President Caught Skinny-Dipping!

The story goes like this: Anne Royall, a travel writer and reporter, was eager to interview President John Quincy Adams for her newspaper, “The Huntress.” Upon learning Adams enjoyed morning swims in the Potomac River, she went to Tiber Creek, a small part of the river hidden under Constitution Avenue. There, she saw a pile of clothes on the shore. It turned out the clothes were Adams’! Royall quickly sat on them and wouldn’t move until Adams, stuck in the river, agreed to answer her questions. Remarkable story, but how true is it?

Adams’ Morning Swims

We know from a number of Adams’ writings, including an 1819 diary entry, the sixth U.S. president loved early-morning dips in the Potomac. In fact, he began this routine before he became president and continued it after moving into the White House. Later writings show Adams kept indulging in these swims as late as age 79.

So, Adams’ swimming habit is not in question. But did he really swim in the nude? Well… probably. Back in the early 1800s, men didn’t have swimsuits like we do today. They might swim in their underwear or breeches, but many men just swam without clothes at all. Even though it might have been surprising to see the President during one of his morning swims, Adams wasn’t doing anything too strange. He even wore a black cap and green goggles, as noted by Stratford Canning, the British Ambassador.

How the Story Began

Since Adams swam regularly, it makes sense that a local newspaper in 1829 would share a funny story about his morning swims. Edward Everett, a Congressman from Massachusetts, told a story about a surprising meeting with a Washington journalist. This is when Royall enters the picture, and this encounter is likely how the story of Royall and Adams began.

In an 1829 newspaper, Everett described standing alone on the Washington side of the bridge across the Potomac around 4 a.m. That’s when Royall appeared and asked him to introduce her to the president sometime. Everett asked Royall if she would like to see him immediately, and she replied in the affirmative. When he instructed her to look over the railing of the bridge, Adams appeared in the waters below in the midst of his morning swim.

Anne Royall, the ‘Troublemaker’

What about the saucier version of the story? This did not appear until 1886, when writer Seaton Donoho wrote a story from his childhood for The Brooklyn Magazine. He described the incident like he was there, and to Donoho, it was an embarrassing moment for President Adams. He painted Royall as the bad guy in the story, calling her “vengeful,” among other things. Donoho helped spread the idea that Royall was always causing trouble in early Washington.

But who was Royall, really? A journalist known for her strong opinions, she decided to start a writing career at 57. Royall was known for being very honest and sometimes harsh in her writing. By the time she moved to Washington in 1829, she had a reputation for speaking her mind, even if it upset people. She didn’t hesitate to criticize corrupt politicians in her weekly newspapers, which she wrote, edited, and distributed herself. She was not exactly popular in Washington.

However, Royall refused to let the criticism stop her. She continued to publish her newspapers and call out corruption, even though many people thought her work was inappropriate for a woman. So, when the story about her encounter with President Adams spread around Washington, people were quick to believe it.

The Likely Truth

How much truth exists in the story? Elizabeth J. Clapp, Royall’s biographer, doubts much of it - even Everett’s 1829 version. Adams’ presidency ended in March 1829, so he probably wasn’t swimming in the river that summer. Royall didn’t even move to Washington until later that year and didn’t start her newspapers until 1831. Plus, Adams and Royall were actually friends. They first met in 1824 when Royall, a widow from the Revolutionary War, came to Washington to get her late husband’s pension. Adams helped her, and she even visited his home and had tea with his wife. Later, she visited the retired President John Adams in Massachusetts and told him that his family was doing well. Given these facts, Royall having to trap Adams into an interview seems unlikely.

Nevertheless, Royall could very well have been the first woman to interview a president - even though the details aren’t as dramatic as the story suggests.

References: Anne Royall and the President’s Clothes | The First Woman to Interview a President Got Him In the Nude