The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy [Hardcover]

Rick Beyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2007

What most of us don't know about our presidents could fill a book—and this just happens to be that book! From the archives of The History Channel^® comes a treasure trove of quirky presidential history that will truly astonish, bewilder, and stupefy. Like Abraham Lincoln's duel or Jimmy Carter's UFO sighting . . . and let's not forget about the president who went skinny-dipping in the Potomac every day!

That's the kind of presidential history you'll find in The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told: One hundred little-known stories to make you shake your head in wonder. If you want to find out how "Hail to the Chief" came to be the president's song, why the Oval Office isn't square, which president saved the game of football, and why Washington, D.C., could have been named Hertburn, this is the book for you.

Did You Know About:

• The custody battle that made George Washington an American?
• The counterfeiters who tried to steal Lincoln's body?
• The woman who brought down Andrew Jackson's cabinet?
• The man who was president for a day?

You know what makes the presidents famous, but it's the stuff you don't know that makes them interesting. A feast of fascinating presidential tidbits awaits.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rick Beyer is the author of the popular Greatest Stories Never Told book series, and an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has been seen on The History Channel, A&E, and National Geographic Channel. He is also an accomplished speaker who inspires and entertains audiences around the country. He lives with his wife in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harper (October 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060760184
• ISBN-13: 978-0060760182
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #27 in Books > History > Historical Study > Reference

More About the Author

I am a documentary filmmaker, an author, and a lifelong history enthusiast.

My first book, "The Greatest Stories Never Told: 100 tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder and Stupefy" was published in 2003. It was inspired by a series of history minutes I produced for The History Channel entitled "Timelab 2000." Little did I know that it was the beginning of a popular series of books, the fourth of which is coming out in November: "The Greatest Science Stories Never Told."

I am what people would call a history buff, although I hate b-word. I like to say I am a lifelong student of history, I have been interested in it as long as I can remember--probably thanks to my dad, who is also a long time history enthusiast. When I was a boy my parents bought me a set of those Time-Lie history books loaded with heroic color illustrations. They captured my imagination and never let go. I've been inundating long-suffering family and friends with tales from history ever since. But it took quite a while before I found a way to work history storytelling into my job description.

I have been making history films and videos for about a decade. I have done work for The History Channel, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others, making films on everything from the Emancipation Proclamation to the Wright Brothers.

A current project close to my heart is a documentary entitled "The Ghost Army." It is a World War II story of deception, showmanship, art and ingenuity kept secret for nearly 50 years. You can find out more about it at www.ghostarmy.org .

Other things I've done in my life:

oInterview Jimmy Carter
oClimb Mt. Wahington 4 times
oGet called stupid by David Brinkley
oGraduate from Dartmouth College
oBe consoled by Mary Tyler Moore
oSki race in Norway
oGet married during a lightning storm

I currently live in Lexington, MA, with my wife (see above.) We have two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told, October 17, 2007

By 

D. Byrge - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy (Hardcover)

Do you know the story of the little girl who convinced Abraham Lincoln to grow a beard, or the story about the woman who became President?

If you have not heard these stories, "The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told" by Rick Beyer is a must read for you!!

Rick Beyer is a history enthusiast and has done work on several programs presented on the History Channel. In his book, he has compiled Presidential stories to whet the appetite of the reader for more. And in addition to all the information included in the book, the author provides a list of resources where the reader can obtain more information.

Did you know that Gerald Ford once worked as a model and helped found one of the Country's leading modelling agency? Or the story about the sheep that once lived on the White House lawn?

Did you know that although Thomas Jefferson was "the greatest inventor who ever lived in the White House", he was not the one President to ever obtain a patent for one of his inventions?

Did you know that only one President was ever given a speeding ticket? Or that George Washington was not our first President?

These are but a few of the stories included in this very entertaining book. Rick Beyer has done a great job of collecting these stories and putting them to paper.

