While we learn about the necessary facts about presidents through school and our own research, there are some shocking facts about U.S. presidents that you might not be aware of. Let’s dive back through history and capture some of the most interesting, shocking, and quirky facts about these presidents that you didn’t know about, from UFOs to journeys to the center of the Earth.
6. Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th president from 1869 to 1877, and was also known for leading the Union Army to victory in the American Civil War. While one of the many bizarre things about him was that his middle initial stood for nothing and was actually a typo on his application to West Point, there is another quirky fact about him. The noted equestrian was confident on a horse, so much so that he was actually arrested for speeding. Grant was pulled over twice within the span of 24 hours.
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5. John Quincy Adams
The sixth president is even more hilarious during his time in office from 1825 to 1829. While there are several shocking facts about U.S. presidents, the one about Adams approving a real-life journey to the center of the Earth is definitely one of the best ones. Back in the late 1800s, little was known about our planet. There was some idea that the planet was actually hollow, so John Quincy Adams was on board with an expedition by a fellow Hollow Earther. Unfortunately, when Andrew Jackson was voted into office later, he put a stop to it.
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4. Dwight Eisenhower
Squirrels can definitely be a nuisance for many, but I don’t think anyone has hated squirrels as much as Dwight Eisenhower. The 34th president, from 1953 to 1961, was an avid golfer and got really tired of squirrels messing up his game by digging up the green to bury their acorns. He ordered his valet to shoot the rodents, but the Secret Service forbade the use of guns on White House grounds, so instead they used traps.
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3. Abraham Lincoln
One of the most recognized individuals in history is the 16th president from 1861 to 1865, Abraham Lincoln. Not only was the man a licensed barber, but one of the best shocking facts about U.S. presidents is that he allowed seances in the White House. During his turn, first lady Mary Todd Lincoln invited mediums to the White House to call on departed spirits through seances. While there’s no evidence, the president was said to have attended some of the events.
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2. James Garfield
Another one of the best quirky facts about U.S. presidents comes from James Garfield, the 20th president who ran from 1881 until his death two months later. Interestingly enough, the man was ambidextrous, but that’s not all. Garfield could write two languages simultaneously: Latin and Greek. He was taught both languages while attending Williams College in Massachusetts.
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1. Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Early Carter Jr. was the 39th president who ran from 1971 to 1975. One of the best facts about U.S. presidents is that Carter actually believed in UFOs and even filed a report of a sighting in Georgia in 1969 before his presidency. He called it “the darndest thing I’ve ever seen.” He even promised that if he were elected president that he would disclose government information about UFOs, but unfortunately, he backpedaled while in office.
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