Presidential Swimming: Leadership Lessons from the Water
From therapeutic necessity to lifesaving heroics, the relationship between U.S. Presidents and swimming reveals compelling stories about leadership, perseverance, and water safety. Through the lens of presidential swimming experiences, we can explore valuable lessons that continue to resonate with modern audiences.
The Early Champions
John Quincy Adams: The Dedicated Daily Swimmer [^1]
Perhaps no president demonstrated more dedication to swimming than John Quincy Adams. For nearly 30 years, from age 50 to 79, Adams maintained a remarkable morning routine in the Potomac River. Rising between 4-5 AM, he would walk two miles to his favorite swimming spot, spend about 30 minutes in the water, and return home – a two-hour commitment he maintained almost daily.
What began as a response to weight gain after returning from Europe transformed into one of history’s most impressive presidential fitness regimens. By 1824, Adams could swim continuously for 50 minutes and even crossed the Potomac River with his son. His detailed diary entries, preserved at the Quincy Digital Heritage Collections : Adams-collection, provide one of the most comprehensive records of early American swimming habits.
William Howard Taft: Breaking Stereotypes [^14] [^18]
Despite his large physical stature, Taft was an accomplished swimmer in his youth, regularly practicing in Cincinnati’s Miami and Erie Canal basins. Though his athletic pursuits decreased during his Yale years at his father’s urging to focus on academics, his early swimming activities challenged contemporary assumptions about body type and athletic ability.
Andrew Jackson’s Natural Approach
Jackson was known to participate in the then-customary practice of skinny dipping, reflecting the more natural swimming customs of his era.
Swimming as Therapy and Recovery
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Pioneer of Therapeutic Swimming [^3] [^4]
FDR’s relationship with swimming emerged from necessity after contracting polio in 1921. His transformative experience at Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1924 led to the establishment of the Warm Springs Foundation: helping countless others with polio. Roosevelt’s advocacy culminated in the White House’s first swimming pool in 1933, funded through a public campaign by the New York Daily News.
Historical photographs of FDR at Warm Springs:
Lyndon B. Johnson: Swimming for Heart Health [^13]
Following a severe heart attack in 1955, LBJ incorporated swimming into his health regimen. The National Park Service preserves his kidney-shaped pool at his Texas ranch, which served both therapeutic and political purposes.
Heroic Waters
John F. Kennedy: Wartime Swimming Hero [^5] [^6] [^16]
Kennedy’s swimming prowess became legendary during World War II. As commander of PT-109 in the Solomon Islands, his boat was struck by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri on August 1, 1943. After the collision killed two crewmen and split the boat in two, Kennedy demonstrated extraordinary leadership and swimming endurance. He helped survivors reach Plum Pudding Island 3.5 miles away, notably towing injured Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Patrick McMahon by clenching the life jacket strap between his teeth and swimming for four hours.
Finding no sustenance on the first island, Kennedy made additional swimming expeditions to locate supplies and attempt rescue. On one mission to Naru Island, he discovered an abandoned Japanese canoe with provisions, which he paddled back to his stranded crew. The group survived for six days before being rescued by local Melanesian Coastwatcher’s. This remarkable display of swimming endurance earned Kennedy the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.
Later Years [^17]
Kennedy maintained his connection to swimming throughout his presidency, often spending time in the water with his family at their Hyannis Port compound. Historical photographs in the White House Photographs collection capture moments from 1963 showing Kennedy enjoying maritime activities aboard the presidential yacht Honey Fitz, where swimming transformed from a survival skill to a cherished family activity.
Ronald Reagan: The Lifeguard President [^7]
Before entering politics, Reagan served as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon, Illinois (1927-1932). During his tenure, he reportedly saved 77 lives, demonstrating early leadership qualities and responsibility for others’ safety that would later define his presidency. The Reagan Presidential Library preserves photographs from this period.
The Evolution of White House Pools [^8] [^9]
Gerald Ford’s Swimming Legacy
Ford was an avid swimmer who practiced twice daily in his backyard pool in Alexandria, Virginia before becoming president. When he moved to the White House, he faced a dilemma – the original indoor White House pool built for FDR in 1933 had been converted into the Press Briefing Room during Nixon’s administration in 1970.
The new pool was completed on June 30, 1975. Ford took his first swim on July 1, 1975. A few days later on July 5, wearing a dark purple swimsuit, he demonstrated the pool for reporters, swimming several laps in different styles.
