2019Q1SpiritedVA - 30

Despite his reputation as a
swaggering, larger-than-life figure,
Teddy Roosevelt was not a friend
of booze. When serving as New
York City's police commissioner,
for example, he tried to stop
Sunday saloon service. He wasn't
entirely anti-alcohol, however. At
a cavalry training camp in 1898,
he bought unlimited beer for the
thirsty Rough Riders-an action
for which he later proclaimed
himself "the damnedest ass within
ten miles."
Roosevelt did, however, have a
weakness for the occasional Mint
Julep, especially after a few sets of
tennis.
Herbert Hoover came into office
during Prohibition, but it was said
that he supported the "drys" only
to get their votes. He later gave
his son some "wet" career advice:
"Keep a bottle of whiskey in your
bottom drawer and after the day
is over ... take a swig ... and it will
pep you up."
Although Franklin Delano
Roosevelt was a man of
moderation, he appreciated
the lubricating social effects
of alcohol. He even acted as
bartender for his guests, mixing
up gin Martinis and Manhattans
(but his affinity for guesstimating
instead of measuring made his
cocktails a bit unpredictable).
Roosevelt tippled more during
leisure, as when sailing and
playing cards, rather than on the
job. One notable exception was
"The Children's Hour," when he
entertained guests after work
(of which First Lady Eleanor
and FDR's mother strongly
disapproved).
He also appreciated Champagne,
rum, brandy and beer. During a
fireside chat in 1933, the President
said, "I think this would be a good
time for beer." After Prohibition
was repealed, the new Budweiser

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Clydesdales delivered free beer to
Roosevelt, as did representatives
of the historic Yuengling brewery.
Harry S. Truman was known as
a bourbon man, especially Wild
Turkey and Old Grand-Dad.
A man of moderation, Dwight D.
Eisenhower limited his imbibing
primarily to social situations-
after an immoderate youth, that
is, when he mixed up a bit of
bathtub gin and his fellow officer,
George Patton, home-brewed beer.
Later, Scotch was Ike's drink of
choice, with wine and Champagne
served at White House state
dinners, and cocktails when he
and First Lady Mamie entertained
at home.
For John F. Kennedy alcohol
was merely a prop-with
daiquiris, Bloody Mary's and
Champagne playing their parts
in the play. Washington Post
managing editor Ben Bradlee
reported that JFK's typical tipples
involved nursing a Scotch and
water, sipping wine with dinner
and rare day drinking.
Kennedy's successor, Lyndon
Banes Johnson, had no qualms
about drinking in excess, notably
Cutty Sark Scotch and beer.
LBJ plied voters with alcohol
as did Washington, but LBJ got
Anheuser-Busch to provide beer
for free.
One of Richard M. Nixon's
ungracious practices birthed new
slang-"pulling a Nixon." While
the president sipped fine French
wine, his guests received an
inferior wine, served with towels
covering the labels.
A lightweight in holding liquor,
a drunken Tricky Dick was known
to utter vulgarities, be combative
or be sentimental; indulge in
drunk dialing; and be unable to
take a foreign leader's incoming
call. On the flip side, he was
prudent in sipping his maotai

-a potent sorghum spirit that
the Chinese served to visiting
dignitaries.
The next president, Gerald
Ford, had a similar stained
reputation for overdrinking,
especially lunchtime martinis.
First Lady Betty Ford became
known and respected for her
openness in confronting her
own alcohol issues and started
the Betty Ford substance abuse
rehabilitation center.
Jimmy Carter, a devout
Baptist, consumed alcohol
very rarely. He declared war on
business execs' three-martini
lunch, saying it was unfair that
such lunches were write-offs
while working-class streetvendor lunches were not. His
younger brother, Billy Carter,
claimed media spotlight with his
short-lived Billy Beer brand.
On the other hand, Carter's
mother, Miss Lillian, admitted to
enjoying "a little bourbon"; and
in 1978, the President legalized
home brewing, a step that many
credit with jumpstarting the
craft beer movement.
The son of an alcoholic father,
Ronald Reagan was careful
to moderate his drinking. He
appreciated quality French
wine and partook of weak
vodka Orange Blossoms and
Screwdrivers. On a presidential
trip to Ireland, he took a few
sips of Guinness, switched to
Smithwicks, but finished neither.
(His party also forgot to pay
the tab, an error that was later
remedied.)
To the dismay of teens,
President Reagan was the
chief executive responsible for
increasing the legal drinking age
to 21.
George H.W. Bush had no
reservations as a social drinker,
but he also knew how to keep his
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