U.S. Presidents Who Were College Cheerleaders
By August 15, 2021
Today's cheerleading routines may combine high-flying stunts, athletic tumbling, and energetic dance moves, but things were very different in the cheerleading days of the American presidents. In fact, five former United States presidents were college cheerleaders.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Prior to his devastating polio infection at age 30, the nation's 32nd president enjoyed an active lifestyle as well as an academic one. While a student at Harvard College between 1900 and 1903, F.D.R. was a member of a fraternity, served as editor-in-chief of the college's daily newspaper, and joined the Fly Club (which is a lot less acrobatic than it sounds) as well as the cheerleading squad, riling up crowds for the Harvard Crimson football team.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Sports and athletics were a lifelong passion of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would become the 34th president of the United States. In fact, he cited not making the West Point baseball team as the single greatest disappointment of his life well after that life had become quite long. He had to console himself with a spot on the varsity football team, but even that victory was short-lived, thanks to a knee injury. Determined to remain close to the action, he elected to formally cheer on the football team even though he could no longer serve as its star running back.
Ronald Reagan
Before he was president or even a Hollywood star, Ronald Reagan was a Eureka College thespian, radio announcer, student body president, prolific activist, and member of the swimming and football teams. Just to be a good sport, he also joined the cheerleading squad, rooting for his fellow athletes in various other sports.
