Diary, John Quincy Adams, 1825 Sixth president, John Quincy Adams, often swam in <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/40">Tiber Creek</a> near the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/66">White House</a>. In 1825, he commandeered an abandoned boat and rowed it down the creek, planning to swim back. A sudden storm arose, sweeping the leaking boat into the Potomac where it began to sink. Adams scrambled overboard, but the weight of his clothes dragged him underwater. A White House steward, Antoine Guista, who was with Adams, jumped overboard and rescued the president. Washington buzzed for days about the President's close call. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=John+Quincy+Adams">John Quincy Adams</a> The Diaries of John Quincy Adams Diary 49, snippet at White House Historical Society. <a href="http://www.whitehousehistory.org/presentations/waddell-artist-visits-white-house-past/president-adams-essay.html">View original snippet</a>. 6/13/1825 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1800-1829">1800-1829</a>