The Heaviest Drinking Presidents In American History

[@GrungeHQ]

Were you surprised by any of the presidents on this list?

[@dallaskeller1949]

Yeah. #1 isn’t Jackson. WTF?

[@ebarteldes]

Nope

[@757Susan]

Yes. John Adams

[@annee810]

NO!

[@jwchamberlain5862]

Surprised Harry Truman and his Old Grand Dad didn't get a mention

[@C.O._Jones]

I went to university at the same place LBJ did. His collegiate drinking exploits are *still* the stuff of legend.

[@djquinn11]

Where you in the same graduating class?

[@C.O._Jones]

@@djquinn11 No, but your Mom was, and she slept with every other student and all the farm animals.

[@ebarteldes]

@@djquinn11 She said the same place, not the same generation

[@JuanPablo-bo8cx]

😊

[@shahrulamar5358]

​@@ebarteldesIf she was in the same graduating class with LBJ she is now among world oldest persons. 😅😅

[@forever_golfer1981]

You need to be drunk to run for President anyway.

[@Eric-yp9nc]

you got that right!!!

[@oilersridersbluejays]

I think for any leader in most countries. If you aren’t drunk beforehand, you’re gonna be by the time your term is up.

[@Gardenstateking]

facts

[@selfdo]

Richard Milhous Nixon was known to put away a few, and being somewhat of a loner, fulfilled the George Thorogood tune, "I drink ALONE".

[@davidtoups4684]

I don’t think Nixon’s drinking got out of hand until later in his presidency. Once the Watergate noose started to close in around him.

[@retroguy9494]

@@davidtoups4684 That's where you'd be wrong dude. Nixon was a heavy drinker long before Watergate. In fact, quite recently, its been discovered that Nixon used to hit his wife when he had too much to drink. In fact, when he lost the 1962 governors race and was drinking, he beat her so bad she was going to leave him.

[@muffs55mercury61]

I like that song !

[@TimRHillard]

I don't know how you could not drink as a general in the Civil War.

[@selfdo]

IDK about Generals...but I like John Wayne's depiction of a Cavalry COLONEL, who, although sober and upright (and LOUD) most of the time, after that bitter battle between his regiment and train-borne Confederates at Newton Station, MS, pours himself a few drinks and recounts to the Confederate woman, Miss Hannah Hunter (of Greenbriar), the tale of how he'd lost his wife to an incompetent surgeon (hence why he constantly bickers with Bill Holden's Maj (Dr) Hank Kendall). Miss Hunter is already in tears, having tended to so many wounded and seeing not a few of them expire, and she can barely down a shot of whisky. The "Duke" has no such problem!

[@johndoe-ss9bz]

The Russian Army is drunk every day, and from the Top Down, and making terrible combat decisions. Drink loses wars!!!

[@user-rl3iv2jk9q]

Thank you for your presentation , I watched all of it .

[@Mr.paint123]

When I was a teenager I went to John Newcomb‘s tennis camp in new Braunfels and I met John Newcomb himself and I remember asking him personally what it was like to be with George W. Bush getting drunk and being with him when he got his DWI and I remember John saying nothing and walking away and then like two hours later some camp counselors came and told me I had to pack my stuff and leave the camp - true story

[@jblassio]

That’s loyalty.

[@joeldukes303]

Cool story bro

[@Mr.paint123]

@@joeldukes303 thanks for reading it 😊

[@marika85361]

Newcomb what a blat ass

[@Springwater475]

Good share!

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

Grant's drinking has been overly hyped by those who wished to tarnish his rep.

[@retroguy9494]

You're right!

[@bcubed72]

Grant was sacked for drinking long before he had a rep to trash.

[@BeckRed]

George W. Bush is a descendant of Franklin Pierce, thru his mom, Barbara Pierce Bush. Explains a lot.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Daddy Bush liked him some Grey Goose.

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I'm here for a good time, not a long time. Cheers!

[@roberthale2268]

A friend of mine was a pilot on AF1 when Johnson was president. He told a story that Johnson used to pull out his you know what and play with it on the plane.

[@blackwidowsm]

Starts and ends with Adams and grant! They were in a league of thier own sharing spirits. 🥃🍷🥃

[@dodgecrockett3474]

Black Widow, are you sure that you watched this video?? It clearly starts with John Adams and ends with George W. Bush. And how could John Adams possibly have shared spirits with Ulysses Grant? Adams died 18 years before Grant was even born!! I think somebody had one too many.

[@tara44789]

I'll drink to that. 😂

[@mikmik9034]

I found out that a Pharmacist I worked with was Drunk all the time when he came in Sober Once.

