A New York dairy farmer gifted President Andrew Jackson a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese. Jackson aged it in the White House for two years, then invited the public to eat it. The cheese disappeared in two hours—but its smell lingered much longer.

"The Great Cheese. Jacksonian Democracy Enjoys a Special Treat, 1837." President Andrew Jackson was famous for his public receptions, open to all. Some detractors described the crowds as mobs. The receptions were attended by hundreds, from the highest senator to the lowest "rag-a-muffin of the city" climbing in the windows. The centerpiece of this reception was a mammoth round of cheese, weighing 1,400 pounds.

A New York dairy farmer sent President Jackson an interesting gift: a 1,400-pound cheese. Jackson left it in the Entrance Hall of the White House to age for two years. In 1837 the President invited the public to come and eat it. The cheese was gone in two hours, but the stain and smell in the Entrance Hall lasted for a long while.

Andrew Jackson's Cheese Gift