1

The White House Easter egg roll

In the 1870s, Washington kids rolled colored eggs on the Capitol lawn every Easter Monday until Congress banned the practice in 1876 to save the grass. On Easter Monday 1878, a group of those disappointed children walked up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House gates. President Rutherford B. Hayes told his guards to let them in , and the South Lawn became their new playground. Word spread fast, and by the following year, hundreds of families showed up expecting the same welcome. Hayes never announced a policy; he just opened a gate for some kids with nowhere else to roll their eggs, and a White House holiday tradition was born, with future presidents dutifully continuing it.

2

The "Teddy Bear" stuffed animal

That stuffed bear tucked in with a grandchild owes its existence to a presidential hunting trip gone sideways.

In November 1902, Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Onward, Mississippi, hoping to bag a bear as the rest of his hunting party had. After days with no luck, his guides cornered an exhausted old bear, tied it to a tree, and invited the president to take the easy shot. Roosevelt refused, calling it unsportsmanlike. The story ran in the newspapers nationwide, and Washington Post cartoonist Clifford Berryman turned it into a sketch titled "Drawing the Line in Mississippi." Brooklyn shop owner Morris Michtom saw the cartoon, sewed a small stuffed bear, and displayed it in his windows as Teddy’s Bear. Customers wanted one immediately, and a toy industry was born from a single act of mercy.

3

The official Thanksgiving turkey pardon

Every November, cameras gather in the Rose Garden to watch the president spare a turkey from the Thanksgiving table, a moment that feels as old as the holiday itself. But the origin of that ceremony is very recent.

For decades, presidents from Truman onward accepted a ceremonial turkey each year, and most of those birds ended up exactly where you’d expect. That changed on November 17, 1989. As animal rights activists picketed nearby, President George H. W. Bush looked at a visibly nervous tom turkey and improvised , telling the crowd he’d granted the bird a presidential pardon on the spot and that it would live out its days on a farm instead. The line got a laugh, but Bush kept it going the next year, and the year after. What started as a spontaneous joke became the official ceremony every president has repeated since.

4

The shape of the Oval Office

The Oval Office is instantly recognizable: the presidential seal carpet, that famous desk, the flags and busts. But the curved shape itself traces back to one president's frustration with cramped quarters.

When William Howard Taft took office in 1909, he found the West Wing, built as a temporary fix under Theodore Roosevelt, too small and too disconnected from the rest of the White House. Taft held a competition for architects to expand it into something permanent. The winner, Nathan Wyeth, looked to the White House's own Blue Room, an oval-shaped parlor where presidents had greeted guests since the early 1800s, and echoed its shape for the new presidential office. Construction finished that same year. Every president since has worked inside walls first curved to match a room built more than a century before any of them took office.

5

Modern gourmet macaroni and cheese in the U.S.

Mac and cheese shows up at potlucks and holiday tables across the country, but its American debut came from a president with expensive European taste.

While serving as minister to France in the 1780s, Thomas Jefferson fell for the pasta dishes he encountered in Paris and Italy. He had a pasta press shipped home, but kept importing macaroni and parmesan from Europe for years. In 1802, as president, Jefferson served a baked macaroni dish at a formal White House dinner. Not every guest was impressed. Congressman Manasseh Cutler called the pie disagreeable, mistaking the pasta for onions until a fellow diner explained what it was. Cutler’s confusion didn’t stop the dish from catching on, and it’s been a comfort food staple ever since.

6

Presidential marching music: "Hail to the Chief"

Whenever a president walks into a room for a major event, the Marine Band strikes up the same tune, and the crowd knows exactly who just arrived. That entrance music exists because James K. Polk had the opposite problem.

Elected in 1844, Polk was famously soft-spoken and easy to overlook in a crowded hall, the kind of president who could walk into a reception and have half the room not notice. His wife, Sarah Childress Polk, decided that wouldn’t do. She arranged for the Marine Band to play "Hail to the Chief" whenever her husband entered a room, giving guests a clear cue that the president had arrived. The tune, written by English composer James Sanderson and reserved for special events like inaugurations, had been around for 40 years prior to Polk’s taking office, although it was during his presidency when it started opening the door for every Commander-in-Chief.

7

The national Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony

The National Christmas Tree Lighting each December draws crowds to the Ellipse just south of the White House, but the very first one almost happened somewhere else entirely.

In November 1923, organizers asked First Lady Grace Coolidge for permission to put a community Christmas tree on the White House grounds. She already had a carol sing planned for the North Lawn and didn’t want two events competing, so she suggested the Ellipse instead. On Christmas Eve, President Calvin Coolidge walked over from the White House, pressed a button, and lit a 48-foot balsam fir donated by his home state of Vermont in front of thousands of spectators. True to his famously quiet nature, Coolidge said nothing and simply flipped the switch, letting the lights be the show.

