There has been much talk regarding the new President’s drinking habits from before he even took office. He claims to be a beer man, though some critics doubt his authenticity and say he is merely pandering to the blue-collar crowd. He has, however, been quoted as saying that he likes to enjoy a house margarita at one of his favorite restaurants in Chicago, Topolobampo. Exactly what will turn out to be Obama’s drink of choice is yet to be determined, but it is certainly nice to have someone in the White House again who is not afraid to talk about kicking back a few with friends. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has a rich history of tenants who like to have a good time, and on President's Day, we celebrate some of these notables, along with their drink of choice.

George Washington: English-Style Porter

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Who knew that the father of our country was also the father of the craft brewing industry? His Mt. Vernon estate was known to have been home to a significant English-style Porter brewing operation. His motives were twofold. The first was to limit dependence on foreign goods in order to further the colonies’ independence, and the second was to satisfy his insatiable appetite for the delicious beverage.

Warren Harding: Everything

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Harding, who supported prohibition in his political life, did not adhere to its principles in his private life. He was known to keep a well-stocked bar in the White House and often enjoy a cocktail or two while on the golf course. He is said to have enjoyed fine whiskey and cigars along with many of his cronies.

Herbert Hoover: Martini

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Hoover is rumored to have created the “Gibson” martini, which is served with onions instead of olives.  This creation originated in WWI, when Hoover and US ambassador, Hugh Gibson were in negotiations with the Germans to gain access behind the lines in order get food to the starving civilians. Martinis were being served at the talks, and Hoover suggested that the Americans drink faux martinis with water instead of alcohol in order to keep their heads clear, the difference being noted with an onion garnish. Hoover was known to serve alcoholic versions with onions thereafter in the White House, calling them his “Gibsons.” Historically accurate? Unlikely. Damn good story? Certainly.

Franklin Roosevelt: Scotch, Brandy, Gin Martini, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Haitian Libation

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Arguably the greatest drinking President of all time, he was able to repeal Prohibition, while pushing through a little thing called the “New Deal”, effectively ending the Great Depression. With economic chaos on his plate, FDR held a special congressional session to re-legalize beer, just five days after his inauguration. Upon signing the 21st amendment on December 5, 1933, he stated, “I believe this would be a good time for a beer.” His efforts did not go unnoticed by the common man, a popular folk song of the day went like this:

Roosevelt was elected
Elected in time
Went to the treasury
And found one dime
Got back liquor
And got back beer
Heap better times
In the next four years.

His “Haitian Libation” was a mixture of dark rum, orange juice, brown sugar, and an egg white, shaken in a  tumbler. According to his son Elliott, this drink was best suited “for women companions, when he wanted them to feel frivolous.”

Harry Truman: Wild Turkey Bourbon

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Calling the White House the “Great White Jail”, Truman often took the opportunity to escape to his home in Key West, a drinker-friendly town that attracted the likes of other well-known boozers such as Ernest Hemmingway. When away from Washington, Truman was known to wake up at 7am and promptly kick back a shot of Wild Turkey Bourbon followed by an orange juice chaser in place of coffee.

John F. Kennedy: Daiquiri

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An embarrassing drink to attach to such a classically styled man, but JFK proclaimed with pride that the Cuban concoction was is favorite pre-dinner drink. What ever you have to do to take the edge off, hopefully he passed on the sugar rim though.

Lyndon Johnson: Cutty Sark Scotch and Soda

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While spending time on his ranch in Stonewall, Texas, Johnson would drive slowly around the property in his Lincoln convertible with a scotch and soda in a large Styrofoam cup. When he had finished his beverage, he would simply dangle the cup out the side of the car, shaking the ice. A following secret service agent would run up to the car, take the cup out of his hand, refill it in the car behind him, and run back to place the new beverage in the President’s hand. Johnson also had the elevator shaft in the USS Sequoia, the yacht serving Presidents Hoover through Ford, converted to a wet bar.

Richard Nixon: Rum and Coke, Dry Martini

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Nixon took a great deal of pride in his martini making skills, using a recipe he claimed was given to him by Winston Churchill. He called the extra dry martinis his “Silver Bullets” and would usually only be able to drink one, as he was known to have a very low alcohol tolerance. Tricky Dick's borrowed martini recipe:

• Obtain a bottle of large-sized olives. Drain the juice.
• Fill the olive bottle with Vermouth. Refrigerate the bottle.
• Put three fingers of gin or vodka over ice in a silver martini shaker. Shake vigorously until shards of ice permeate the alcohol.
• Pour in a chilled Martini glass. Drop in one olive from the jar.

He also loved the Cuba Libre, commonly known as the rum and coke.

Gerald Ford: Gin and Tonic

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Gerald Ford was a fan of the classic Gin and Tonic, a taste he shared with Queen Elizabeth. An interesting but unrelated fact: he was a male model in his younger years, gracing the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine at one time. What time can do to a face...well, time along with Gin and Tonics.

Bill Clinton: Snakebite

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President Clinton is said to enjoy a Snakebite, which is usually an equal parts mixture of Stout and hard apple cider. He probably developed a taste for this drink during his studies in the U.K., where the fermented apple beverage is quite popular. It is also a controversial mixture, as many barkeeps will not make them because they are easy to drink and often lead to people getting drunk very quickly. Mr. Clinton himself was denied the beverage when he tried to order one in North Yorkshire in 2001.

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