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Hail to the Doodlers

Kathryn Satterfield

The president of the United States spends much of his day meeting with members of Congress, world leaders and other officials. In these sessions, important issues are discussed, big decisions are made--and sometimes, distinctive doodles are drawn.

Despite what you may think, carefree scribbling isn't just for kids. "It's human nature to doodle," historian David Greenberg told TFK. A recent book, Presidential Doodles, shows that even powerful leaders have a playful side. The book features more than 100 drawings, from young George Washington's careful notes to Ronald Reagan's cartoon characters.

Of all the papers crossing a President's desk, these primitive artworks seem to be among the most eye-catching, revealing and sought after. One of Reagan's doodles fetched $10,000 at an auction. "(A doodle) reminds us that they're human. They do silly things like we do," Greenberg says.

Herbert Hoover never drew people. One of his patterns was used on kids' clothing in 1930.

Lyndon B. Johnson and his staff were dedicated doodle collectors. Here is one silly scribble.

John F. Kennedy loved to sail. This is a sketch of the boat his parents gave him when he turned 15.

Ronald Reagan enjoyed drawing and was proud of his doodles, which were often cartoon versions of himself.

George Washington took Yankee-doodle-dandy notes on geometry.

Next: One Tough Job