PRESIDENTS

Do You Know the Presidential Line of Succession?

The transfer of power passes through a lot of people. Can you put them in order?

5 of Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods

The 16th president loved nutritious snacks—and he was also a big fan of bacon.

Martin Van Buren Had a Really Nice Toilet

The eighth president had a commode fit for a commander-in-chief at Lindenwald, his home in Kinderhook, New York.

2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had a concession speech written up for election night—but wasn’t allowed to deliver it.

12 Historical Speeches Nobody Ever Heard

For every speech, there are a bunch of versions that ended up on the writers' room floor. Here are 12 speeches that were written but, for a variety of reasons, never delivered.

Sorry, Lincoln: Presidents Day Is for George Washington Only

Presidents Day has only nothing to do with Abraham Lincoln. And it doesn’t even legally exist.

Richard Nixon opted to peace out of his successor’s swearing in ceremony.

6 Presidents Who Didn’t Attend Their Successor’s Inauguration

While skipping the incoming president’s inauguration is a break from tradition, it isn’t unprecedented.

Swearing the presidential Oath of Office on a Bible is traditional, but not required.

Has Every U.S. President Been Sworn in on a Bible?

The U.S. Constitution requires every president-elect to swear the Oath of Office—and that’s about it.

A mob outside the White House during Andrew Jackson's first inaugural reception, 1828.

7 U.S. Inauguration Day Mishaps

The inauguration of a new U.S. President is a day of pomp and ceremony, of solemn oaths and dignified celebrations. But things don’t always go as planned.

11 Surprising Movies Jimmy Carter Watched While He Was President

From ‘Midnight Cowboy’ to ‘The Cat from Outer Space,’ the former POTUS was an eclectic cinephile.

The Supreme Court has weighed a convicted person’s right to refuse a pardon in three major cases.

Can a Person Refuse a Presidential Pardon?

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in at least three cases on a person’s right to refuse a presidential pardon.

6 of History’s Worst In-Laws

From Ivan the Terrible to Herod the Great, these historical figures weren’t the best relatives.

For a time, people couldn’t make up their minds.

The Debate Behind How to Number a President

Grover Cleveland caused quite the conundrum when he was elected for the second time in 1892 after a four-year break from the Oval Office.

President Obama departing the White House on January 20, 2016.

Here’s When a President’s Term Officially Ends

Inauguration Day isn’t just a matter of scheduling—presidential term limits are exactly four years, down to the hour.

Can You Match the U.S. President to Their Middle Name?

Take Our Latest Quizzes:

There are actually multiple versions of this iconic sticker.

A Brief but Fascinating History of the ‘I Voted’ Sticker

The origins of those ‘I Voted’ stickers you see everyone rocking on Election Day go back to the 1950s in the United States, but the design everyone recognizes most was created by Janet Boudreau in the late 1980s.

The White House’s most mysterious occupant remains unidentified.

“The Thing”: When a Mysterious Teenage Ghost Haunted Taft’s White House

To this day, no one knows who "The Thing" might have been.

When President Grover Cleveland Was Given a Proto-Ouija Board as a Wedding Present

The gift helped commercialize the “talking board,” and paved the way for future models.

Some of these presidents were well versed in October surprises.

Where Did the Term ‘October Surprise’ Originate?

Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.

Margaret Chase Smith and Eleanor Roosevelt duked it out for their political parties.

The First-Ever Televised Presidential Debate Was Between Two Women

In 1956, two highly-regarded party figures stepped in for candidates Eisenhower and Stevenson to tackle election issues.

11 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024 at the age of 100. He was one of the most esteemed humanitarians ever to hold the office. He was also once chased by a wild rabbit.

President Theodore Roosevelt, the youngest U.S. president.

Who Are the Youngest Presidents Ever Elected?

Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton are among the youngest U.S. presidents.

Why Does Grover Cleveland Count as Two Presidents?

Historians suggest that while Grover Cleveland was but one person, he was actually two presidents thanks to his nonconsecutive terms.

Portraits of John Quincy Adams (left) and Andrew Jackson (right)

The Time Andrew Jackson Won the Vote But Lost the Presidency

In 1824, Jackson both won the popular vote and got the most votes in the electoral college, but lost the election anyway.

Victoria Claflin Woodhull led a very interesting life.

The First Woman to Run For President Was a Spiritualist, Wall Street Broker, and Free-Love Advocate

Long before Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris launched their presidential campaigns, Victoria Claflin Woodhull ran as a third party candidate in the 1872 election.