The Weirdest Fact About Every American President

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21. Chester Arthur (1829-1886)
> Years served as president: 1881-1885
> Political party: Republican
> Weird fact: Arthur sold historical artifacts to redecorate the White House.

Chester Arthur had ambitions to give the White House an entirely new look. In order to fund this endeavor, Arthur sold 24 wagons filled to the brim with antiques from past presidents. One of John Quincy Adams’ hats and a pair of Lincoln’s pants could be found in that pile of historical loot. And speaking of pants, Arthur just happened to own 80 different pairs.

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22. Grover Cleveland (1837-1908)
> Years served as president: 1885-1889 and 1893-1897
> Political party: Democratic
> Weird fact: Cleveland’s adopted daughter became his wife in later years.

Many may not know that Cleveland became the legal guardian of his former law partner’s 11-year-old daughter upon his death. After 10 years, he took her hand in marriage. She was the youngest First Lady in history at the age of 21. He was more than twice her age at 48.

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23. Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901)
> Years served as president: 1889-1893
> Political party: Republican
> Weird fact: Harrison refused to touch light switches.

As the first president to have electricity in the White House, Harrison was a little spooked when it came to this new energy. He was so anxiety-ridden about the thought of being electrocuted that he opted to never make contact with light switches. More often than not, he went to bed with the lights on.

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24. Grover Cleveland (1837-1908)
> Years served as president: 1885-1889 and 1893-1897
> Political party: Democratic
> Weird fact: Cleveland was the only president to be a hangman.

Not only was Grover Cleveland the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms, but also he was the first to have a gig as a hangman. At one point, he was the sheriff of Erie County, New York, where he had to drop the trap at a hanging. Not once, but two times.

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25. William McKinley (1843-1901)
> Years served as president: 1897-1901
> Political party: Republican
> Weird fact: McKinley removed good luck charm from lapel and was shot.

For William McKinley, losing his good luck charm was a death sentence. The 25th president believed that carnations brought good luck, so he sported them everywhere he went. On Sept. 6, 1901, he removed the carnation from his lapel to give to a little girl only to be shot shortly thereafter.