Thomas Jefferson

“I cannot live without books,” Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to John Adams in 1815. Jefferson was a voracious reader; James Madison once referred to him as a “walking library.” Jefferson was instrumental in rebuilding the Library of Congress after British forces burned it down — along with the Capitol Building — during the War of 1812. He offered his personal library to Congress, agreeing to accept whatever payment was offered. Historians don’t know whether the nation’s third president had one single favorite book, but he was especially fond of Laurence Sterne’s 1768 novel A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. 

Other writers that were close to Jefferson’s heart include the classical historians Tacitus and Thucydides; the ancient Greek poet Homer; classic Greek tragedians such as Sophocles and Euripides; the Roman poets Virgil and Horace; and the English poets and playwrights William Shakespeare and John Milton. 

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was an avid reader throughout his life, reading widely in subjects ranging from classical literature to world history. “A capacity, and taste, for reading,” he once said, “gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.” The book Lincoln read most frequently was likely the King James Bible, which he could quote from freely. He was also a fan of Shakespeare and the Scottish poet Robert Burns. 

Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman was another great reader. Once, when asked by an editor of his memoirs if he liked to read himself to sleep at night, Truman answered, “No, young man, I like to read myself awake.” He was a dedicated student of history, and some of his most-read volumes included Plutarch’s Lives, Julius Caesar’s Commentaries, and Edward Gibbons’ The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The 33rd president also enjoyed the works of Robert Burns, English poet Lord Byron, and William Shakespeare (especially Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello).  

Dwight D. Eisenhower

In 1966, Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote a letter in which he clearly highlighted the two most influential books in his life, other than the Bible. These were On War by Carl von Clausewitz (an influential treatise on military strategy published in 1832) and The History of the United States by George Bancroft. Ike was also a big fan of Mark Twain, and particularly liked Twain’s novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. To relax, Eisenhower enjoyed reading Western novels full of cowboys and cattle drives on the American frontier.  

John F. Kennedy

Thanks to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, quite a bit is known about Kennedy’s favorite books. He read a lot as a child, with novels such as Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, and Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie ranking among his favorites. As an adult, he read most, if not all, of the books written by Winston Churchill and was also greatly influenced by Pilgrim's Way (also known as Memory Hold-the-Door), an autobiographical memoir by the Scottish writer John Buchan. Beyond nonfiction, Kennedy was a big fan of Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, and From Russia With Love was one of his top reads. JFK and Fleming even met at a party in Washington, D.C., for the newly elected president. 

Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter wrote 32 books in total, many of which were bestsellers, covering topics such as foreign policy, religious theory, art, historical fiction, and poetry. Unsurprisingly, Carter was also very well read — but one particular book stood out. When he was running for president in 1976, Carter was asked to name his favorite book. His answer was 1941’s Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, a nonfiction work on the daily lives of Depression-era tenant farmers, with text by author James Agee and black-and-white portraits by photographer Walker Evans. Carter explained how the book spoke to him personally, saying, “That was the way I grew up.” 

Ronald Reagan

In various interviews, Ronald Reagan mentioned a couple of books — other than the Bible — as being his favorites. When he was 11, he read That Printer of Udell's, a 1902 work of fiction by Harold Bell Wright that tells the story of a homeless wanderer called Dick Falkner. Reagan later stated, “I found a role model in that traveling printer whom Wright had brought to life. He set me on a course I’ve tried to follow unto this day. I shall always be grateful.” Later, Reagan became a big fan of the novels of Tom Clancy. While president, his endorsement of The Hunt for Red October, which he called “the perfect yarn,” helped launch Clancy onto the bestseller lists. 

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Two Full Terms

The following presidents served two full terms, each holding office for eight years. Before the 22nd Amendment formally established term limits for the role, most presidents chose to follow the precedent set by George Washington, who stepped down voluntarily after two terms to uphold democratic principles. Between 1796 and 1940, only four two-term presidents attempted to pursue a third term — Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, and Theodore Roosevelt — but they were unsuccessful in gaining their party’s support.