[@stuglenn1112]

Was his name Mr. Gower.

[@mikmik9034]

@@stuglenn1112 Nope, he did own his own Rexall Store prior to retirement, he was working as parttime fillin at the pharmacy I was a 'sodajerk' at (c. 1965).

[@goodyeoman4534]

No wonder I got Viagra when I asked for Verapamil.

[@Bananaguy693]

I feel bad for Franklin Pierce. He had 2 kids who died when they were extremely young then he watched his son die in this horrific train accident that really messed him up. He drank himself to death after that.

[@dylanmcdermott1110]

I wonder if that didn't happen what his presidency would have looked like.

[@muffs55mercury61]

And his wife never overcame it and died I believe in 1863.

[@tbone3972]

This happens when people (even presidents) loses everything & have everything to lose even life.

[@iwritechecksatthegrocerystore]

I mean to be fair he was also a truly terrible president who contributed directly towards the Civil War. I suppose you could argue it was probably inevitable but he certainly didn’t help. True story! When I was a kid growing up, in the fourth grade we went to the Franklin Pierce Presidential Library, because well I grew up in NH and he’s the only president from that state, the tour guide… told us (by way of explanation for him only serving one term) “he was not a very popular president, nor a very good president.” (something to that effect, it’s been ~30 years) But yea. When the state funded tour guide at your presidental library tells a bunch of 4 grade kids you “weren’t a great president or well liked” Yea as an adult part of me feels for him too. 😂 poor bastard.

[@ABCDEFGHIJK4097]

People were used to death back then. A lot of children/adults died early

[@jungothemal7201]

Nobody can beat winston Churchill 🤣

[@stupendous1068]

It's always amazed me that Franklin Pierce, despite easily being the best looking president, was such a severe alcoholic.

[@kayeemerson6892]

Looks and the alcoholism are family tendecies.

[@thomasholt63]

@@kayeemerson6892 yeah like the old Winston cigarette commercials and rugged looking man 😂

[@susannebemis3311]

He was a hunk

[@retroguy9494]

@@thomasholt63 That was Marlboro, not Winston. And the 'Marlboro man' died of lung cancer. He was only 51.

[@muffs55mercury61]

From what I read, Pierce was a very likable person but like many politicians he had enemies who walked all over him.

[@matthewrammig]

FDR and Churchill? Those guys probably didn’t even know they were drinking.

[@TimRHillard]

I am old man. Many years ago, driving home on Friday near Dallas, I'd say more cars than not had a driver with an open beer can.

[@muffs55mercury61]

At the time DWI was not considered serious in some states unless someone was killed.

[@robertshipley6990]

Had no idea. Thanks good show.

[@chrishelbling3879]

To be fair to those old 18th-19th century Presidents: the drinking water was not safe.

[@nikolatesla5553]

There's a real problem suggesting that people in history were heavy drinkers. Not that they weren't. But before the twentieth century water could be dangerous to consume. Beer, wine, hard cider, hard liquor, etc however, were generally safe to drink.

[@thomasholt63]

Still to this day it's safer than water now so drink all the alcohol beverages that you can non stop for about an 4 minutes at a time

[@Eric-yp9nc]

@@thomasholt63 LMAO!....good advice!...

[@JesterMax24]

This has always made zero sense. As if you can just drink alcohol in place of water...

[@johndoe-ss9bz]

@@JesterMax24 :Were they advised to drink 8 glasses a day to stay hydrated?

[@shahrulamar5358]

Boris Yeltsin was a legendary heavy drinker. 🇷🇺

[@Miguel195211]

Russians are known to partake in the habit.

[@selfdo]

Most Soviet/Russian leaders WERE. Leonid Brezhnev and Nixon did engage in a "moderate" drinking bout, and the Soviet First Secretary was impressed by how "Tricky Dick" held up after several drinks. Nixon had likewise left an impression upon Nikita Khrushchev in 1959, both in Moscow ("Kitchen Debate") and during Nikita's visit that year to the US, being quite able to drink with the crude First Secretary/Premier. Interestingly enough, Gorbachev, though he did drink a bit, was reputed to be a bit of a "cold fish", not given to partying heavily.

[@geralds.1586]

Nice video, also out of curiosity how tall are you man?

[@TimRHillard]

Man, I would love to have been a participant in an FDR and Churchill late night drinking session. Can you imagine?

