The 6 Most Notorious Presidential Meltdowns in History

Presidents have been indulging in tantrums, snits, and meltdowns ever since George Washington swore an oath on the Bible in 1789 — some, admittedly, more often than others, and some using much more colorful language. Here are six instances when the United States president acted as truculently as a grade-schooler sent to bed without dessert.

Andrew Jackson, 1835

When Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828, he was considered by many voters to be rough, uncouth, and unfit for office. Still, it wasn't until 1835 (toward the end of his second term) that someone took it in mind to do something about it, and unintentionally proved the point in the process. As Jackson was leaving for a funeral, an unemployed house painter named Richard Lawrence tried to shoot him, but his gun misfired — at which point the 67-year-old Jackson began shouting loud obscenities and clubbing Lawrence repeatedly on the head with his walking cane. Incredibly, a bruised, beaten, and bleeding Lawrence had the composure to withdraw a second pistol from his vest, which also misfired; he wound up spending the rest of his life in a mental institution.

Andrew Johnson, 1865