- Thomas Jefferson: 8 years (2,922 days)
- James Madison: 8 years (2,922 days)
- James Monroe: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Andrew Jackson: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Ulysses S. Grant: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Grover Cleveland: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Woodrow Wilson: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Dwight D. Eisenhower: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Ronald Reagan: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Bill Clinton: 8 years (2,922 days)
- George W. Bush: 8 years (2,922 days)
- Barack Obama: 8 years (2,922 days)
- George Washington: 8 years (2,865 days)

More Than One Term

Some presidents served more than four years, but did not complete two full terms due to a variety of circumstances. Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley were assassinated during their second terms, while Harry S. Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Lyndon B. Johnson initially assumed the presidency midterm after the deaths of their predecessors, and were later elected to another term. Richard Nixon, on the other hand, resigned during his second term amid the Watergate scandal, making him the only president to voluntarily step down from office.

- Harry S. Truman: 7 years, 9 months (2,840 days)
- Theodore Roosevelt: 7 years, 5 months (2,728 days)
- Calvin Coolidge: 5 years, 7 months (2,041 days)
- Richard Nixon: 5 years, 6 months (2,027 days)
- Lyndon B. Johnson: 5 years, 2 months (1,886 days)
- William McKinley: 4 years, 6 months (1,654 days)
- Abraham Lincoln: 4 years, 1 month (1,503 days)

One Full Term

These presidents completed a single four-year term in office, but did not serve a second term, whether by choice or defeat. Their time in office was often marked by the political challenges of those four years, or they faced strong opposition to their reelection bids. Some presidents, such as John Quincy Adams, who served nine terms in Congress after his presidency, and Jimmy Carter, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to humanitarian work, are remembered for their post-presidential contributions as much as their time in the Oval Office. For each of these one-term presidents, the brevity of their tenure left a distinct mark, highlighting the unpredictable nature of American politics.

- John Quincy Adams: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Martin Van Buren: 4 years (1,461 days)
- James K. Polk: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Franklin Pierce: 4 years (1,461 days)
- James Buchanan: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Rutherford B. Hayes: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Benjamin Harrison: 4 years (1,461 days)
- William Howard Taft: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Herbert Hoover: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Jimmy Carter: 4 years (1,461 days)
- George H.W. Bush: 4 years (1,461 days)
- Donald Trump: 4 years (1,461 days; will begin a second, nonconsecutive term in January 2025)
- John Adams: 4 years (1,460 days)
- Joe Biden: 4 years (currently serving; will be 1,461 days at the end of term)

Less Than One Term

These presidents served less than a full term due to a range of circumstances, including assassination, fatal illness, resignation, or unsuccessful efforts to secure their own term after assuming office following the death or resignation of their predecessor. Despite their brief service, they all made notable contributions during their time in office, and those who stepped in for a predecessor helped maintain the stability and continuity of the nation’s leadership during times of sudden transition.

- John Tyler: 3 years, 11 months (1,430 days)
- Andrew Johnson: 3 years, 10 months (1,419 days)
- Chester A. Arthur: 3 years, 5 months (1,262 days)
- John F. Kennedy: 2 years, 10 months (1,036 days)
- Millard Fillmore: 2 years, 7 months (969 days)
- Gerald Ford: 2 years, 5 months (895 days)
- Warren G. Harding: 2 years, 4 months (881 days)
- Zachary Taylor: 1 year, 4 months (492 days)
- James A. Garfield: 6 months, 15 days (199 days)
- William Henry Harrison: 1 month (31 days)

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Eleanor Roosevelt: Rover

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suspected her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, might have had something to do with choosing her Secret Service code name. She was known as “Rover,” and those who accompanied her were called “Rover’s Rangers.” She was assigned the name during World War II, when she traveled to England to visit American servicemen and observe women’s roles in the war effort. However, there is no record of the Secret Service having an official code name for FDR.

