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 and counting; began 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)

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.”

Thomas Jefferson: Macaroni 

Thomas Jefferson's fondness for macaroni began during his time in France, and upon his return to America he imported a pasta machine to make his own. A recipe for macaroni written in Jefferson’s own hand still exists, and his instructions for creating something similar to modern mac and cheese is credited with popularizing the dish in the United States. 

Abraham Lincoln: Apples

Abe Lincoln was known for his frugal eating habits, often to the dismay and concern of his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Some sources note his fondness for two particular dishes: chicken fricassee with biscuits, and oyster stew. But Lincoln’s favorite food might well have been apples, which, according to his friends, he ate with gusto on a daily basis. 

William Howard Taft: Steak Breakfasts

William Howard Taft, who weighed 354 pounds when he took his oath of office, remains the heaviest person to ever occupy the White House. His weight owes much to his breakfast habits. According to his head housekeeper Elizabeth Jaffray, he began each day by eating a “thick, juicy 12-ounce steak” served alongside two oranges, buttered toast, and a “vast quantity of coffee, with cream and sugar.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt: Grilled Cheese 

FDR’s White House was known for serving terrible food, due in part to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s well-intentioned desire to show solidarity with regular Americans during the Great Depression. It was slim pickings for FDR, but he did very much enjoy classic grilled cheese sandwiches. He also liked hot dogs, which were infamously served to the visiting king and queen of England. 

John F. Kennedy: New England Fish Chowder

JFK was particularly fond of soup, and New England fish chowder was a favorite. In 1961, a young girl named Lynn Jennings wrote to President Kennedy asking what he liked to eat. He promptly replied and passed along the recipe for his preferred fish chowder. Kennedy was also known to be a fan of waffles for breakfast; in fact, his family waffle recipe is preserved in the National Archives. 

Lyndon B. Johnson: Texas-Style Barbecue

LBJ’s love of barbecue was legendary. In the 1950s and ’60s, he and Lady Bird Johnson hosted large Texas-style barbecues at their ranch along the Pedernales River in the Texas Hill Country. The president served brisket, ribs, and his favorite Texas-style chili to hundreds of guests from around the world. 

Richard Nixon: Cottage Cheese and Ketchup

Richard Nixon was a cottage cheese devotee, initially as part of his diet regimen. It appears he grew to love the stuff and ate it on a daily basis, often alongside fresh fruit, wheat germ, and coffee. In one of the stranger presidential food combos, he also enjoyed his cottage cheese topped with ketchup and black pepper.

Gerald Ford: Pot Roast and Red Cabbage

Gerald Ford preferred hearty, homestyle cooking. His favorite meal was a pot roast with red cabbage, followed by butter pecan ice cream for dessert. 

Jimmy Carter: Cheese Grits 

Jimmy Carter's Southern roots showed in his love of grits — especially cheese grits. In 1976, his daughter Amy told The New York Times, “Daddy makes grits for breakfast, then breaks a couple of eggs into it and adds some cheese, and it's yummy.” The family dog was even named Grits. 

Ronald Reagan: Jelly Beans

Ronald Reagan began eating jelly beans as part of his successful attempt to give up pipe smoking, but then his candy consumption became something of an obsession. While he was president, Reagan placed a standing order of 720 bags of jelly beans per month — that’s 306,070 total jelly beans — to be distributed among the White House, Capitol Hill, and other federal buildings.

George H.W. Bush: Pork Rinds

During his 1988 presidential campaign, George H.W. Bush expressed his love for pork rinds, which he at times enjoyed with a splash of Tabasco sauce. Sales of the fried pig skins soared, despite some sections of the media claiming his comment was nothing more than Bush attempting to appear down-to-earth, and that he actually preferred popcorn and martinis.

Bill Clinton: Jalapeño Cheeseburgers

Before his heart issues and subsequent switch to veganism, Bill Clinton was famous for his love of fast food; he even took reporters on jogs to McDonald’s. He particularly enjoyed jalapeño cheeseburgers with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, pickles, and onions. 

George W. Bush: Cheeseburger Pizza

In 2007, White House chef Cristeta Comerford told reporters about George W. Bush’s fondness for a peculiar pizza topping. “For dinner,” she explained, “the president loves what we call homemade ‘cheeseburger pizzas’ because every ingredient of a cheeseburger is on top of a margherita pizza.” Soon after, the topping could be found in pizzerias across the nation. 

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.

