Scatter Brained

Partial to skinny-dipping in the Potomac, 
J. Q. Adams
 was 
once surprised midswim by an enterprising female reporter, 
who forced him into a naked interview.
Andrew Jackson
 made his wife, Rachel, a bigamist by ille-
gally marrying her before she’d divorced her fi rst husband.
Martin Van Buren
 liked to gamble on the outcome of elec-
tions.
William Henry Harrison
 was the biggest vote getter in 
American history if calculating by what percentage of eligible 
voters chose him—but was only president for 31 days.
John Tyler
 holds the presidential paternity record. He had 
14 children live to maturity, the youngest born when Tyler 
was 70.
James K. Polk
 was plagued by diarrhea throughout his single 
term. He eventually died of what he described as “a derange-
ment of the stomach and bowels.”
Zachary Taylor
 received so much fan mail after his Mexican 
War victories that he started refusing all postage-due letters. 
As a result, he didn’t fi nd out he’d won the Whig nomination 
for president for almost a month.