5 U.S. Presidents Who Kept Secret Diaries

 From yahoo.com

By Nikole Stewart

While diaries don't seem like much at the time, they often provide personal and historical accounts that we would otherwise not know about. They give us first-hand information on nitty-gritty details, whether it's about private thoughts, political plans, or more. Let's explore some of the top U.S. presidents who kept secret diaries, like these five examples.

5. Harry S. Truman

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Another one of the many U.S. presidents who kept secret diaries is Harry S. Truman. In 2003, an archivist at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library announced the discovery of a handwritten diary containing 42 entries from 1947.

The notebook had been transferred to the library in 1965 but had gone unnoticed because it was catalogued with the general book collection. It was discovered that the diary revealed Truman's private thoughts about politics and Dwight D. Eisenhower's possible presidential candidacy.

4. George H. W. Bush

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In January 1993, excerpts from George H. W. Bush's private diary became public, which drew immense attention to what he knew about the Iran-Contra affair, the secret arms sales to Iran that had become a major political scandal during Ronald Reagan's presidency.

According to The Washington Post, a diary entry from November 1986 described Bush as being among the few people who knew the full details. The passage raised questions because Bush had previously suggested that he had been out of the loop.

3. Dwight D. Eisenhower

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One of the most interesting U.S. presidents who kept secret diaries is Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to the Presidential Library, before becoming president, Eisenhower kept diary entries documenting his military career, political deliberations, and personal reservations about entering presidential politics.

It was discovered that in his private writings, he recorded the pressure he faced to run for president and his hesitation about leaving military service for political office.

2. Ronald Reagan

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One of the many U.S. presidents who kept secret diaries was Ronald Reagan. Interestingly enough, he kept a near-daily diary throughout his presidency, recording his private thoughts about world leaders, political decisions, and major historical events.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the diary contained sensitive information, including material that was classified. Even more interesting is that some information remained classified for years after Reagan left office and even after he died in 2004.

1. John Quincy Adams

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Last but not least is John Quincy Adams, one of the many U.S. presidents who kept secret diaries. According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, Adams began keeping a diary in 1779, when he was 12 years old, and continued writing for much of his life. His journals recorded private observations about politics, diplomacy, family life, and the people he encountered.

Earlier published editions did not include every passage from his original manuscripts. Later scholarly editions restored material that had been omitted, giving readers a fuller view of his private thoughts.

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