[@retroguy9494]

Actually, Churchill drank all throughout the day. There was an interview from the White House butler Alozno Fields before he died in which he spoke about all the different kinds of alcohol Churchill drank throughout the day. It began with a whiskey and soda in bed when he woke in the morning. FDR only had 2 cocktails a day before dinner as his normal routine. Once in a while, he might have an after dinner drink. He DID keep up with Churchill at night when Churchill stayed in the White House for a couple weeks. He drank brandy. But supposedly, when Churchill left, FDR slept 10 hours a night for 3 nights to recover from said carousing!

[@selfdo]

@@retroguy9494 Winston was supposed to be one of the few who could (and DID) drink Stalin under the table. Not a small "achievement", especially since Russians and related ethnicities (Stalin was actually a Georgian) very much picked their leaders based on their ability to hold their liquor. In Vino Veritas.

[@pontifixmax]

​@@selfdoStalin would also have regular late night drinking sessions in the Soviet Union, although he himself didn't drink all that much. Rather, his object was for everyone else within his inner circle to get drunk and say things within earshot of him that they wouldn't say otherwise.

[@retroguy9494]

@@selfdo Yes, I remember reading many years ago about Churchill out drinking Stalin. It didn't surprise me one bit!

[@oilersridersbluejays]

To be fair, I’m not a fan of any three of those guys, especially Stalin. However, out of the three, I think I respect FDR the most. Churchill was a very interesting person but I always thought of him as a rambling drunk blow hard. His leadership of Britain during World War II was mostly very admirable. The heavy bombings of German cities with little limits eh or industrial importance I consider a war crime however.

[@user-zn3sh9lq3e]

The saying is that Sam Houston was a big big drinker

[@750dollarman2]

Love Bush about his admission of quitting drinking

[@retroguy9494]

Personally, I don't think he did. There had to be reasons he was slurring his words half the time during speeches. And those droopy eyelids and that clueless blank stare.

[@rmazzella5303]

Once, during the Civil War, when Abraham Lincoln was asked about then-general Ulysses S. Grant's drinking, he answered, "Tell me what brand of whiskey Grant drinks, and I'll issue some of it to all my other generals.”

[@basilmanolakos4926]

Who's the narrator/host of this informative video - very handsome guy.

[@futuremath08]

LBJ's diet for most of his adult life was Cutty Sark and Lucky Strikes. He was only 65 when he died.

[@jwchamberlain5862]

He once said, "Johnson men don't live very long." He went out & proved it.

[@FlyboyUS]

He had JFK assassinate

[@anthonyzestley3980]

​@FlyboyUS I watched a documentary on LBJ. He was a racist and had 6 people killed. One of whom was his sister. JFK?

[@selfdo]

About fifty or so years TOO LONG. The man was a LYING, FORE-FLUSHING SACK OF SHIT.

[@bobmalack481]

Wow..I'm 68, must be ready to die at any moment...

[@ebarteldes]

While some were heavy drinkers, these were mostly presidents who got the job done.

[@bobmalack481]

General/president Grant is one I would give a pass on. As reports from Union fileld commanders during the march to Atlanta campaign was that Grant drank heavily, Lincoln's responce was "He's winning, send him all the whiskey he wants." LOL!! Robert at 68.

[@DavidLouisLouis-qh9ni]

In the late 1700's the water was horrible to consume , just like with the Europeans it was much safer to drink alcohol than water, , Benjamin Franklin founding father ♥️🇺🇸♥️🗽‼️

[@Joseph-gg8if]

I was in NYC last year and I ran into the Van Buren Boys.

[@matthewrammig]

You know, they never hassle their own kind.

[@podcastlover3841]

franklin pierce outdrinks everyone on this list. My guy once said after he lost the election of 1856. "There's nothing left to do but to get drunk".

[@ebarteldes]

That is actually mentioned on the video

[@thomasholt63]

Well that's what an amazing American person would do now it's all types of drugs and it mixed with some of everything

[@williamconrod8998]

These days a president may not get drunk, but try to get the election overturned.

[@notvalidcharacters]

He didn't run in 1856. That would be his last year in office.

[@B1onicelbow420]

There needs to be a movie on Franklin pierce haha

[@purplpen]

What, no Andrew Jackson?

[@balrog322]

I was piqued enough to follow up on this one. Just learned the current POTUS, like his predecessor, is a teetotaler. That should make sober men pause. Also interesting is the 16th President’s observation on alcoholics: ‘Demonizing the alcoholic breeds the very feelings of stress and isolation that are often at the root of the dependency, relying on coercion rather than persuasion, will ultimately be less just and less successful.’