Bess Truman: Sunnyside

First Lady Bess Truman’s code name was “Sunnyside,” thought to be a reflection of her warmhearted personality (rather than her egg preference). Her husband Harry S. Truman, who chose the code name “General” for himself, despite never achieving that rank during his military service, was also assigned the code name “Supervise.” He was possibly given this alternative name because “General” could refer to someone of that rank accompanying the president.

Jacqueline Kennedy: Lace

Traditionally, the code names given to a presidential family all start with the same letter. Once someone is assigned Secret Service protection, they choose their code name from an approved list of names kept by the White House Communications Agency. The Kennedy administration’s comparison to Camelot is highlighted by President John F. Kennedy’s choice of code name, “Lancer,” presumably a nod to Sir Lancelot, while his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was aptly known as “Lace,” reflecting her elegance. During JFK’s brief presidency, the White House code name was “Crown.”

Rosalynn Carter: Dancer

Jimmy Carter’s code name, “Deacon,” reflected his strong religious faith, while his wife Rosalynn’s code name, “Dancer,” echoed her love for dancing. Before their White House years, the Carters lived in Hawaii during Jimmy’s time in the Navy, where Rosalynn became, according to her grandson Josh Carter, “a champion hula dancer.” Rosalynn’s passion for dance extended beyond hula, though. She wrote in her autobiography that she and Jimmy loved to dance together, and she enjoyed choosing entertainment for White House events, which featured performers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater over the years.

Nancy Reagan: Rainbow

Before Ronald Reagan entered politics, his acting career included a number of roles in Western films, making his code name “Rawhide” a fitting choice. First Lady Nancy Reagan’s name, “Rainbow,” isn’t as obvious, though one biography suggests it referred to the many colors of her personality.

Hillary Clinton: Evergreen

Although the Secret Service claims that code names aren’t tied to the personalities of those assigned, some designations do reflect aspects of the people they represent. Bill Clinton’s “Eagle” (possibly a reference to his time as an Eagle Scout) and Hillary’s “Evergreen” seem well matched, while their daughter Chelsea’s “Energy” captured the youthful vibe of a teenager in the White House. Hillary continued to use “Evergreen” during her 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns, making the name particularly fitting for the former first lady.

Laura Bush: Tempo

Laura Bush, wife of former President George W. Bush, was assigned the code name “Tempo” to go along with the president’s code name, “Trailblazer.” The president, however, had a different code name when his father, George H.W. Bush, known as “Timberwolf,” was president: “Tumbler.”

Michelle Obama: Renaissance

When presented with a list of code names beginning with the letter “R” during his presidential campaign, former President Barack Obama chose “Renegade,” and First Lady Michelle Obama selected “Renaissance.” Some believe that Michelle’s name reflected her goal to rejuvenate and redefine the traditional role of first lady.

Melania Trump: Muse

While her husband Donald Trump chose the code name “Mogul” as an homage to his time as a real estate magnate, Melania reportedly selected “Muse” in reference to her own previous career as a model. The word “muse” can be defined as a person that inspires creativity, something Melania frequently did as a fashion model earlier in her life.

Jill Biden: Capri

First Lady Jill Biden’s code name, “Capri,” remains the same as when she was second lady and is likely a nod to her Italian heritage. President Joe Biden also kept his Irish-inspired code name, “Celtic,” from his time as vice president.

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• 6 Unusual Gifts Given to U.S. Presidents

Abraham Lincoln Loved Wrestling — and Cats

Before he became president, Abe Lincoln was a dedicated wrestler. The 6-foot-4 future president may have fought as many as 300 matches, and legend has it he lost only once. For his efforts, he was posthumously inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992, as an "Outstanding American" in the sport. Honest Abe gave up wrestling before he became president in 1861, after which he was more often found reading and telling jokes. After moving into the White House, Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, was asked about her husband’s hobbies, to which she simply replied: “cats.” Lincoln became the first president to keep cats as pets at the White House when he was given two kittens that he named Tabby and Dixie, and by most accounts he was entirely devoted to them. 

