Presidential trivia: stranger than fiction; unusual facts about our presidents

Current Events, Oct 28, 1996

With the presidential election only days away, the attention of the whole country is on Washington, D.C. In that spirit, CE gives you a look behind the scenes of the U.S. presidency and the men who have held that office. Here are some facts you probably won't find in your U.S. history books.

Thanks, but No Thanks

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

After a long ride to Baltimore, when he was John Adams's vice president, Thomas Jefferson entered a hotel where a room had been reserved for him. The hotel owner, whose name was Boydon, had never met Jefferson. He looked over the dust-covered newcomer carefully. Convinced the man was just a farmer, Boydon said, "We have no room for you, sir." Jefferson again asked for a room and was again told no by Boydon. The vice president left and went a couple of blocks to another hotel. Upon hearing that he had just turned away the vice president of the United States, Boydon sent a man after Jefferson to deeply apologize and bring him back. But Jefferson told the messenger, "Tell him I have engaged a room. Tell Mr. Boydon that I value his good intentions highly, but if he has no room for a dirty farmer, he has none for the vice president."

The Smallest President

James Madison (1801-817)

James Madison, the fourth president, was the smallest chief executive. Madison was 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 100 pounds--which was not far below average height and weight for a man at the time. People in the early 1800s were generally smaller than people today.

The Shortest Term

William Henry Harrison (1841)

William Henry Harrison served about one month in office. Harrison took office on March 2, a cold, stormy day. He gave a long speech outside. Despite the cold, he refused to wear a coat. Then the 68-year old president led a parade to the White House. He caught a cold that rapidly turned into pneumonia. Harrison died on April 4, only 33 days after taking office.

Lincoln's Goats

Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. At 6 feet 4 inches, he was the tallest president. Lincoln was also the first president to wear a beard. During the Civil War (1860-64), Lincoln made frequent visits to the Soldiers Home each summer. Once he piled his son Tad and two pet goats into a carriage. A shocked presidential aide politely suggested that the goats should not ride in the carriage with the president and his son. Lincoln answered, "Why not? There's plenty of room in here." So the goats stayed, and the aide was left behind.

Taking No Guff

James Garfield (1881)

In the fall of 1849, Garfield, aged 17, was asked to replace a schoolmaster in Solon, Ohio. But Garfield faced a problem. Some toughs had driven away the last two teachers, and two of the ringleaders were bigger than Garfield. On his first day of teaching, Garfield was hit on the head with a block of wood. Instead of leaving, Garfield had a fist-fight with his assailant, beating him soundly and throwing him out the door. The next day, Garfield entered the classroom with a bullwhip. "I'll use this if I have to," he announced. But his point had been made; Garfield never had to use the whip.

Sugar and Spice

Grover Cleveland (1885-1889) (1893-1897)

The Baby Ruth candy bar was not named after Babe Ruth, the Yankee slugger. It was named in honor of Ruth Cleveland, born October 3, 1891. Daughter of President Grover Cleveland, she died m her teens in 1904. The candy bar is still made today .

Shocking Experience

Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)

Benjamin Harrison was the first president to have electric lights in the White House. However, he was afraid to turn them on for fear of being shocked. He even refused to push electric bells and buzzers. Harrison did not enjoy his one term in office. During his administration the economy was bad; the Johnstown Flood killed 2,400 people; and the massacre of Indians took place at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. People tended to blame those events on Harrison, though he had little or nothing to do with them.

Longest Time in Office

Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945)

Franklin Roosevelt was the only man to serve more than two terms in office. Roosevelt was elected four times and served more than 12 years as president.

In 1921, when he was a young man, Roosevelt got sick with polio, a crippling disease. Even after he got better, Roosevelt could not walk, and he had to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Reporters and photographers, however, were careful not to mention, or show, the president m his wheelchair.

Bigger Than Life

William Taft (1909-1913)

The men in the bathtub are workers who put the special tub into the White House for William Taft. Taft was the largest president. He was about 6 feet tall and weighed 330 pounds. In 1921, President Warren Harding appointed Taft to be chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court--the only ex-president to serve as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Rare Money

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

One of our presidents, Woodrow Wilson, has his picture on paper currency that is rarely, if ever, seen--the $100,000 bill. The large denomination notes have not been printed for many years and are used exclusively by a few banks as money exchanges.