Weird Facts About Our Presidents You May Not Have Known

Weird Facts About Our Presidents You May Not Have Known

Our American Presidents have been short, tall, heavy, and slim. They have been married, single, and divorced. They have come from various backgrounds and differing states. Here is a quick look at some weird and interesting facts about our presidents you may not have known.

You may have guessed that Abraham Lincoln was our tallest president. At 6’4” he was a full foot taller than our shortest President, James Madison who was a mere 5’4”.

William H. Taft was, by far, our heaviest president weighing in at 340 lbs. The next two heaviest include Grover Cleveland at 260 and Donald Trump who weighed in at 239. Four other presidents, including Chester Arthur, Bill Clinton, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson all weighed in at over 200 lbs.

While determining left-handiness is difficult for our early presidents at least 8 have been determined to be south-paws. These include recent presidents like Reagan, Obama, Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

James Buchanan, who served just before the Civil War, was the only lifelong bachelor to serve as president.

About seven US Presidents had red hair, although some only in their youth. Redheads include Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Van Buren, Hayes and Coolidge.

At the time, George Washington, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin may have been the three wealthiest Americans in the country.

Fifteen of our presidents were vice-presidents before becoming the leader of our country. Only two, however, did not achieve the honor immediately after serving as VP. Richard Nixon and Joe Biden share that distinction.

Twenty-one states have been the birthplace of a President. Eight have been from Ohio.

Generally, our presidents have been wealthy, married and have either careers in politics or the military. They have also all been men.

Millard Fillmore, the 13th President of the United States was the last President not affiliated with either the Republican or Democrat party.

Although George Washington supervised construction of the original White House, he never lived in it. That honor went to John Adams and his wife Abigail. Initially, a mansion in Philadelphia served as executive offices until the White House was completed in Washington, DC.

Presidents have been loved and challenged. They have had buildings and highways named after them and statues created in their honor. Many have commonalities and others have stood apart. They all have served as the leader of the greatest country on the planet.


Do you have questions about your insurance? Find an insurance agent near you with our Agent Finder

Search All Blogs

Generic filters

Buzz Your
Insurance Agent

Search for a local agent with our agent finder map.

Agent Finder

Want to learn more about our blog writer?

Read more about KayLynn's background.

Click Here

Search All Blogs

Generic filters

Read More Blogs

The Smoke and the Spark: Protecting the Ultimate Father’s Day Backyard Upgrade

Is Dad’s new smoker covered? Discover how high-end outdoor upgrades impact your home insurance limits before the big Father’s Day reveal.

Only One Earth: The Surprising History of World Environment Day

Happy World Environment Day! Discover how a 1972 global meeting sparked a movement that helps us protect our “Only One Earth” every June 5th.

Resilient Operations: Small Business Continuity in the Face of Summer Storms

If a storm knocked out your power for a week, would your business survive? Learn the essentials of Business Interruption insurance and storm-proofing your operations.

The Ultimate Seatbelt: Why Life Insurance is the Core of National Safety Month

You wear a seatbelt and a helmet—why wouldn’t you wear a financial safety net? See how Life Insurance fits into your National Safety Month goals.

Beating the Heat: Protecting Your Vehicle (and Your Rates) as Temperatures Rise

High heat means high risk for your car. Discover how a simple tire pressure check can prevent a high-speed accident and keep your insurance premiums low this June.

The June 1st Warning: Securing Your Sanctuary for Hurricane and Storm Season

Hurricane season starts today. Learn why you can’t wait until a storm is named to secure your home and why “Flood vs. Water Backup” coverage is the most important distinction you’ll make this year.

In Flanders Fields: Why We Wear Red Poppies on Memorial Day

Why the red flower? Discover the moving history of the Memorial Day Poppy and the woman who made it a global symbol of remembrance.

Beating the Heat: OSHA Compliance and Liability for Outdoor Workers

Summer is heating up. Protect your employees and your business from heat-related illnesses with our guide to National Heat Awareness Day.

Beyond the Holiday: Using Memorial Day to Discuss Family Financial Security

This Memorial Day, honor the past by securing your family’s future. A guide to transitioning from military to private life insurance.

he Great American Adventure: Preparing Your Policy for National Road Trip Day

Hitting the highway this Friday? Discover how to “road-trip proof” your auto insurance before you cross state lines for the long weekend.