October presidents: The stories you probably haven’t heard
Laci Jarrell, Staff Writer
Photo Credit to Library of Congress and Unsplash
Jimmy Carter, born Oct. 1, 1924, served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977-1981.
In April of 1979, Carter was fishing near his hometown of Plains, Georgia, when a swamp rabbit swam towards his boat. The rabbit approached the boat, prompting Carter to splash water with his paddle to scare it away. The media later jokingly referred to this event as a “killer rabbit attack.”
Rutherford B. Hayes, born Oct. 4, 1822, served as the 19th president of the United States from 1877-1881.
Hayes was the first president to have a telephone in the White House. At the time, technology was so new that only a couple people owned telephones. The White House telephone number was simply “1.”
Chester A. Arthur, born Oct. 5, 1829, served as the 21st president of the United States from 1881-1885.
During his presidency, Arthur hired a famous designer to redesign the White House. Arthur was known for his interest in fashion and earned a reputation as one of the most stylish presidents in American history. His redesign of the White House helped shape the building that visitors recognized today.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, born Oct. 14, 1890, served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953-1961.
Eisenhower loved golf so much that he installed a putting green on the White House lawn in 1954. The White House squirrels seemed to enjoy this new addition as well, often digging up the green while burying nuts. Frustrated by the damage, Eisenhower told his valet to shoot any squirrel that went near the green. Instead, White House staff and the Secret Service trapped and relocated the squirrels. This effort became known as “Operation Squirrel” and attracted national media attention.
Theodore Roosevelt, born Oct. 27, 1858, served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901-1909.
Roosevelt brought an unusual collection of animals to the White House during his presidency. Some of these animals included dogs, cats, guinea pigs, lizards, snakes and a badger that he named Josiah. Among the most unusual pets were a one-legged rooster and a pony named Algonquin.
John Adams, born Oct. 30, 1735, served as the 2nd president of the United States from 1797-1801.
Adams was known for his discipline and work ethic. He often woke up at 4 a.m. and followed a strict morning routine. This routine included waking before the sunrise, eating chocolate for breakfast and making time to walk and exercise. He was an avid writer and kept many journals and wrote thousands of letters throughout his life. In one of his journals, Adams noted that writing in the morning helped him avoid distractions and improve his thinking.
