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

Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou could speak fluent Mandarin Chinese, a skill they picked up while living in China early in their lives. In the White House, they’d switch to Mandarin whenever they wanted privacy — basically using a secret language right in front of staff.

It must have been surreal for aides to watch the president and First Lady suddenly switch tongues mid-conversation. They weren’t showing off; it was just their private way of talking. It’s one of the most unexpected, oddly charming quirks any presidential couple ever had.