Calvin Coolidge Rode a Mechanical Horse

Calvin Coolidge was roundly mocked by opponents and the press when news broke of his peculiar hobby: riding a mechanical hobby horse. The electric horse — a barrel-shaped contraption made of wood, metal, and leather — was installed in the White House for the president’s exercise. Coolidge, who loved riding actual horses, became rather fond of the mechanical version. He rode it three times a day both for exercise and as a stress reliever (and, one might assume, for pleasure). The mechanical horse even had two variable gaits: “trot” and “gallop.”

John F. Kennedy Collected Model Ships and Scrimshaw

JFK loved the sea and sailing, a passion reflected in his collection of model ships. He had numerous ships in his personal collection, from Chinese war junks to 18th-century French frigates, some of which were on display in the Oval Office. He also collected scrimshaw — intricate scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory, often created by sailors on whaling ships in the 18th and 19th centuries. He kept pieces scattered around the Oval Office, including some on his desk. His favorite item of scrimshaw was a custom-made piece featuring the presidential seal, given to him as a Christmas gift from his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, in 1962. When JFK was buried, Jackie Kennedy placed the piece in her husband’s coffin.

Richard Nixon Was an Avid Bowler

During his presidency, Richard Nixon liked to blow off steam by going bowling. He could often be found at the bowling alley in the Old Executive Office Building, across the street from the White House. He later had a one-lane alley built in the White House basement, beneath the North Portico entrance. In 1971, The New York Times reported that Nixon had an average bowling score of 165 and a respectable high score of 229.

Bill Clinton Is Obsessed With Crossword Puzzles

Most people know that Bill Clinton plays the saxophone, a talent he famously demonstrated on The Arsenio Hall Show. But the 42nd president also has a more sedate hobby: crossword puzzles. In 2002, he wrote a letter to Will Shortz, the editor of the renowned New York Times puzzle, saying, “Keep the crosswords coming. Even when I can’t finish them, they’re the only part of the Times that guarantees good feeling!” Later, in 2017, he helped create a crossword puzzle for the Times. “When I was president,” he once recalled, “I worked no telling how many hundreds and hundreds of crossword puzzles. I find it very relaxing. For a moment, you take your mind off whatever you’re doing.”

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• 6 Unusual Gifts Given to U.S. Presidents

Teddy Roosevelt Held White House Boxing Matches

Theodore Roosevelt was an avid sportsman who wrestled and practiced jiujitsu in order to stay fit. He also enjoyed sparring with boxing partners in the White House, and one of his favorite people to spar with was Dan Tyler Moore, the cousin of first lady Edith Roosevelt. During one sparring session in 1905, Moore hit Roosevelt so hard in the eye that it partially blinded the president. However, the permanent injury wasn’t enough to deter Roosevelt, who continued to box with amateur and professional boxers. Another way that Roosevelt liked to stay fit was playing tennis. He even oversaw installation of the first White House tennis courts, just behind the West Wing. (They were relocated in 1911 by Roosevelt’s successor, William Howard Taft.)

Calvin Coolidge Rode a Mechanical Horse 

The president known as “Silent Cal” for his reserved demeanor preferred artificial horses to the real thing, and even had a mechanical horse installed inside his private White House dressing room. Calvin Coolidge rode the “horse” three times a day in order to lose weight and improve his liver function. This routine was kept a secret until 1925, when the press caught word of the unusual regimen and leaked it to the public. This led to an onslaught of jokes and teasing from Coolidge’s fellow politicians. Kentucky Representative Fred Vinson even got up in front of Congress and read a mocking poem about the president’s “hobbyhorse.” To avoid any further ridicule, Coolidge switched from the mechanical horse to an electric vibration machine that purportedly reduced his waistline.

