10 Presidents Who LOVED Ice Cream (2024)

FAQs

Which President popularized ice cream in the US? ›

Jefferson also likely helped to popularize ice cream in this country when he served it at the President's House in Washington. One of only ten recipes surviving in Thomas Jefferson's hand, the recipe for ice cream most likely dates to his time in France.

Thomas Jefferson also served ice cream at his presidential dinners, and for all we know, so did Abigail Adams during her short residency at the executive mansion in the winter of 1800–1801.

George Washington

He also reportedly spent $200(Opens in new window) on his favorite treat during the summer of 1790—which comes to about $5,000 today! That probably puts your Half Baked obsession in perspective.

Dolley Madison was Famous for Her Ice Cream

The wife of the fourth US President, James Madison, famously served "a magnificent strawberry ice cream creation at President Madison's second inaugural banquet at the White House" in 1813 (according to the International Dairy Foods Association).

His favorite dishes include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, BLT's, pizza, cookies, spaghetti with butter and red sauce, and ice cream that he occasionally makes into a full sundae, according to current and former Biden aides.

Thomas Jefferson: Mac and cheese

Jefferson discovered macaroni during his European travels and is credited with popularizing the food in the US after he brought a machine for making the pasta back from Naples, Italy.

John Tyler was the most prolific of all American President: he had 15 children and two wives.

Millard Fillmore

Credited with “the first flush of 1853,” Fillmore's was the first presidential posterior to grace a toilet in Washington, DC. Fillmore introduced toilets and modern plumbing to the White House, satisfying his need for the feel of smooth, cool porcelain underneath his democratic derriere.

Although President Washington oversaw the construction of the house, he never lived in it. It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in. Since that time, each President has made his own changes and additions.

1. Vanilla. Above all types of ice cream flavors, vanilla is America's favorite for a reason: it's simple and it goes with everything.

What is James Madison's favorite food? ›

James Madison – Ice Cream

James Madison, the 4th President, had a sweet tooth—particularly for ice cream! His wife, First Lady Dolley Madison, popularized it during her husband's tenure as President.

Family members and visitors alike testified that hoecakes were among George Washington's favorite foods. He invariably ate them at breakfast, covered with butter and honey, along with hot tea—a “temperate repast” enjoyed each morning.

The records show that ice cream was served already at the estate of the first President George Washington. But the first recorded American recipe for ice cream originates from Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third President of the United States.

America's oldest ice cream company—established in 1861—Bassetts Ice Cream was the first merchant to sign a lease at the Reading Terminal Market in 1892 and is still owned and operated by the same family today.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day.

In 1843, New Jersey native Nancy Johnson invented the hand-cranked freezer which stirred an ice cream mix with salt and ice until the mix was frozen. By the mid-19th century, ice cream was widely available to the general public with ice cream parlors popping up all over the country.

The resolution proclaimed the entire month of July 1984 as “National Ice Cream Month” and designated July 15, 1984, as “National Ice Cream Day.” President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on July 9, 1984 under Presidential Proclamation 5219.

The French used vanilla to flavor French vanilla ice cream. Vanilla ice cream was introduced to the United States when Thomas Jefferson discovered the flavor in France and brought the recipe to the United States. During the 1780s, Thomas Jefferson wrote his own recipe for vanilla ice cream.