary French fries to America. He loved this dish so much that while in France, he enjoyed French fries every day, and upon returning home, he did not hesitate to include French fries on the menu at the White House. He even hosted private parties to introduce this dish. If we consider the level of obsession with this dish, Jefferson was undoubtedly a big fan of French fries. Additionally, he was one of the people with the largest book collections in America at that time. He owned over 6,500 books of various genres, from science and history to literature and philosophy. When the Library of Congress burned down, Jefferson donated his entire valuable collection to help rebuild the library. This collection laid the foundation for the Library of Congress we have today. Jefferson also stated that he could not live without books, reflecting his intense love for knowledge.
3. Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) and the dream of seeing himself dead
This story sounds like a horror movie, but the truth is Lincoln once dreamed that he was walking in the White House and entered a room with a coffin, where people told him the president had died. Shortly after, he was assassinated, just as foretold in his dream. Lincoln was also the tallest president in American history, standing at 1.93 meters, a truly impressive height. It is said that whenever he appeared, everyone was struck by his tall stature. Thanks to this exceptional height, Lincoln not only stood out but also exuded a sense of majesty. This height was also an advantage when he worked as a lawyer, as clients and others often tended to respect him upon first sight.
4. Theodore Roosevelt (1858 -1919) - The super strong president
This is perhaps the most famous story about Roosevelt. While giving a speech in 1912, he was shot in the chest by an assassin; fortunately, the bullet was slowed down by his 50-page speech and the glasses case in his jacket pocket. Injured, he did not stop and continued to speak for 90 minutes in front of thousands of people with the bullet still lodged in his chest. He declared that it would take more than one bullet to kill him, which speaks to his indomitable spirit. Roosevelt was also a sports enthusiast and never shied away from challenges; he once practiced boxing in the White House and often invited his opponents to spar.
Once, he was punched in the eye so hard that he became blind in one eye. Nevertheless, Roosevelt did not give up his passion for boxing, believing it was a way to keep his spirit strong. Roosevelt also had a sense of humor and was unique and witty. He often used jokes to lighten the atmosphere and motivate others; one of his most famous quotes is, "I can do anything, but I cannot resist a teddy bear." This quote not only served as a joke but also created the teddy bear symbol we see today. The story began when he refused to shoot a bear during a hunting trip, and from that, the image of the teddy bear was born.
5. John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917 - 1963)
Kennedy was an excellent swimmer; he participated in World War II, and when attacked, he swam through long waters to bring a severely injured comrade to safety. Kennedy was also a true hero in such deep waters. However, few know that he suffered from severe back pain in his youth; he had an accident during World War II while serving in the Navy, which caused permanent spinal injury. When he became president, he had to take painkillers daily and even needed a special bed in the White House to sleep more comfortably. However, he rarely showed this weakness in public, always maintaining the image of a vibrant and stylish president.
6. Jimmy Carter (born 1924) and his strong belief in UFOs
Jimmy Carter is perhaps the only U.S. president to publicly state that he saw a UFO in 1969 while he was still the governor of Georgia. Carter claimed to have seen a bright object in the sky, describing it as a round, glowing object that moved very quickly and then disappeared. Later, during his presidential campaign, Carter promised to disclose all government documents about extraterrestrials. However, upon taking office, he did not reveal anything further about the incident, leading many to believe he discovered something secret or too frightening. Carter was also an interesting president, coming from a peanut farming family in Georgia.
Before entering politics, he managed his family farm, doing everything from planting to harvesting. Even after becoming president, he maintained a simple style, never boasting and always proud of his farming roots. This helped him win the hearts of many ordinary people, as they saw Carter as one of them, without any distance or pretentiousness.
7. Ronald Reagan and his dependence on astrology
Reagan was one of the few presidents who was a professional Hollywood actor. He appeared in over 50 films throughout his acting career before entering politics; he was not an A-list star but left his mark through masculine and powerful roles. However, that was not the most interesting thing about him. Nancy Reagan, his wife, was a strong believer in astrology and frequently consulted astrologers to determine auspicious days for her husband to participate in important events.
After her husband's assassination attempt in 1981, she became increasingly obsessed with seeking predictions from astrologers, even changing his schedule based on their advice. This caused some criticism, but Reagan saw it as a way to please his wife and help her feel more secure.
8. Donald Trump and his everlasting love for fast food
Before becoming president, Donald Trump was famous as a star of reality television shows. In some shows, he played the powerful tycoon who directly fired incompetent participants with the famous phrase, "You're fired." Thanks to this show, Donald Trump's image became extremely familiar to Americans, helping him build a strong, decisive businessman persona. It was very different from others when stepping into the White House; Donald Trump was perhaps the president with the most unique eating habits in White House history. He was extremely fond of fast food, especially from McDonald's. He often ordered Big Macs, fries, and fried chicken for his meals. He once hosted a fast-food party for the Clemson University football team right at the White House, surprising many.
For him, fast food was not only delicious but also safe, as he was concerned that meals at restaurants might not be as clean as fast food. Not only was his preference fast food, but Donald Trump was also a huge fan of Coca-Cola; he often drank up to 12 cans a day and always had it on his desk. This was indeed an indispensable companion for Donald Trump. This habit made Donald Trump famous as one of the presidents who consumed the most soft drinks. He was also extremely obsessed with cleanliness due to a fear of germs. Therefore, he limited handshakes with others and always washed his hands frequently. When attending crowded events, he avoided touching public items, and he stated that he preferred fast food because he believed the production process at large chain stores would ensure better hygiene than regular restaurants.
9. Joe Biden and his intense love for ice cream
Joe Biden does not drink alcohol, does not like soft drinks, but he loves ice cream. Every time it is mentioned, he has to pick up an ice cream cone and hold it in his hand. Sometimes he jokingly says that if he were not president, he would definitely open his own ice cream shop to satisfy his passion. Biden sees ice cream as a source of joy and helps him relieve stress. Thus, each of the U.S. presidents has their own unique traits and even unusual preferences, some are distillers, some love French fries, some are UFO enthusiasts, and many others with strong personalities.