[@retroguy9494]

Biden never drank because alcoholism ran heavily on his mother's side of the family. Although he DOES take a sip of the communion wine at Mass.

[@selfdo]

Figures. He's a lying sack of shite. Failed GOP candidate "Mittens" Romney, an observant Mormon, likewise doesn't partake of the "sauce". And his phony, toothy smile "raises the hackles" of my "Inner Klingon", reminding me to not trust a man that SMILES TOO MUCH.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

It’s actually quite interesting that both Biden and Trump don’t drink. They are both very polarizing figures. I totally understand both camps on Trump and Biden. Imy Canadian and a soft conservative myself. Americans should consider themselves lucky they don’t have someone like Trudeau running their country. Ideologies aside, he is by far the most divisive leader Canada has ever had.

[@retroguy9494]

@@oilersridersbluejays As I said, Biden does not drink because alcoholism runs heavily on his mother's side. Trump doesn't drink because he simply does not like it and finds no need to do it. Plus, he saw alcoholism destroy his brother whom he loved very much. None of Trump's children drink either! I guess they get THEIR kick out of making money! LOL I don't know what a 'soft conservative' is in Canadian terminology. Here in the States, conservatism is broken out into 2 main factions. You have the hard right conservatives which are extremely socially conservative. Meaning no gays, no trans people no divorce, no abortions, no pre marital sex and who think laws should be based on religion; specifically the evangelical religion. It's a term called 'faith based initiatives.' Fiscally, they are spend thrifts. This is the type of republican George W. Bush was when he was president. These are mostly people from the deep south or Bible belt Midwest. Then you have the 'moderates' which used to be known as 'Rockefeller republicans.' They are mostly educated republicans from the mid Atlantic/New England and west coast states. They are socially moderate. Although they are against abortion too. But they are VERY fiscally conservative Believing in smaller government, less regulation but enough regulation to protect citizenry (the right wingers would like NO regulation), social programs to help people when ONLY necessary (meaning welfare and the like), lower taxes, responsible gun control, more reasonable prison sentences and patriotism. This is more the kind of republican Trump is as well as me.

[@balrog322]

@@oilersridersbluejays Nein. Haven’t yet seen Biden refer to government operatives as “scum”, promise fellow democrats to “shove it up their ass,” trash veterans, pillory people with infirmities, and praise bigots as good people. Nor has Biden engendered two impeachments, ginned up an insurrection and accumulate 80+ felony charges. Those aren’t claims his divisive, polarizing predecessor can make.

[@jblassio]

I always admired Bush for conquering his demons and the redemption he found in life accomplishing the highest office in our country. Too bad his presidency wasn’t as successful.

[@jimmysapien9961]

I admire him 👍🏻

[@williamfulgham2010]

​@@jimmysapien9961 As he sits around and paints in his Texas surroundings trying to forget 911.

[@joeldukes303]

Hahaaaaaahaaa!!!

[@TangledUpInBlue631]

​@@williamfulgham2010 with apparently no remorse for iraq.

[@thomasholt63]

Best president and his father was the second best ever president and don't forget about Obama and Jimmy Carter

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your videos and keep them coming please.

[@Crayfish-]

@ 7:56 George Washington's does look somewhat " Swollen " !

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

When dealing with European nations, news travelled at the speed of a ship, so nobody had to make spot-decisions over foreign policy. That was also the era of backroom dealing when one's manhood was greatly judged on how he holds his liquor. Being a jock was great, but still needed to drink.

[@kayeemerson6892]

Surprised by FDR & Grant

[@retroguy9494]

Don't be surprised about FDR because it's not true. FDR did in fact enjoy a cocktail hour most days before dinner. This was very common for that generation, especially the upper classes. But FDR would only have one or two drinks at the most. And except for the occasional after dinner drink (only one), that was all FDR drank in an entire day. Also, FDR did not like it if those in his circle drank more or drank to the point of intoxication at the cocktail hour. He did it more for the company, joke telling, companionship, etc. than the drinking itself. Even Queen Elizabeth had at least 3 drinks a day until the last year of her life when her doctors advised her to quit.

[@billobrien5118]

Who is the host & narrator? He's very good.

[@FaydsterTV]

To be fair to all the presidents before filtered/treated water was a thing, everyone drank alcohol more than water because it was pure. Water was super risky to drink in the old days.

[@stevensexton7038]

Watching videos like this seems like great men drink and sober one's complain

[@tedtimothy9074]

I believe Pres. Johnson really tried to help people. The tragedy is he got stuck in Viet Nam and he didn't know how to get out. I hope the same thing doesn't happen to us in Ukraine.

