Past Presidents’ Physicals: What We Know So Far

CNN looked at old reports from physical exams of former presidents. These reports usually include basic information like height, weight, and blood pressure. But they also include details like how Obama’s doctor removed a skin tag, how George H. W. Bush’s doctor drained a cyst on his finger, and how Gerald Ford’s doctor pushed for a swimming pool at the White House.

Presidential candidates aren’t required to share the results of their medical exam, but Jackson did so during a meeting on Tuesday and said on Friday that Trump was in “excellent health.”

Here is a look at how healthy past leaders were based on the exams they had.

In July 1976, Ford had another physical. During this visit, his doctor said, “He has had no complaints … other than mild discomfort in his knee following periods of prolonged standing. The President has maintained his physical capacity for long working hours. He sleeps very well and continues to follow his diet and weighs between 195 and 198 pounds.”

Ford’s doctor wrote in 1975 that “the completion of the new White House swimming pool will provide him with short intervals for relaxation that can easily be fitted into his busy schedule.”

“I would like to take the time to acknowledge those citizens who, by their contributions, make a swimming pool available for the President in the White House,” Dr. William Lukash said at a press meeting in January 1976. “I might add that the President was reluctant to use the pool during the winter months because of his concern about energy conservation. I spoke to him about this and felt it was to his advantage to have the use of this pool because I thought it would be an improvement in his sense of well-being and make him more conducive to his feeling better the next day. … The President swims approximately 24 lengths of the pool, which adds up to about a quarter of a mile, and he does this in about 14 minutes.”

Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989

Bush’s press assistant said in a statement that a “sebaceous cyst on the third finger of his left hand was drained. The President is wearing a Band-Aid on the finger, which he can remove within the next few hours. This cyst has been present for many years and does not present a medical problem.”

“In excellent health,” Reagan was told by the White House physician after being checked out by 14 experts in October 1981. Notably, he said that the president had “fully recovered” from the gunshot wounds he got in March 1981 during an attempt on his life.

Related Posts

The Waldrop Family Today: Life with 9 Kids, 7 Years After Their TLC Debut

Jamie Perkins and Nikki Thot’s story began in 2009 when they connected online. Their relationship blossomed quickly, leading to marriage within a year. Through creative videos, they…

Chosen by Love: A Daughter’s Trust in the Dad Who Stayed

At first, I wasn’t sure how I would fit into their world. But kids teach you things you never expect. By age four, she started calling me…

Bridging the Gap: Is It Right for Retired Parents to Keep Their Savings, or Should They Use It to Help Pay Off Their Child’s Debt?

Rising Costs and Family Tensions With expenses climbing, family finances often spark conflict. A recent case involves a 71-year-old retiree who chose to spend her savings on…

My Husband Wanted Freedom—But Love Had Other Plans

The Open Marriage That Shattered Illusions When my husband said he wanted an open marriage—or divorce—I agreed out of love. Six months later, I began dating his…

Meghan Markle shares glimpse into her and Harry’s bedtime routine

Besides being one of the most famous and most influential couples there are, Harry and Meghan are just like any of us. They have a beautiful family…

Uncle, it’s Mom’s birthday. I didn’t have enough money for flowers, so I gave some to a boy. When I got to her grave, those same flowers were waiting there.

The Power of Memory and Devotion In the landscape of human emotion, few stories capture the profound intersection of love, loss, and destiny as powerfully as the…