John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was an enthusiastic swimmer. Before starting each day’s work he would swim and bathe naked in the Potomac River. There was a newspaper woman, Anne Royall, who tried for weeks to get an interview with the president, but she was always rebuffed. One day she followed Adams to his watering hole. After he disrobed and got into the river, she promptly sat down on his clothes. Recognizing who she was, Adams pleaded, “Let me get out and dress, and I swear you shall have your interview.” Royall was unconvinced of the sincerity behind the remark and remained seated. When the president still refused to answer questions posed to him, Royall threatened to scream if Adams attempted to get out of the water. This would summon nearby fishermen ar…