Herbert Hoover Helped Create a Game Known as Hoover-Ball

Herbert Hoover may be the only president with a popular ball game named in his honor. The game is called Hoover-ball, and it was inspired by a game called bull-in-the-ring that was popular on naval ships. The rules of Hoover-ball were developed by White House physician Joel T. Boone in 1928 in order to keep Hoover physically fit. The game was nameless until the moniker “Hoover-ball” was coined in a 1931 article by a New York Times Magazine reporter.

The game is played with two teams of anywhere from two to four players, and it’s scored quite similarly to tennis. The goal is to hurl a 6-pound medicine ball over an 8-foot-high net so it touches the ground on the other side before an opponent can catch it. Hoover and other VIPs played the game on the South Lawn of the White House at 7 a.m. sharp every morning except Sundays. In Hoover’s memoirs, he claimed the game required “less skill than tennis,” though it was also described by a friend as “more strenuous than either boxing, wrestling, or football.”

FDR Had a White House Swimming Pool Installed

Franklin D. Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio in 1921, and found that swimming was one of the best ways to get exercise with his affliction. He often swam at therapy pools at his New York home, though he had to give that up upon moving into the White House in March 1933. This is when the president’s supporters came to his aid, as the New York Daily News led a campaign to raise funds to build a White House pool. That effort was successful, and a new indoor swimming pool was installed that June. FDR’s new pool was state of the art, as it featured underwater lighting and sterilizers. Swimming quickly became a part of the president’s daily fitness routine.

The pool was also often used by Presidents Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy, but Richard Nixon drained it in 1970 to make space for a new press briefing room. President Gerald Ford, however, oversaw construction of a new outdoor pool in 1975 that opened on White House grounds. Ford took his inaugural dip on July 1, and a few days later welcomed the press to watch him do laps, telling reporters that he hoped “to do about 40 laps a day.”

Harry Truman Enjoyed Vigorous 5 a.m. Walks and Morning Bourbon

A morning stroll is often meant to be relaxing and provide a low-impact workout. But President Harry Truman’s daily walks were anything but relaxing, as he often conducted them at a rather brisk pace. The 33rd president began each morning at 5 a.m. by putting on a suit and tie and going out for a 2-mile walk. And instead of a slow saunter, Truman preferred walking at a rate of about 120 steps per minute — the pace of a traditional quick march in the U.S. Army. Upon the walk’s conclusion, Truman returned to the White House and downed a shot of bourbon at the advice of his doctor. The president diligently adhered to this fitness routine whether in D.C. or back in his hometown of Independence, Missouri, where he began his morning just a little later around 7:30 a.m. That routine also differed in that it would start with a shot of bourbon and a glass of orange juice, followed by a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Popularized Golf as a Presidential Sport

According to historians, William McKinley was the first president to embrace golf as a hobby, though he largely kept it a secret. It wasn’t until 1953 that golf became deeply intertwined with the presidency, and it’s thanks to Dwight D. Eisenhower. While serving as commander in chief, Eisenhower played more than 800 rounds of golf over the course of his eight years in office, logging an average score in the mid-80s. He was so fond of golf that he used the South Lawn of the White House as a practice range, and even had a 3,000-square-foot putting green built outside the Oval Office in 1954. Eisenhower often played with fellow politicians and dignitaries, as well as golf legends such as Arnold Palmer.

Bill Clinton’s Jogging Annoyed the Secret Service

Bill Clinton’s affinity for long jogs was described as a “nightmare” by the Secret Service agents who were tasked with protecting him. Clinton enjoyed jogging three days a week, often at breakneck speed for no more than 37 minutes at a time. Secret Service agents sometimes struggled to maintain his pace, and their job was made all the more difficult by the many people that Clinton would encounter and talk to along the way. But the president loved jogging as a way to stay fit and also connect with voters. Despite his vigorous workout routine, Clinton was also a huge fan of McDonald’s, and many of his jogs ended up at a local McDonald’s establishment.

• The U.S. Presidents’ Favorite Books
• What Was George Washington’s Inauguration Like?
• 6 Unusual Gifts Given to U.S. Presidents