When it comes down to it, the residents of the White House are simply just tenants. No one gets to live there for life. And believe it or not, there's a long history of presidential-sized mishaps within the walls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. With such a historic address, there are lifetimes of stories at the First Residence. From creepy to classic, check out these top 10 worst White House tenants.
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Amy Carter
Did the secret service use Velcro or lace-up skates? Stoppers or no stoppers? These are the types of questions one could ask when discussing the Carter White House. First Daughter Amy Carter didn't wreck the place, but she was one of the most public adolescents to ever occupy the First Residence. Building a tree house on the South lawn, extra security was needed when she would have treehouse slumber parties, as well as when hosting a roller skating party in the White House. After growing up in the spotlight, Amy Carter lives a private life, and serves on the board of Atlanta's The Carter Center. -
The Overzealous Staff of The West Wing
An Aaron Sorkin classic, in the cold open of an episode called "The Leadership Breakfast," Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) and Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) build a fire in the West Wing of the White House during a long night of work. They light the fire using spruce, kerosene, dry leaves, and newspaper. As rooms fill with smoke, they learn that the flue has been sealed shut since 1896 — prompting the President's aide to wake him up with the line, "Mr. President? You know how you told me not to wake you up unless the building's on fire …?"
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Old Hickory
Andrew Jackson doesn't have any Facebook friends (you know, since he died 160 years prior to the invention of Facebook), but he was dangerously popular for the walls of the White House. After his inauguration in 1829, nearly 20,000 muddy-footed people came to the White House to call on the new President. On his first day as President, Jackson had to sneak out to a hotel, and aides filled up bathtubs with orange juice and whiskey and moved guests out to the lawn. -
Irvin McDowell Garfield
Son of James Garfield, he was known to ride in the East Room and down the staircases of the White House on his bicycle. That can't be good for the floor treatment, Irvin. Be more like Andrew Jackson: take it outside. -
The British
Excuse us, British? Who invited you? In 1814, British troops occupied Washington and burned the White House, the Library of Congress, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. First Lady Dolley Madison was forced to leave the White House and flee to safety. A dinner had been set out, and when the British occupy the house, they stopped to eat the food, drink the wine, and only then did they burn the place down. At least they were civilized about it, right? -
Presidential Pets
This is a little weird: (1) there's a Presidential Pets museum, and (2) they have a fascinating website. Only there can you learn that Buddy Clinton didn't get along with Socks, Lucky grew too large for the Reagan White House (which means he destroyed something important, probably several things) and had to be sent to live on the ranch, and Amy Carter was given a dog by her teacher that (read: destroyed a bunch of stuff, so) she later returned. Also, are you familiar with the political legacy of Martin Van Buren? Whatever he did as President will never be cooler than being gifted a pair of tiger cubs by the Sultan of Oman. -
Alice Roosevelt
She was a wild one. Becoming an instant celebrity following her father's inauguration, Alice Roosevelt got attention with her smoking, gambling, short skirts, and fierce tongue. As a young woman, she was known for interrupting meetings in the Oval Office to offer her political advice to her father, Teddy. Upon vacating the White House, Alice buried a voodoo doll of incoming tenant Nellie Taft in the front lawn. -
Tubby Taft
He sure was a political fatcat! President Taft was caught once in an ill-fitting clawfoot White House bathtub because he was too large to get himself out. A little sympathy is in order: how awkward would it be to have to call an aide for help? -
Psychics
Many seances have been held at the First Residence over time. Abraham Lincoln held several seances, and did so almost publicly. According to investigative reporting giant Bob Woodward, psychic Jean Houston aided Hillary Clinton in channeling Eleanor Roosevelt and Ghandi in 1995. Nancy Reagan had a personal psychic, Jeane Dixon, who advised several administrations. Ouija boards might be fun, but no one wants an intercessary of otherworldliness to be in the White House for long. Because that just brings about … -
Ghosts
The only thing worse than presidential pets and British troops is a ghost infestation. For years, there have been many reports of various ghosts haunting the White House. Many believers and skeptics have had a supernatural or spooky experience. For a building with so many historic tenants, workers that make it (and the country) run, rooms, and stories, the White House may have its share of demons — but you be the judge about its ghosts.
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