[@anthonyzestley3980]

Watch a few documentaries about LBJ. He had 6 people killed, including his own sister.

[@tadzionl]

The difference with Ukraine is, that the vast majority of the Ukrainians don't like the Russians at all. You only have to fight the Russians there. In Vietnam, you had to fight both delused North Vietnamese and brainwashed Vietcong and brainwashed South Vietnamese.

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

Crazy. I have gout and dont even drink alcohol. I guess that's a good thing I'd hate to see what its like if i did

[@jeffharper9854]

I feel ya! Gout sucks.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

I've heard beer and red meat are the culprits behind gout. I like them both. I think I've had a little bit of gout, but not enough to seek medical treatment.

[@thomasholt63]

@@stephenkammerling9479 it can definitely deformed your joints if you let it get out of control

[@stephenkammerling9479]

@@thomasholt63 I agree. Actually it hasn't bothered me for a while.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

4:07 - Yes, but in LBJ’s defence, American beer is essentially rice and maize flavoured barley water. 🍻

[@anthonyzestley3980]

He killed 6 people One was his own sister. Maybe JFK too?

[@Mike-pb7jm]

John Adams' morning drink was 4 oz of hard cider. That's... like a free sample at Sam's club or wine store. Binge drinking was a thing for sure for the early patriots, but those voyages to France were as much about impressing diplomats with parties to receive $ + aid as they were about being wasted.

[@user-jd9zm4jf3t]

LBJ is in his own category of evil

[@nancyekstrom8409]

And if he thought Texas had hot weather, he’s experiencing a whole new level of heat where he is now.

[@user-jd9zm4jf3t]

@@nancyekstrom8409 Undoubtedly

[@HAD951]

@@nancyekstrom8409exactly!

[@johnnylebay2059]

Yeah, passing numerous civil rights laws and starting a war on poverty is truly the most evil thing any US president has ever done...

[@Max-kw2hp]

Yeah LeBron is a bad man!

[@dallaskeller1949]

No Jackson?!?!?! 🤦‍♂️ Decent list, but you ignored/forgot that guy? Wow.

[@thomasholt63]

Evil demonic soul for sure responsible for more than 20 thousand Indians getting slaughter

[@frankkendziora620]

Kinda reflects the behaviour of many US officials to this day.

[@user-je5ww7tk7p]

You claim Warren Harding was a hypocrite for drinking during Prohibition and then you state Franklin Roosevelt "was the man who ended Prohibition". Harding didn't create Prohibition (& therefore he wasn't a hypocrite for drinking in the White House) and Roosevelt didn't end it. Only Congress has this power.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

Prohibition and it's repeal were done through constitutional amendments. The president had nothing to do with it, other than to express his opinion.

[@rogervincent8314]

@user-je5ww7tk7p prohibition was an amendment, so neither roosevelt, nor congress abolished prohibition, but rather a yes vote by 3/4 of the states at that time.

[@selfdo]

Harding did have a responsibility as Chief Executive to uphold the law; but Prohibition was an ill-considered "noble experiment".

[@retroguy9494]

Well, if you want to get REALLY technical, Harding DID have a hand in creating prohibition. Because the amendment was created by Congress and not by Constitutional Convention. Harding was a senator at the time. He was originally against the 18th amendment. He performed a shrewd political move which was to lobby to modify the bill, which he successfully did, by placing a time limit on the states to ratify it which was expected to kill the amendment. To his surprise, it WAS ratified. Because he was already planning his run for president and women were to get suffrage and so many women supported the Volstead act and he needed their votes, he voted to override President Wilson's veto.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Correct. Prohibition was passed during Woodrow Wilson's administration.

[@Adelantee74]

Can you do Presidents smoking weed video?

[@retroguy9494]

It wouldn't be very long. There were only THREE. Clinton, 'Dubya' Bush and Obama.

[@notvalidcharacters]

@@retroguy9494 Washington?

[@retroguy9494]

@@notvalidcharacters What makes you think George Washington smoked weed? I mean sure, he grew hemp at Mount Vernon, but that was for industrial purposes like making rope, thread, sacks, etc. But there is no evidence that he ever smoked it as he was a health nut. He didn't even smoke tobacco even though he grew THAT too!

[@tigerlily48]

Alcohol and drugs and cars can ruin someone

[@user-kz9po2th1v]

Like Senator Ted Kennedy

[@jameseldridge4185]

As Lincoln said about Grants drinking. Pour me a glass

[@surfdocer103]

Lincoln sent a case of whiskey to his other Generals stating if that’s what it took to make them fight.

