Popular Culture Review 29.2
Walking is natural , probably the most natural of exercises , and many presidents have been known as avid walkers . Truman ’ s early-morning walks inspired many photographs as Secret Service agents strode briskly to keep up with his speedy pace , which often left reporters puffing behind . A number of early presidents , such as Washington , both Presidents Adams , Jefferson , and Madison walked regularly and many exercised by riding horseback . Swimming , also , is a natural exercise , and helped FDR build his upper body following the ravages of the polio that destroyed his legs . Perhaps the other most notable presidential swimmer was John Quincy Adams . He not only was adept in the water , but swam powerfully , and despite his dour and sober demeanor�or possibly because of it�he courted danger , and braved perils in the most turbulent and frigid waters .
To go into great detail with regard to the exercise habits of presidents or their participation in sports would be to duplicate the detailed work by John Sayle Watterson , The Games Presidents Play : Sports and the Presidency ( Watterson 2006 ). Watterson ’ s approach is close to encyclopedic for the twentieth century , though many presidents of the nineteenth century are missing . Despite a few errors and some repetition , it is generally thoughtful and well-researched . For example , Watterson reported that the notoriously uncoordinated Nixon�who had engaged in sports in college with stolid determination�did now and then play golf while president , developing some skill after leaving office , and as president he did bowl alone . Regardless , he loved sports as a spectator . Watterson cast doubt on the incident when Nixon received credit ( or blame ) for having suggested a risky football play by telephone to Coach George Allen of the unfortunately-named Redskins when Washington was in the playoffs in 1971 . He quotes one of Allen ’ s coaches , “ Marv Levy , later
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