William Howard Taft Ate Steak Every Morning

William Howard Taft is notorious for being one of the more portly presidents in history, so it should come as no surprise that he consumed a substantial breakfast each morning. Taft began each day with a doctor-prescribed workout with a personal trainer in his private quarters, which he followed with breakfast at precisely 8:30 a.m. His usual meal consisted of a 12-ounce steak, plenty of buttered toast, and coffee loaded with large amounts of cream and sugar. You’d never find eggs on Taft’s plate, however, as they were one of the few foods he despised. As Taft got older, he eventually cut back to just a 6-ounce serving of steak for breakfast.

Calvin Coolidge Rode a Mechanical Horse 

Calvin Coolidge’s time in office was unique for many reasons. He became president unexpectedly after the death of Warren G. Harding, and he was such a big animal lover that many unusual creatures occupied the White House during his term, including donkeys and raccoons. But one of Coolidge’s more notable quirks was his untraditional take on staying fit and healthy. Coolidge had a mechanical horse installed inside the White House that he rode three times a day in order to lose weight and improve his liver function. After the press caught word of this mechanical horse, Coolidge was teased relentlessly by his fellow politicians. To avoid further ridicule, he switched to an electric vibration machine that purportedly reduced the waistline. 

Franklin D. Roosevelt Collected Stamps

Franklin D. Roosevelt had been fond of stamps since childhood, though it wasn’t until the 1930s, during his presidency, that stamp collecting coincidentally took off as a nationwide trend. With stamp fever sweeping the nation, the White House often published photos of FDR admiring and examining his stamps. Roosevelt was said to spend time every single day adding to and looking through his collection, and he even joined stamp clubs, participated in stamp auctions, and sketched out prospective designs.

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

A morning stroll is often a relaxing activity, but Harry Truman’s daily strolls were conducted at a rather brisk pace. The 33rd president began every morning at 5 a.m. by putting on a suit and tie and stepping out for a 2-mile walk. But rather than a slow saunter, Truman preferred walking at a rate of about 120 steps per minute, equivalent to the pace of a traditional quick march in the U.S. Army. Upon returning to the White House, the president would down a shot of bourbon — at the advice of his doctor — eat a light breakfast, and begin his work day. Truman also spent many days in his hometown of Independence, Missouri, where he began his morning routine a little later, around 7:30 a.m. Those days would start with a shot of bourbon and a glass of orange juice, followed by a brisk walk around the neighborhood.

John F. Kennedy Smoked Four to Five Cigars Every Day

Some people enjoy a cigar after their wedding or the birth of a child, but cigars were more than an occasional indulgence for John F. Kennedy. JFK famously smoked four to five cigars every day, adding up to more than 4,000 cigars during his presidency alone. His preferred brands included Monticello and Upmann, the latter of which were Cuban cigars. This of course caused an issue when the United States implemented a trade embargo against Cuba in the early 1960s, but Kennedy planned ahead. One day in 1961, he called press secretary Pierre Salinger into his office and instructed him to purchase 1,000 Upmann Petit cigars by the following morning. Salinger went from shop to shop around Washington, D.C., and returned to the Oval Office with 1,200 cigars to satisfy the request. Shortly after, Kennedy signed a ban on Cuban products being sold in the U.S.

Lyndon B. Johnson Held Meetings in the Bathroom

Lyndon B. Johnson was an untraditional politician in many ways, not least of which was his habit of holding meetings with advisers while he was seated on the toilet. This was part of what became known as the “Johnson treatment,” a method of persuasion that relied on flattery, bullying, and other unusual tactics to win political victories. While walking down the hall, LBJ would regularly wander into the bathroom and tell his advisers to follow him inside so the meeting could continue. He even had telephones installed in various White House bathrooms, and also instructed aides to stand outside the shower to hold conversations while he bathed. On many mornings, LBJ began the day by inviting aides into his private bedroom, where he would conduct official business while still in bed with his wife, Lady Bird Johnson.

Ronald Reagan Constantly Snacked on Jelly Beans

Ronald Reagan was a heavy pipe smoker for much of his life, until he decided to quit in 1966 at age 55. In order to help satisfy his oral fixation and kick the habit, Reagan snacked on Goelitz Mini Jelly Beans (which later became Jelly Belly). Reagan was such a devoted fan of these candies that Goelitz sent a 3.5-ton shipment of special red (very cherry), white (coconut), and the newly created blue (blueberry) jelly beans to Washington, D.C., for his first presidential inauguration in 1981. After moving into the White House, Reagan always had jars of jelly beans within arm’s reach, as he snacked on them no matter where he was conducting business. In fact, the president issued a standing order of 720 bags of jelly beans every month — that’s 306,070 individual beans — to be distributed throughout many government buildings in the nation’s capital.