Recent Presidential Swimmers and Swimming Legacy
Modern presidents have maintained varying relationships with swimming:
George H.W. Bush’s swimming abilities proved crucial during his service as a Naval Aviator in World War II. On September 2, 1944, when his TBM Avenger was shot down over the Pacific, his swimming skills became a matter of survival. After being hit by anti-aircraft fire near ChiChi Jima, Bush successfully parachuted into the ocean and had to swim away from the Japanese-held island while awaiting rescue [^15]. His water survival training and swimming proficiency helped him navigate the dangerous waters until his rescue by the USS Finback (SS-230) several hours later.
The Bush family maintained a strong connection to swimming and water activities throughout their lives. Both George H.W. Bush and his son George W. Bush were known for their love of fishing, particularly at their family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, where swimming and maritime activities were integral to family life:
Their shared appreciation for water activities extended beyond recreation – it represented a continuation of their naval heritage and demonstrated the importance of swimming proficiency in both military service and civilian life.
Barack Obama focused on teaching his daughters water safety when he isn’t swimming alone:
Military swimming legacy:
– Ulysses S. Grant showed exceptional swimming prowess from his youth [^10]
– William McKinley’s swimming history began in childhood in Niles, Ohio [^11]
– Dwight D. Eisenhower’s West Point training (1911-1915) likely included swimming instruction:
– Harry S. Truman joined the national guard and maintained an active swimming routine, taking daily laps in the White House pool while wearing his eyeglasses during his midday break [^19][^20]
References
[^1]: Selin, Shannon. [“John Quincy Adams’ Swimming Adventures”](https://shannonselin.com/2017/07/john-quincy-adams-swimming/) (2017)
[^3]: Mann, Lina. [“A Pool for the President: Diving into the History of White House Swimming Pools”](https://www.whitehousehistory.org/a-pool-for-the-president) (2023)
[^4]: [White House Historical Association Digital Library – FDR Collection](https://library.whitehousehistory.org/fotoweb/archives/5017-Digital-Library/Main%20Index/Presidents/Franklin%20D%20Roosevelt/6575.tif.info )
[^5]: [Naval History and Heritage Command, PT-109 Documentation](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-k/kennedy-john-f/report-on-loss-of-pt-109.html )
[^6]: [Kennedy’s Navy and Marine Corps Medal Citation](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-k/kennedy-john-f/john-f-kennedy-medal-citation.html )
[^7]: [Reagan Presidential Library Archives](https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/photo/ronald-reagan-lifeguard-getting-canoe-lowell-park-1927-32 )
[^8]: [Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, Pool Documentation](https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/museum/exhibits/pool/ )
[^9]: [White House Historical Association, “Does the White House Have a Pool?”](https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/does-the-white-house-have-a-pool )
[^10]: [U.S. Grant Presidential Library Newsletter, Volume 4, Issue 3 (1967)](https://www.usgrantlibrary.org/usga/newsletter/volume-4-pre-1973/issue-3-april-1967 )
[^11]: [Miller Center, “William McKinley: Life Before the Presidency”](https://millercenter.org/president/mckinley/life-before-the-presidency )
[^13]: [National Park Service, “Swimming Pool – LBJ National Historical Park”](https://www.nps.gov/places/000/swimming-pool.htm )
[^14]: [National Wrestling Hall of Fame, “William Howard Taft” Biography](https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/148 )
[^15]: [“Lieutenant Junior Grade George Bush in World War II”](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/biographies-list/bios-b/bush-george-h-w/ltjg-george-bush-in-world-war-ii.html ), Naval History and Heritage Command
[^16]: Stilwell, Blake. [“John F. Kennedy Became a WWII Hero After Swimming 10 Sailors to Safety”](https://www.military.com/history/john-f-kennedy-became-wwii-hero-after-swimming-ten-sailors-safety.html) , Military.com (2022)
[^17]: [“Weekend at Hyannis Port: Cruise aboard the Honey Fitz with family and friends,”] (https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/jfkwhp-1963-07-28-a#?image_identifier=JFKWHP-ST-C250-1-63 ), John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Digital Archives, JFKWHP-1963-07-28-A
[^18]: Welch, K. (2021, September 2). [Throwback Thursday: Take a trip on the Miami and Erie Canal.](https://chpl.org/blogs/post/throwback-thursday-take-a-trip-on-the-miami-and-erie-canal/), Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library.
[^19]: Hamby, A. L. [“Harry S. Truman: Family life”] (https://millercenter.org/president/truman/family-life), Miller Center.
[^20}: Hamby, A. L. [“Harry S. Truman: Family life”] (https://millercenter.org/president/truman/life-before-the-presidency),Miller Center.
