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George Washington (1732–1799) -

Before he became the nation's first president, George Washington danced the night away at countless parties and balls. Eight years after his death, John Adams noted in a letter how he possessed an "elegant form" and "graceful attitudes and movement."

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Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) -

One of the Founding Fathers and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson was a highly accomplished (and self-taught) architect. Among his most notable designs are his own home at Monticello, the Virginia State Capitol, and the University of Virginia.

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James Madison (1751–1836) -

James Madison was a multilingual president who mastered Greek, Latin, Italian, and French by the time he entered the College of New Jersey, later Princeton University. While in college, Madison learned to speak and read Hebrew as well.

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Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) -

A war vet, Andrew Jackson is said to have fought up to 100 duels and was shot multiple times. In 1806, the future president killed attorney Charles Dickinson in a duel after he cheated on a horse bet and insulted Jackson's wife.

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John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) -

The sixth president was an accomplished flutist. While attending Harvard University, John Quincy Adams wrote his own musical compositions.

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John Tyler (1790–1862) -

Being the 10th president wasn't John Tyler's first career choice. He originally studied to become a concert violinist before switching to law. It's said that he played violin at many White House parties.

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Franklin Pierce (1804–1869) -

Franklin Pierce was the first president to recite his inaugural address from memory. He gave his entire 3,319-word speech without a notecard. Talk about a supercharged memory!

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Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) -

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame? As a young man, he only lost one match out of the 300 he participated in!

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Andrew Johnson (1808–1875) -

The 17th president never went to school, and he taught himself how to read and spell. Later when married, his wife, Eliza Johnson, helped him read and write more fluently.

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James A. Garfield (1831–1881) -

Garfield knew and taught both Latin and Greek, and he was the first president to campaign in two languages (English and German). On top of that, he was ambidextrous, meaning he could write well with both hands.

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Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) -

Teddy Roosevelt had a surprising pastime: walking on stilts! It's said that every member of the family owned a pair, including the First Lady. 

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Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) -

While attending the University of Virginia, Woodrow Wilson sang tenor in the college's glee club. He also played violin since childhood.

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Warren G. Harding (1865–1923) -

Harding played the sousaphone, a tuba that wraps around the body. Residents of the White House often saw him picking up an instrument to join the Marine Band's rehearsals.

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Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) -

Calvin Coolidge was another musical president! He was known to play the harmonica in his free time.

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Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) -

As a 20-year-old mining engineer in the late 1800s, Herbert Hoover reportedly wrote a love song for an Australian barmaid. It's now displayed at the Australian hotel where they met.

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Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) -

FDR was once an aspiring screenwriter. In 1923, he submitted a film screenplay about Revolutionary War naval captain John Paul Jones to Paramount Pictures, which was rejected.

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Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) -

Despite dreaming of a career as a concert pianist, Truman knew he wasn't a professional, and he joked about it himself. After returning from Europe, he quipped, "When I played this, Stalin signed the Potsdam Agreement."

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Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) -

The 34th president didn't start painting until age 58, but once he began copying images from magazines and photographs, he never stopped. He eventually branched out to landscapes and portraits, completing more than 300 original works of art over his lifetime.

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Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) -

While governor of Texas, Johnson used his wife's inheritance to buy a radio station. It's still around to this day as KLBJ-FM, one of the Southwest's leading rock stations.

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Richard Nixon (1913–1994) -

Considered by some as the nation's most musical president, Richard Nixon played the saxophone, clarinet, accordion, violin, and piano, and even wrote his own compositions. However, he couldn't read sheet music!

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Gerald Ford (1913–2006) -

Ford was a star football player at the University of Michigan and was named the team's MVP in his final year in 1934. He was also a fashion model in his twenties, making the cover of Cosmopolitan in 1942.

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Jimmy Carter (1924- ) -

In the '80s, Jimmy Carter took up painting and has since painted more than 100 works, many of which have been auctioned off for charity.

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Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) -

It's well known that Ronald Reagan was a famous actor, appearing in more than 50 movies before he became president. But before that, Reagan was a lifeguard and an excellent swimmer. He reportedly rescued 77 people!

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George H.W. Bush (1924–2018) -

George H.W. Bush was the youngest pilot in the Navy when he served. By the end of his period of active service (1942-1945), Bush had flown 58 combat missions.

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Bill Clinton (1946- ) -

A skilled crossword puzzle solver, Bill Clinton can reportedly complete The New York Times crossword in a few minutes while simultaneously carrying on a serious political conversation. In 2007, he even wrote clues for the newspaper's crossword called 'Twistin' the Oldies.'

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George W. Bush (1946- ) -

After serving as president, George W. Bush began painting as a hobby. Subjects have included people, dogs, and still life. He has also painted self-portraits and portraits of world leaders. In 2017, he released a book of portraits of veterans, 'Portraits of Courage.'

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Barack Obama (1961- ) -

An award-winning author, Barack Obama won a Grammy in 2007 for Best Spoken Word Album for his memoir 'Dreams from My Father' (2004).

Sources: (Reader's Digest) (Business Insider) 

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