"The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told" is very well written and enhanced with lots of great photographs. It is interesting, informative, educational, and altogether a great read!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History Can Be Interesting, October 21, 2007

By 

C. Cowger (West Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy (Hardcover)

As a history lover, I was immediately drawn to this book. It is filled with little know facts about Presidents of the United States. If you love history, learning new facts about historical heroes, you will love this book. I was amazed at the wonderful stories about presidents that I had not previously known. They were both entertaining and Interesting. This book has stories on President Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson as well as others. You will not want to put this book down until you are finished reading it so grab a soda and get cozy and begin your journey into the lives of the Presidents. You will smile, laugh and say "Wow I did not know that" while reading it. What happened on the Mayflower in 1620 that affected many peoples lives as well as three presidents? You can find the answer to this question as well as many more in book, The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told.

The Author, Rick Beyer is not new to writing wonderful historical books. He has previously written "The Greatest Storied Never Told" as well as "The Greatest War Stories Never Told". Rick is a lifelong history enthusiast as well as an award winning documentary producer for The History Channel.

The Greatest Stories Never Told series has great reviews:

"An old-fashioned sweetshop, full of tasty morsels" The Chicago Tribune

"Stories you haven't heard but will delight in knowing" Denver Rocky Mountain News

"Just when we were certain that we knew everything about everything, Rick Beyer comes along and ruins it" The Army Times

I truly enjoyed this book. And recommend it to everyone who loves history. With story titles such as Teddy Bear, Mail Call, as well as my favorite, Man Overboard, you will not be bored. It was well written and easy to get drawn into. My opinion of these presidents will never be the same. Now I will think of these stories each time I hear their names in print.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told - a MUST read, November 10, 2007

By 

Kathryn Esplin (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy (Hardcover)

Get your lists ready for the Holiday gift-giving season because now you have another excellent book to give:

Rick Beyer's The Greatest Presidential Stories Never Told:100 Tales from History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy.

Warning: Guard this book with your life. This is a book that people WILL steal.

Written in an easy-to-read style, Beyer delivers fascinating facts about US presidents most of us have never before read.

QUESTION: Do you think a small girl influenced Abraham Lincoln to change his appearance? Did he always wear a beard?

QUESTION: Do you know the name of the man who was president before George Washington?

QUESTION: Do you know the man who was president for a day?

QUESTION: Have you ever been to Wessyington, D.C.? (And you thought the city got its name from George, didn't you?)


QUESTION: We are all familiar with the practice of the Presidential handshake: the President presses the flesh of those around him, regardless of social stature. Was it always this way? Do you know what social custom existed before the handshake? Do you know that the handshake is another shining example of American democracy? And, as a bonus, do you know which early President inaugurated the practice of shaking hands?


* * *

Here is a gem from Beyer's book, from one of Boston's (or, should I say, from one of Quincy's own boys:)

John Quincy Adams was regarded as a straitlaced president, in nearly all regards. He did, however, make a habit of skinny dipping in the Potomac.


"New York political leader Thurlow Weed wanted to see one of the sunrise swims for himself. He secretly observed the president leaving the White House one morning before daybreak. Adams began to shed his clothes before he even got to the river, tied them in a bundle and jumped in....Another memorable morning, Adams...had a servant named Antoine row him across the Potomac in an old boat, planning to swim back. When a sudden squall blew up, the leaky boat capsized in the middle of the river, dumping both men overboard. They managed to swim to the opposite bank, but both men were exhausted. Antoine had lost all of his clothes...Adams gave his clothes to Antoine and sent him to fetch a carriage...[and] the president got in some 'naked basking on the bank.' "


Though this seems to be a humorous incident now, neither Adams nor his wife thought it funny at the time. This incident, however, did not stop Adams from continuing to skinny dip in the Potomac.

A terrific book, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, or any time of the year. A great book to grace any one's shelf or coffee table.

An excellent book and a MUST read.