PRESIDENTS

Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin share a laugh with President Richard Nixon while aboard the USS Hornet on July 24, 1969.

Richard Nixon Had a Speech Prepared In the Event That Apollo 11's Mission Failed

In the event that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were stranded on the moon, William Safire wrote a heartbreaking letter for the president to read.

How Thomas Jefferson's Obsession With Mastodons Partly Fueled the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Thomas Jefferson thought mastodons might still be lurking somewhere out West—and he was determined to find them.

Antony-22, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

Giant Copper Beech Tree Planted By Teddy Roosevelt Has Been Chopped Down

The giant copper beech tree that Theodore Roosevelt planted at Sagamore Hill, his Long Island home, has been removed from the National Park System property.

Courtesy of the National Archives/Newsmakers

A ‘Lost’ Bible Belonging to Abraham Lincoln Is Going on Display for the First Time

A Bible that belonged to the 16th president—which was kept by a Springfield, Illinois family for 150 years—was recently donated to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

14 Things You Might Not Have Known About James K. Polk

James K. Polk may have served just one term, but he was one of history’s most consequential U.S. presidents. Polish up on Young Hickory, America's 11th Commander in Chief.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Warren G. Harding

Twenty-ninth president Warren G. Harding had a code name for his genitals—and a big family secret that was revealed nearly a century after his death.

The Original Telegram Announcing Lincoln's Death Could Sell for $500,000

The handwritten document was how the nation learned the president had been fatally wounded by assassin John Wilkes Booth.

Could You Keep Up With Theodore Roosevelt's Ruthlessly Efficient Daily Routine?

Theodore Roosevelt never let anything get in the way of completing his daily itinerary. Not even a bullet.

Harris & Ewing, Inc., Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Can a Person Refuse a Presidential Pardon?

The question of whether a person can refuse a presidential pardon is an issue that has come up a few times over the past two centuries—and the answer isn't exactly a clear-cut one.

25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About George Washington

Our first president's hair was all real (no wig for him!) but his teeth definitely were not (they may have originally belonged to a hippo). Read on for more George Washington facts.

15 Amazing Facts About the Washington Monument

Although the towering tribute to President George Washington is an icon of the Washington, D.C. skyline, there might be a few things you don't know about the Washington Monument's history.

25 Things You Might Not Know About Thomas Jefferson

Our nation's third president bribed a reporter and kept a pet mockingbird. For more on Jefferson’s life, accomplishments, and controversies, take a look at this assembly of 25 facts.

How to See a Dozen Presidential Homes in One Road Trip for Less Than $220

Want to see the country while indulging your love of all things presidential? These three road trip itineraries show you how to get from place to place without breaking the bank.

7 of John Adams's Greatest Insults

John Adams had a reputation for articulate jabs and razor-sharp put-downs at the expense of his rivals and allies alike. Here are a few of his best zingers.

Rebecca O'Connell (iStock and Brady/Getty Images)

5 of Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods

The 16th president loved nutritious snacks like apples, although he wasn't above the occasional cheat day.

6 Things Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin Had In Common

On February 12, 1809, two of the most revolutionary men of the 19th century were born ... and they had a lot more in common than a knack for growing epic beards.

Library of Congress // Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Vinnie Ream: The Teen Who Met With Abraham Lincoln for 30 Minutes Every Day

A teenage art prodigy managed to steal half an hour with Abraham Lincoln every day—for five months.

RobertoGennaro/iStock via Getty Images Plus

46 Amazing Facts About All 45 American Presidents

Read on to discover which American president wanted to be a concert violinist, which carried a dictionary around in his pocket, who burned his official White House portrait, and why Joe Biden's dog is making history.

The Best and Worst Political Campaign Songs (But Mostly the Worst)

Campaign songs can make or break a candidate's image. Here are some memorable choices, from self-penned threats to a Van Halen power ballad.

An image of the State of the Union address in 2016

A Brief History of the State of the Union Address

Answers to a few questions that might come up when the State of the Union address storms every channel of your TV.

Shirley Chisholm led a groundbreaking career.

12 Facts About Shirley Chisholm, the First Black American Woman to Run for President

Nearly 50 years after becoming the first Black American woman to run for president, Shirley Chisholm is still making headlines.

27 Facts About Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt

Our 26th president was a man of action who chased down boat thieves, knocked out an armed man, helped save football, and inspired the teddy bear.

William Brown Cooper (1811–1900), Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

8 Things You Might Not Know About Andrew Johnson

Abraham Lincoln's successor—and the first United States president to be impeached—liked to tend to a family of mice.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Woodrow Wilson

The 28th president kept a flock of sheep on the White House lawn.

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