[@lorimeyers3839]

Franklin Pierce had 3 children who passed, not one. While entertaining to watch, it’s just as amusing to see the lack of true research that was done for such a well put together spiel.

[@Bananaguy693]

Well in his defense he did not say he only had one son he said the death of his only living son meaning more of his children have died

[@oilersridersbluejays]

I don’t get how Truman wasn’t on this list.

[@susannebemis3311]

OK I get Harding's need to be plastered. I used to live in Marion Ohio too. I get a year off of purgatory for that.

[@retroguy9494]

😂😂🤣🤣👍

[@eddie-xi6ls]

Nixon also like his drink.

[@anttenna2009]

How about Nixon? That guy was wasted during Watergate and the end of his presidency. I saw a documentary that suggested during the October/Yom Kippur war of 1972 between Israel, Egypt and Syria, where tensions were high between the US and the USSR of getting involved and clashing with one another , Nixon was completely obliterated where one night he just had to go upstairs pass out and let Kissinger and the joint chiefs of staff make all the decisions,which maybe was a good thing

[@Genxrgonemad]

Yes, I had a political science professor tell us the same exact story. Israeli and Soviet troops supposedly came close to clashing, which may have started WWIII, and Nixon was comatose. Mayb, that was for the better.

[@anttenna2009]

@@Genxrgonemad US and Soviet troops almost clashed. The warning system went to Def Con 2 which is 2 away from nuclear war. Didn’t matter to Nixon though, he was plastered

[@selfdo]

Richard Milhous Nixon, barely able to keep one eye open and move his lips, was far more competent than anyone before, or SINCE, when it came to the hard military and foreign policy decisions. It might just be that Nixon's true genius in foreign policy only came out when he was blitzed, the man was, when sober, a bit of a "tight ass".

[@retroguy9494]

Oh, it got even worse than that with Nixon. Once, when North Korea shot down one of our spy planes, Nixon was so drunk that he ordered a tactical nuclear strike. The Joint Chiefs were alerted and asked to recommend targets, but Kissinger got on the phone with them. They agreed not to do anything until Nixon sobered up in the morning.

[@anttenna2009]

@@selfdo not when it came to the Yom Kippur war, he was wasted and out for the count when important decisions were being made that kept WWIII from happening, which once again maybe was a good thing. He was a monster when it came to foreign policy, just ask the people of SE Asia

[@mrgreengenes04]

Not that it makes it much better, but LBJ did his driving on private property on his ranch in Texas, not public roads.

[@retroguy9494]

Yes, you're right about that one. It was a very large piece of property too. Although when on the public roads, he liked to speed. But he didn't drink when on them.

[@billfuhrman9772]

LBJ needed to drink to try and forget all the evil shit he did.

[@sherivandenbusch4120]

Shocked

[@HolgerRuneFan]

What absolute idiocy in the segment on US Grant. He was most certainly NOT "drunk almost every day of the Civil War." He was under the influence of alcohol *once* in those 4 years and it was during a lull in the Vicksburg campaign when nothing was going on. He was almost completly abstinent of drink the last 20 years of his life. Get your facts right!

[@frisco21]

Thanks for making this much-needed correction about Grant, who has been perpetually slandered with the myth that he was a drunkard. It is a shameful lie promulgated in part by his Lost Cause enemies.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

​@@frisco21Shelby Foote, a Civil War historian and Southerner said Grant usually only drank when separated a long time from his wife and lonely, something that happens a lot to military men. Foote said Grant was rarely, if ever, drunk when in battle. Jealous Union officers were spreading the rumors that Grant had a serious drinking problem to get Lincoln to turn against him. Lincoln replied by wanting to know the brand of whiskey Grant drank and to send him more. Lincoln may have even said send that whiskey to other generals. I'm not aware of what Southern generals said about him, but Shelby Foote defended him.

[@frisco21]

@@stephenkammerling9479 ...right, it's one of Lincoln's most famous quips. He followed with a declaration that he intended to keep Grant on the job, because "this man fights." God was smiling down on America when he gave us superb leaders like Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

@@frisco21 The Union generals that were jealous of Grant were likely the same generals that floundered in the first two years of the war. By mid 1863 they were likely one big defeat away from losing it all. Fortunately the had good leadership at Gettysburg. They still needed Grant to go into Virginia and close the deal.

[@selfdo]

@@stephenkammerling9479 Lincoln: "I can't spare this man (Grant)...he FIGHTS!"

