U.S. President Facts That Will Make You See Them Differently

Benjamin Harrison was so afraid of electricity that he refused to touch light switches. If the White House lights were on, he’d leave them on all night rather than risk getting shocked. The brand-new electrical system freaked him out, which honestly makes sense for the 1800s.

Imagine living in the most powerful house in the country but being too scared to flip a switch. Staff had to manage all the lights for him, tiptoeing around his fear of sparks and zaps. It’s one of those charmingly human presidential quirks that sticks forever.