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 Beautiful Pause: Embracing Solitude and Self-Care

Ditch the noise. A guide to finding mental clarity and practicing self-care by embracing intentional solitude during the final, quiet days of January.

Final Tax Data Security: Protecting Against Employee W-2 Identity Theft

W-2s are out. A final, urgent guide to securing employee data against tax fraud and using Cyber Insurance for breach response and identity theft coverage.

T-Minus 30 Days: The Late January Review of Beneficiaries and Tax Implications

Tax forms are here. Review your life insurance beneficiaries one last time, and understand the tax status of policy payouts vs. accrued interest.

Extreme Cold Alert: Protecting Your Vehicle from Late January Freeze Damage

Frozen engine block? Late January extreme cold risks and how your Comprehensive Auto Insurance handles non-collision, cold-related vehicle damage.

The Final Frost: Securing Your Home from Ice and Tree Damage

Extreme cold risk is highest now. A guide to Home Insurance for tree fall damage, ice structure risks, and securing your claim against catastrophic late-January weather.

Slow Cooker Immunity: Nourishing Your Body with Winter Comfort Foods

Fight the mid-winter slump! Easy slow-cooker recipes packed with immune-boosting spices and ingredients to keep your family healthy in late January.

Accountability in the New Year: Auditing Employee Risk for Workers’ Comp and Liability

Get back to basics! Mid-January is the time for mandatory safety refreshers and HR audits to manage Workers’ Comp and General Liability risk in 2026.

The Mid-January Check-Up: Why Scheduling Your Life Insurance Exam Now Locks in the Best Rate

Don’t delay the exam! Schedule your Life Insurance paramedical exam in mid-January to lock in your best rate and complete your application process quickly.

Used Car, New Coverage: Insuring Your Post-Holiday Vehicle Purchase in January

Just bought a used car? Don’t forget to update the VIN, transfer your coverage, and check if you need higher Medical Payments limits.

The Mid-Winter Meltdown: Protecting Your Home from Aging Furnace and Water Heater Failure

Mid-January system failure is costly. Learn why standard home insurance doesn’t cover your broken furnace and why you need an Equipment Breakdown endorsement now.