[@Serpentoffire]

For Pierce 2 of his 3 children died as infants, and his surviving son died when he was in route to DC in a train to take office and the train derailed. Kid got almost got beheaded in front of him and his wife!! His wife told him that it was a punishment from God itself, for running for President! Yeah! That would do it for me!

[@Heres_Johnny.]

Nixon was a big drinker. Where's he?

[@retroguy9494]

Yea.....tricky Dickie liked his nippy!

[@Shamrock100]

I thought this was going to be about Presidents' weight. It should be titled "The Heaviest-Drinking Presidents In American History".

[@carloscardona3924]

People who drink a lot are shamed because of problem drunks

[@peteyprimo7173]

I’m an alcoholic and I drink alone at home. Never been arrested or did anything to anyone . I don’t like being lumped in with the drunk drivers and violent drunks

[@JumboJim54]

Dude..I love Dubya.

[@57054]

Ben Franklin too. He used to drink ale with his pancakes for breakfast.

[@darwynmead2597]

That was the 60s. That was going on all the time. Just not for president's wasn't wasn't right. However, it wasn't the worst thing that ever happened.

[@ramonworden4844]

I would imbibe if I were president. You got to the top. Now let whomever runs the world ring the RED phone let me know wassup.

[@ichabeezerebenezer8561]

I'm quite surprised Teddy Roosevelt didn't make the list.

[@retroguy9494]

Except for the occasional mint julep and every once in a while a glass of light wine, Teddy Roosevelt did not drink! He didn't like the taste of it. Definitely no hard liquor. He WAS, however, a huge coffee addict. Supposedly, he was our most caffeinated president.

[@infoscholar5221]

This is not completely true - and it is a myth that gets repeated about Grant. Grant was a heavy drinker, until his businees failed, and he became bankrupt. His reputation as a drunk was well - established, and followed him through life, but the truth is, by the time the Civil War began, Grant had quit drinking alcohol altogether. Also, Where is JFK, Clinton, Harry S Truman, who started every day with a 4 am shot of bourbon? I suggest a sequel or three.

[@ebarteldes]

Yeah, but neither of the ones you mentioned were notorious drunks. Having alcohol before breakfast was a thing in that era (maybe not Clinton's) but Truman and JFK? I saw a breakfast menu from the 60s in Europe that started with a shot

[@davidmoser3535]

Not true

[@ebarteldes]

Want me to post the menu?@@davidmoser3535

[@kirknitz3794]

And a lot of the negative comments about Grant were a part of a southern effort to rewrite the history of the civil war.

[@ebarteldes]

That is true. The South should have stayed a territory, not allowed back in to the Union@@kirknitz3794

[@TimRHillard]

LBJ, was a Texan like Texans once were. Believe it or not, most were democrats.

[@IgnoretheButter]

Adams wasnt doing anything uncommon. People during that time drank when they woke, drank when they had lunch and dinner.

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

They were children of their generation.....we are now the judges?

[@retroguy9494]

That's actually very true. Alcohol was a daily staple of life for most people back then. Many Americans consumed alcohol because they believed it was nutritious, stimulated the digestion, and relaxed the nerves. Liquor was also consumed to help wash down food that was often poorly cooked, greasy, salty, and sometimes even rancid. Did you know that by 1830, the annual per capita consumption of alcohol by Americans was more than five gallons? Besides Adams only drank hard cider and wine. It's not like he was wasted on whiskey all the time! LOL

[@5roundsrapid263]

If you drank water, it could kill you. Cholera and dysentery were everywhere in large cities.

[@user-zt4nf6zk4u]

It was safer than the water by far

[@retroguy9494]

@@user-zt4nf6zk4u Back then? You bet your sweet bippy it was safer than water! Especially in more metropolitan areas and cities before modern sewage facilities and treatments.

[@crevecouer6772]

I’m amazed by some of the comments here. Is everyone under the age of 30. Before we had a drug store on every corner and Doctors who can prescribe drugs. The only painkiller that was availed to the mass public was guess what? Alcohol , surprise surprise! Put the alcohol consumption in the context of the previous ages . Heavy drinking was not an indication of alcoholism. There were quite a few heavy drinkers were not alcoholics. Understand the times and History.

