In the colorful tapestry of American history, few episodes capture the blend of absurdity, generosity, and populism quite like President Andrew Jackson’s encounter with a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese. This extraordinary tale, rooted in the 1830s, showcases the eccentricities of a president known for his bold personality and the lengths to which his supporters went to honor him. Drawing from historical accounts, including sources like the Library of Congress, History.com, and various chronicles of the era, this is the story of how a massive block of cheddar turned Washington, D.C., into a pungent spectacle.
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The Gift That Started It All
In 1835, Colonel Thomas S. Meacham, a prosperous dairy farmer from Sandy Creek, New York, decided to pay tribute to President Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. Meacham, a staunch supporter of Jackson’s populist policies, crafted an extraordinary gift: a colossal wheel of cheddar cheese weighing 1,400 pounds (approximately 635 kilograms). This wasn’t just any cheese—it was a masterpiece of dairy engineering, measuring four feet in diameter, two feet thick, and made from the milk of 150 cows. The cheese was a symbol of American agricultural prowess and a nod to Jackson’s reputation as a man of the people.
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The wheel was transported with great fanfare from New York to Washington, D.C., reportedly requiring a specially reinforced wagon and a team of oxen to haul it. Upon arrival, it was presented to Jackson at the White House, where it was met with a mix of awe and amusement. The sheer size of the gift made it impractical to consume immediately, so Jackson, perhaps unsure of what to do with such a behemoth, decided to store it in the White House’s Entrance Hall (sometimes referred to as the “East Room” in early accounts).
The Cheese Ages—And So Does Its Aroma
For nearly two years, from 1835 to 1837, the cheese sat in the White House, slowly ripening. The Entrance Hall, a grand space meant for receiving dignitaries, became an unlikely aging room for what was essentially a dairy monument. As the cheese matured, it developed a potent aroma that began to permeate the White House. Historical accounts, including those from the Saturday Evening Post and other period publications, describe the smell as “overpowering,” with some claiming it wafted through the building’s corridors and even reached the streets of Washington.
The capital in the 1830s was a far cry from the bustling metropolis of today. Washington, D.C., was a small, somewhat swampy city with unpaved streets and a modest population. Yet, the cheese’s odor was so formidable that it reportedly became a topic of local gossip. Visitors to the White House, including senators and foreign diplomats, were said to have remarked on the pungent atmosphere, with some humorously suggesting that the cheese was staging a takeover of the nation’s capital.
The Grand Cheese Party of 1837
As Andrew Jackson’s presidency drew to a close in early 1837, the question of what to do with the now-legendary cheese loomed large. Jackson, ever the populist, saw an opportunity to share his unusual gift with the American public. On February 22, 1837, coinciding with George Washington’s birthday, he hosted a massive public reception at the White House. The event was advertised as a chance for citizens to meet the outgoing president—and to partake in the consumption of the giant cheese.
The response was overwhelming. Thousands of people—men, women, children, and even some opportunistic pets—flocked to the White House, drawn by the promise of free cheese and a chance to see Jackson. The scene, as described in contemporary newspapers like the New York Courier and Enquirer, was one of joyous chaos. Guests armed with knives, forks, and even makeshift tools attacked the cheese, carving off chunks in a frenzy that resembled a culinary gold rush. Some accounts estimate that the 1,400-pound wheel was reduced to crumbs in just two hours, a testament to the crowd’s enthusiasm.
The aftermath was less savory. The White House floors were smeared with cheese, and guests left with bits of cheddar clinging to their clothes, hats, and shoes. The smell, already a fixture in the White House, intensified during the event and lingered long after. According to historian Benjamin Perley Poore, the odor “pervaded the whole city” for weeks, with some claiming it haunted Washington’s streets for months. One apocryphal tale even suggests that Martin Van Buren, Jackson’s successor, had to replace curtains and carpets in the White House to rid it of the lingering stench.
A Symbol of Jackson’s Legacy
The great cheese affair was more than just a quirky episode; it was a reflection of Andrew Jackson’s presidency. Known as “Old Hickory” for his tough, unyielding nature, Jackson was a polarizing figure who championed the common man while clashing with elites. The cheese, a gift from a farmer, and the public feast that followed embodied his populist ethos. By sharing the cheese with the masses, Jackson turned a potentially embarrassing gift into a moment of communal celebration, albeit a smelly one.
The event also highlighted the era’s fascination with oversized tributes. Meacham, the cheese’s creator, was no stranger to such gestures; he reportedly sent smaller (but still massive) wheels of cheese to other political figures, including Vice President Martin Van Buren and New York Governor William L. Marcy. However, Jackson’s cheese was the largest and most famous, cementing its place in American folklore.
Echoes Through History
The story of Jackson’s cheese has endured as a humorous footnote in American history, recounted in books, articles, and even modern websites like Atlas Obscura and Mental Floss. It has been referenced in discussions of presidential quirks and even inspired a 2014 novel, The President’s Cheese by Lindsay M. Chervinsky, which fictionalizes the event. The tale also draws parallels to other presidential food spectacles, such as the massive cakes and barrels of cider served at 19th-century inaugurations.
Interestingly, Jackson’s cheese was not the last of its kind. In 1857, President James Buchanan received a 350-pound cheese, though it was mercifully consumed more quickly and with less fanfare. Even today, the story of Jackson’s cheese serves as a reminder that politics, even at its most serious, can take a turn for the absurd.
Conclusion
The saga of Andrew Jackson’s 1,400-pound cheese is a delightful blend of history, humor, and hubris. From its creation by a patriotic farmer to its fragrant tenure in the White House and its chaotic consumption by a cheese-hungry public, the story captures the spirit of an era and the personality of a president. It’s a tale that invites us to laugh at the quirks of the past while marveling at the audacity of a gift that turned Washington, D.C., into the stinkiest capital in the world—if only for a moment.