Tops' secrets: Bourbon, fly fishing

Presidential historians have studied the lives of the nation's leaders, looking for keys to their longevity.

Harry Truman, who died at 88, had a regimen that he followed faithfully, according to Ohio University professor emeritus Alonzo Hamby, author of Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman.

It involved a golden brown elixir, aged in an oak barrel.

"I think he had pretty much a shot of bourbon a day, every day, until his final illness," Hamby said.

Truman also came from good stock and stayed physically active, Hamby said.

"I think he probably just had pretty good genes. By the standards of his day and for a man who was a political professional, I think he did keep in pretty good shape," he said. "As president he liked to go out and do almost what we might call speed walking. He even held a few walking press conferences with reporters walking along with him."

The 33rd president's afternoon strolls were curtailed after an assassination attempt in 1950. But he resumed his exercise routine upon his return to Independence, Mo., Hamby said, walking to church and to his presidential library.

Herbert Hoover died shortly after his 90th birthday. George H. Nash, author of The Life of Herbert Hoover, says the nation's 31st president suffered from shingles and had gall bladder problems, but otherwise had remarkably good health.

Hoover lived in the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

"In his 80s, he was working from 8 to 12 hours a day," Nash said. "He was blessed with extraordinary energy and stamina."

Hoover spent much of his time writing, rising at 5:30 a.m. and beginning work by 6 a.m. He also headed two commissions that were in charge of helping to reorganize the executive branch of the federal government.

"At a time when most old men would be retired and maybe golfing or something, Hoover was at his desk," Nash said.

Hoover had a hobby: fly fishing.

"I don't want to portray him as a man who was all work and no play, but his idea of leisure was really to go out in fishing streams all over the country," Nash said.

The record-holding former president, until early this century, was John Adams, who died J̶u̶l̶y̶ ̶2̶4̶,̶ ̶1̶8̶2̶6̶ July 4, 1826,* at age 90.

Sara Martin, editor and chief of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society, points out that the nation's second president wrote letters about what he perceived as the key to a long and healthy life.

"He was always a big proponent of exercise. He was constantly admonishing his children to exercise, and he was constantly writing to his wife that he was trying to ride every day or go out for walks," Martin said.

Off and on, Adams followed what advocates called a Milk Diet. It was heavy on dairy, bread and vegetables.

In a letter dated July 5, 1814, Adams summed up his culinary preferences. "No veal cutlet, no old hock, no old or young Madeira, no meat, no Spirit, nothing but Indian porridge, water gruel and mutton broth, lemonade ..."

Adams' food restrictions may have been, in part, because of his dental challenges, Martin said. "If you don't have teeth, it makes it hard to chew meat," she noted.

Metro on 08/19/2016

*CORRECTION: Former President John Adams died on July 4, 1826. This story about the longevity of ex-presidents stated the incorrect date.