Playing cards has been a popular pastime for years, in fact centuries and it’s a game that has fascinated people from all walks of life. It even ascends to being popular amongst policitians at the highest level including US Presidents. According to stats I’ve read, there have been at least 7 US Presidents who enjoyed playing cards.

These are:

George Washington

Warren Harding

Franklin D Roosevelt

Harry S Truman

Dwight D Eisenhower

Richard Nixon

George Washington enjoyed a little gambling as a pastime, often playing cards and Warren G Harding is said to have enjoyed playing poker on average twice every week. Harding is even reported to have got so carried away in a game of poker that he gambled (and lost) a set of china from the White House. Franklin D Roosevelt and Harry S Truman were both avid poker players, enjoying their favourite pastime mainly during their vacations.  Dwight D Eisenhower is said to have been a very good poker player and the next poker playing US President to follow him, Richard Nixon, it is claimed actually used his profits from playing poker to launch his career in politics. Nixon also put pen to paper about his playing poker, reminiscing at one point about his war years saying ….

“My poker playing during this time has been somewhat exaggerated in terms of both my skill and my winnings.”