8

The presidential "First Pitch" at Major League Baseball games

Every baseball season still opens with someone tossing a ceremonial first pitch, a tradition that dates back to a president who almost wasn't invited.

On April 14, 1910, William Howard Taft attended the Washington Senators' opener against the Philadelphia Athletics, in Washington, D.C. The plan was for him to throw to Washington Senators catcher Gabby Street, since ace pitcher Walter Johnson had shyly turned down the honor. Taft had other ideas. From his box seat, he turned and fired the ball straight to Johnson instead, who caught it, kept it as a souvenir, and later had the president autograph it. Johnson went on to pitch a one-hit shutout that afternoon. Taft returned to throw another first pitch in 1911, and the ceremony has opened baseball seasons for presidents ever since.

9

Blueberry Jelly Belly Beans

Grab a bag of Jelly Belly beans today, and you'll likely find blueberry among the flavors, a color that didn't exist until one president requested it.

Ronald Reagan started eating jelly beans in 1966 to help quit pipe smoking, and by the time he reached the White House, he kept jars in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room alike. For his 1981 inauguration, Reagan wanted a patriotic red, white, and blue display . Jelly Belly already made Very Cherry for red and Coconut for white, but nobody had ever needed a blue bean before, so there wasn't one. The company invented the blueberry flavor specifically for the occasion and shipped three and a half tons of beans to Washington for the celebration. More than 40 years later, blueberry remains one of Jelly Belly's most popular flavors.

10

Hoover-ball, a new sport

Presidential influence is not to be denied. And one former president even gave Americans a new sport. When Herbert Hoover entered office in 1929, his doctors were concerned about his weight and lack of exercise. His physician, Joel T. Boone, came up with an answer that was considerably more fun than a daily walk.

Boone adapted the game from medicine-ball exercises and tennis , creating a sport in which players stood on opposite sides of a net and threw a heavy medicine ball back and forth. The game quickly became a regular activity on the White House grounds, and players even earned a nickname: the "Medicine Ball Cabinet." Although it never became mainstream, the sport lived on through local competitions in Hoover’s hometown of West Branch, Iowa.

1

Who fired the shot heard ‘round the world?

The war began on the morning of April 19, 1775, when a small group of local militia faced a column of British Redcoats. The American commander, Colonel John Parker, ordered his men to disperse. The British commander, Major John Pitcairn, ordered his troops to hold their fire. Both sides wanted to avoid a bloodbath.

Suddenly, a shot of gunfire was heard through the air. In the confusion, British soldiers charged with bayonets. Who pulled that first trigger? Some accounts suggest a gunman fired from behind a nearby wall. Others claim a fleeing prisoner sparked the chaos. Because both sides swore under oath that they didn’t shoot first, the catalyst of the war remains a mystery.

2

Who betrayed Nathan Hale?

Nathan Hale is considered one of America’s first tragic heroes. A young Connecticut schoolteacher turned army captain, Hale volunteered to infiltrate British-occupied New York City to gather intelligence. He was an amateur spy, and it didn’t take long for the enemy to catch him with compromising notes hidden in his shoes. He was hanged the next morning, at age 21.

The mystery lies in exactly how he was caught. One theory points to his own cousin, Samuel Hale, a Loyalist who allegedly spotted Nathan in a tavern and reported it to British authorities. Another theory suggests he was tricked by Major Robert Rogers, a legendary British counter-insurgency commander who supposedly suspected Hale and got him to confess his mission over drinks.

3

Who burned New York City in 1776?

On September 21, 1776, just days after Nathan Hale’s execution, a fire broke out in the middle of the night. The Great Fire consumed a third of New York City, destroying hundreds of buildings and critical port facilities just when the British military was going to start using the city as their winter base.

The British blamed American arsonists and arrested over 200 people, but no one was ever convicted. Interestingly, George Washington and his collaborators previously debated burning the city, though the Continental Congress ultimately forbade it. Washington publicly denied any involvement, although he privately confessed that the fire was a stroke of luck. Was it a genuine accident, or did radical Patriots take matters into their own hands?

4

Who was Agent 355?

George Washington’s most successful intelligence network was the Culper Spy Ring, which operated in New York. The ring used an intricate system of invisible ink, hidden drop boxes, and complex ciphers. In their master codebook, the number 355 stood simply for "lady."

Agent 355 was a brilliant female operative who provided vital intelligence. Because her identity was protected by the ring’s leaders, her true name was never written down. Scholars have spent centuries debating whether she was a prominent Loyalist society woman secretly sympathetic to the Patriots, a member of the prominent Floyd family, or a composite character representing multiple female informants.

5

The mystery of Silas Deane

Silas Deane was a Connecticut merchant sent by Congress to France in 1776 as America’s first secret diplomat. He performed well at first, successfully securing shipments of French arms and recruiting foreign officers such as the Marquis de Lafayette. However, he fell into a bitter political dispute with fellow diplomat Arthur Lee, who accused Deane of financial fraud.

