Lyndon Johnson had his troubles. Opposition to the war in Vietnam eventually forced him from seeking another term in 1968. But perhaps we shouldn't feel sad for him because, among other special luxuries, Johnson had shoes specially designed for him because his feet were different sizes. His right foot was size 11C, while his left was 11.5C. We know this quirky fact courtesy of Johnson & Murphy, which was commissioned to make several pairs of shoes for Johnson, including a black plain-toe slip on, as well as a chestnut-colored, five-eyelet lace-up. Johnson & Murphy's Shoes of the Presidents is an entertaining look at presidential footwear.
What would you say if you were one of the country's worst presidents? No need to ponder that question, because a real-life example exists for us to marvel at. James Buchanan often gets the nod as one of the worst presidents, and perhaps it's well deserved. Under Buchanan's leadership, the country slipped into a terrible economic recession. In addition, he was ineffective at preventing states from eventually seceding from the Union. He sat idly while slavery spread into the western territories. He gets a lot of blame for the Civil War. He also sported a very bad haircut. All told, a dismal performance while in the White House. Buchanan knew that he was judged harshly. His excuse is a shocker: "Whatever the results may be, I shall carry to my grave the consciousness that I at least meant well for my country."
