# How many Presidents have been arrested?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 13, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325 "2000-12-13T07:08:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325/1 "2000-12-13T07:08:52Z")

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At some point prior to assuming the Presidency? What were the charges?

Sir

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325/2 "2000-12-13T07:19:10Z")

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Not sure, but Ulysses Grant was arrested while in office. Reckless driving of a carriage I believe.

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**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325/3 "2000-12-13T07:25:14Z")

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BobT,

I put that first sentence up there, assuming that a stting President had never been arrested. Give that cop his props – he had cajones.

Sir

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325/4 "2000-12-13T13:37:48Z")

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**One-Night Stands with American History** by Richard Shenkman and Kurt Reiger, p. 87

> [@](#):
>
> While president, Franklin Pierce was arrested after accidentally running down an old woman with his horse. He was released after the arresting officer discovered the identity of the prisoner.

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**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-presidents-have-been-arrested/45325/5 "2000-12-13T16:05:20Z")

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IIRC, the cop who busted Grant for speeding was going to let him go when he realized who he’d nabbed, but Grant said “It’s a fair cop” and took the ticket.

I don’t know about any other Presidents, but it seems likely that John Adams may have been busted for revolutionary activity before 1776. Just a WAG.