Totally in disgrace, a ruined Deane spent years in European exile trying to clear his name. In 1789, when he was 51, he boarded a ship to return to the United States for a congressional hearing. Hours into the voyage, he became ill and died. According to rumors, he had been poisoned. Modern historians suspect his close friend and assistant, Edward Bancroft—a British double agent—murdered Deane to keep him from exposing his wartime espionage.

6

Who told the Patriots in Boston that the British were coming?

Before Paul Revere could take his historic midnight ride, someone had to give the Patriots the warning. On the night of April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren received precise intelligence that British troops were preparing to march on Lexington and Concord to arrest rebel leaders.

Who leaked this military plan? History has pointed to Margaret Kemble Gage, the American-born wife of the British Commander-in-Chief, General Thomas Gage. Margaret was torn between her love for her husband and her devotion to the land. While her involvement has never been proven, General Gage notably sent his wife away to England shortly after the leak.

7

Was Charles Lee a traitor?

General Charles Lee was George Washington’s second-in-command and an experienced military officer. He was also arrogant and frequently criticized Washington’s leadership. In late 1776, Lee was captured by the British in a New Jersey tavern while writing a letter complaining about Washington's deficiencies.

He was exchanged back to the Americans a year later, but his career ended after he disobeyed Washington’s orders at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. The mystery arose 80 years later, when a lost document surfaced. The document, written in Lee’s own handwriting, outlined a detailed military strategy for the British to defeat the Continental Army. Was Lee a traitor, or was it a strategy to manipulate his captors?

8

Why didn’t the British burn Monticello?

In June 1781, the British cavalry leader Banastre Tarleton—called by Americans "Bloody Tarleton" for his brutal tactics—led a raid on Charlottesville, Virginia. His main objective was to capture Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the state’s governor.

Jefferson managed to escape Monticello, and when Tarleton’s troops occupied his famous estate, they left it entirely untouched, as Tarleton specifically ordered his men not to damage or burn the property. Given that the British often burned the properties of prominent leaders, sparing Monticello was very unusual.

9

Who was Jane McCrea?

Jane McCrea was a young woman from a Loyalist family who was engaged to a lieutenant in the British army. In the summer of 1777, she was taken by Native American warriors allied with British General John Burgoyne's advancing army. Shortly after, she was found dead and scalped.

The Patriots turned her death into a propagandistic victory, using the story to terrify frontier colonists into joining the militia. But who actually killed Jane? The native scouts claimed she was accidentally shot by stray bullets fired by pursuing American soldiers. Other accounts insisted she was murdered during an argument between two native factions. The truth remains buried in the fog of war.

10

What happened to Benjamin Church?

Dr. Benjamin Church was a prominent member of the Boston Sons of Liberty and served as the first Surgeon General of the Continental Army. He was also a traitor. In 1775, Washington’s intelligence team intercepted a coded letter written by Church containing vital information about American troop numbers.

Church was arrested, tried, and sentenced to confinement. In 1778, because of his poor health, he was banished from Massachusetts and boarded a merchant ship bound for the West Indies. The ship sailed into the Atlantic and was never seen again. Did the vessel sink, or did Church use his British connections to stage his disappearance and flee to Europe?

1

George Washington

Image: Alonzo Chappel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Founding Father and first president of the United States, George Washington, enjoyed many recreational activities during his free time. He was a true outdoorsman—he loved hunting and fishing and was a devoted gardener and farmer .

It’s common knowledge that after deciding not to run for a third term, he retired to his Virginia farm and dedicated the rest of his life to farming. But one fact you may not know is that, in his youth, Washington was a frequent dancer —and rumor has it, he was even extremely good at it! He considered dancing an important social interaction, describing it as "so agreeable and innocent an amusement."

2

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Image: National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only president to be elected to four consecutive terms, led the country through the critical years of the Great Depression and World War II. To maintain a clear mind while navigating such tumultuous times, Roosevelt embraced a number of pastimes. He collected books , stamps , and ship models , for example.

In addition, he was an avid swimmer . After losing the ability to walk due to polio, Roosevelt began swimming three times a week to strengthen his muscles. Following his election, the New York Daily News donated a swimming pool to the White House so he could continue his practice.

3

James A. Garfield

Image: Unknown; part of Brady-Handy Photograph Collection., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Before becoming the 20th president, James A. Garfield enjoyed fishing , hunting , and playing billiards . But he was also exceptionally intelligent and studious.

Though many people may know Garfield for serving just four months in office, he was also the first ambidextrous president of the United States . Not only could he write with both hands, but when asked a question, he could simultaneously write the answer in ancient Greek with one hand and Latin with the other. Pretty impressive, don’t you think?