[@retroguy9494]

Well, I'm pretty close to 60 and I happen to agree with you. Except I'd change that 'drug store on every corner' to 'corporate owned chain drug store on every corner.' Because I'm old enough to remember sole proprietor drug stores where the owner was also the pharmacist and they knew and cared about their regular customers. Which is NOT the case today! Sadly, the younger generations of American's today tend to apply 21st century standards (most of which are not exactly the best or correct ones) to historical times past. You should hear the reaction I get from college students today when I tell them I remember when some doctors would actually smoke cigarettes in the exam room! But yet, I'm still here! LOL Until the 1980's, moderate alcohol consumption was a staple of life for Americans. I still remember the 'three martini' lunch for businessmen. Cocktail hours in people's homes before dinner. An after dinner drink, etc. The rule when I was a little boy was 'everything in moderation.' Thanks to the propaganda of certain lobby groups and organizations, these younger people grew up demonizing certain things like tobacco and alcohol consumption. In actuality, in President Adams and Grant's time, alcohol was often safer to consume than water. Because modern sanitary delivery of water and removal of waste was not yet a thing. Contamination which led to death in the days before antibiotics was a reality.

[@Greenie225]

George Washington Was A Heavyweight. He Was Known As The Three Bottle Man. He Could Drink Three Fifths Of Whiskey Without Blacking Out.

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

What a bunch of boozers!

[@michaelwoods4495]

I can imagine this is true. I'd have to be drunk to want the job!

[@evanswinters5636]

Surprised he didnt bring up the fact Grant was arrested for DUI (by DC's first black cop) and did a night in jail.

[@retroguy9494]

That's not true. President Grant was NOT arrested for DUI. He was arrested for speeding. In his horse and carriage. Yes, the cop was black but I don't know if he was the FIRST black cop in DC. But there was more to the story. Grant and his buddies used to like to go to the races and would engage in contests themselves afterward. Grant had been speeding in front of his friends, stopped by the cop and issued a warning. The next day, the cop caught him racing again. That's when he was arrested, brought to the police station and had to pay a $20 collateral (which was like bail), but so did his six companions, some of them government officials.

[@gordonwilliams7667]

The thumbnail looks like Tom Hanks 😅

[@goodyeoman4534]

Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye . . .

[@tigerlily48]

I used to drink alcohol and trust me i learned not do again because i noticed my health become good after stopping

[@Scoutsquad45]

This is the main reason why Alcohol is legal but marijuana is illegal federally, because folks in high places only indulge into one of the two

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Queen Elizabeth II was fond of her daily tipples.

[@selfdo]

Also the "Queen Mum", QE2's mother and widow of George VI, was known to enjoy a morning glass of sherry and always lunched with a glass of beer. The old dowager really hung in there, passing away in 2002 at age 101.

[@retroguy9494]

Indeed she WAS fond of them. She liked her Dubonnet and gin cocktails every day (which was also one of the Queen mummy's favorites). And every night before bed had a glass of champagne.

[@AlphaPoe]

How do you know the drinking habits of presidents from the 1700’s and 1800’s?

[@retroguy9494]

Have you ever heard of HISTORY? What makes you think it was any different in the 1700's and 1800's? People talked then and wrote things down the same as they do today. Gossip was as prevalent then as it is today. The only difference is back then, they used a quill pen and today they use a computer to write it.

[@jamesl9371]

Grant drank a lot before the war but he overcame it and did not drink during the war and his presidency. The stories are spread by his enemies

[@detroitjack0325]

I'm not surprised. Being a president then and especially in this day and age, I'm surprised they're not alcoholics!

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

Grant and Adam were good presidents they just suffered from stress drinking,

[@tomblack6972]

Actually, it used to be perfectly legal in Texas to drink and drive. Just not to intoxication

[@Corey-iw4ot]

It still is in Wisconsin but when u go over the limit u can get dui u can loose your license

[@belair7179]

He didn't list the Carters.

[@reiniervanramshorst1031]

This explains much of American history

[@mochiebellina8190]

buchannon also packed away a lot of peter.

[@semiretired86]

didn't Wilson have a drinkingproblem too?

[@joedimes8239]

There was not a lot to do for "leisure" in the old days except drink. So much so that the temperance movement started because people would go out and more than half of men were out there 3 sheets to the wind. Even more on the weekend! Picking fights, peeing, throwing up in public... Thank goodness for video games now.

[@danielgodfrey4415]

And President Trump is the only president who NEVER had a drink of alcohol

[@arcticmonkey3]

Not true

[@anthonyzestley3980]

That's a fact

[@rentslave]

LBJ didn't look drunk when he signed the Civil Rights Bill but today we're suffering from the hangover.

[@bruceedwards2180]

What the feak the biggest drinker President Franklin Pierce, didn't make the list, My God he drank him self to death...

[@retroguy9494]

Didn't you watch the entire video? President Pierce most certainly WAS in it!