James K. Polk was a party pooper.
The 11th President of the United States wasn’t what we would call today the life of the party. His Presbyterian wife, Sarah Childress Polk, banned drinking, dancing, and card games in the White House during her husband’s presidency.
Franklin Pierce liked to drink… like a lot.
Unlike James K. Polk, the 14th President of the United States was a heavy drinker. In fact, it is said that he was one of the heaviest drinkers ever to run the White House office. According to a friend of his, Franklin Pierce said once that “there’s nothing left to do after leaving the office but get drunk.” Was he right?