4

Calvin Coolidge

Image: National Photo Company Collection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The 30th president of the United States liked riding horses so much that he had an electronic horse installed in the White House. The device had two speeds—trot and canter—and he rode it every day.

That said, Calvin Coolidge was a taciturn man of few words, who enjoyed taking afternoon naps, earning him the nickname "Silent Cal." He also had a very particular sense of humor . He reportedly enjoyed pressing the alarm buttons in the Oval Office or hiding in the garden shrubbery to startle his Secret Service agents.

5

Jimmy Carter

Image: Tuntematon, Valkoisen talon valokuvaajat (01/20/1977 - 01/20/1981), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout his life, Jimmy Carter was a curious man who never stopped doing things. He studied nuclear physics in college, could read two thousand words a minute, wrote numerous books, and even won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

But what did this brilliant man like to do in his spare time? Carter had a variety of hobbies, including painting , poetry , tennis , cycling , fly fishing , and skiing . However, the one activity in which he perhaps excelled most was woodworking . After retiring, the 39th president of the United States set up a garage workshop on his Georgia ranch, where he built furniture that was later auctioned to benefit the Carter Center.

6

John Quincy Adams

Image: Pieter Van Huffel, 1769 - 1844, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

John Quincy Adams was notoriously meticulous and kept a diary detailing his daily routine. Thanks to this, we now know that the sixth president of the United States liked to relieve the stress of the presidency with an early morning swim .

After waking up around 4 or 5 a.m., Adams would walk two miles to the Potomac River and leave his clothes on the shore before taking a swim. According to lore, one morning, a reporter named Anne Royall snatched his clothes and demanded that the president give her an interview. Adams had no choice but to answer her questions while standing deep in the river, completely naked.

7

Harry S. Truman

Image: Abbie Rowe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Harry S. Truman governed the United States from 1945 to 1953, right after World War II—a difficult and stressful time, to be sure. To blow off some steam, the 33rd president liked to immerse himself in one of his two long-time passions: reading and music .

Truman had eye problems, which prevented him from participating in sports. As a result, he became an avid reader from an early age—in fact, he once boasted of having read every book in the library by the age of 14. He was also a very skilled piano player , having started lessons at the age of seven.

8

Lyndon B. Johnson

Image: Yoichi Okamoto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Living up to the legacy of one of the most popular presidents in American history can't be easy. But it appears that the 36th president of the United States knew just how to maintain a good balance between responsibility and leisure. During his five-year administration, Lyndon B. Johnson spent 490 days —about a quarter of his presidency— at the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall , Texas, combining work and vacation so seamlessly that the place became known as "The Texas White House."

At this ranch, Johnson had an extensive collection of vehicles . Among them was the Amphicar, an amphibious passenger car built in the 1960s, which he used to play pranks on his visitors.

9

Richard Nixon

Image: White House Photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Not many people know this, but Richard Nixon was an artistic man. He enjoyed theater—he even met his future wife during a community theater audition—and he could play five musical instruments : piano, saxophone, violin, clarinet, and accordion.

But he was also into sports. In addition to being a huge football fan, he and First Lady Pat Nixon enjoyed bowling . In fact, the Nixons were responsible for moving the White House bowling alley back to the Executive Mansion after it had been relocated to a nearby building years earlier.

10

George W. Bush

Image: Series: Photographs Related to the George W. Bush Administration, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009Collection: Records of the White House Photo Office (George W. Bush Administration), 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

During his free time, George W. Bush enjoyed golfing, biking, attending baseball games, and reading American history. He was also a very competitive runner .

However, when the 43rd president of the United States left office, he was only 62 years old—plenty of time to acquire a new pastime. In the years following his time in the White House, Bush surprised many by turning to painting . "I’m a painter," he told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show .

11

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Image: ddd

To relieve the stress of leadership, Dwight D. Eisenhower maintained a number of hobbies that he cultivated throughout his life. One of his main passions was golf , which he played during and after his presidency. He even kept a small putting green in the White House garden and had a four-hole practice course installed at Camp David.

But that’s not all. Ike enjoyed fishing, hunting, shooting, watching Western movies, and playing bridge. He was also an avid painter who often captured natural landscapes and gave them as gifts to friends. After leaving the White House, Ike settled on a farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he raised Black Angus show cows that won blue ribbons at state and county fairs.

12

John F. Kennedy

Image: Robert LeRoy Knudsen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

John F. Kennedy was an exercise enthusiast and something of a jock. He played many sports : golf, tennis, swimming, baseball, and football. Despite being an athletic man, he enjoyed smoking between four and five cigars a day—his favorite brands were Upmanns and Monticellos!

But perhaps the hobby that most helped him relax from the tensions of the presidency was boating. Like many members of his family, John F. Kennedy loved to sail and was often photographed at sea with his wife and young children.