From Abraham Lincoln to Trump, New Exhibit Hypes Centuries of Presidential Shoes

Stephen Garner

17 January 2025 at 4:07 pm·2-min read

A new exhibition showcasing the history of presidential footwear has opened in Washington, D.C. just ahead of Monday’s inauguration.

Now on view through Jan. 29 at the Mayflower Hotel, Johnston & Murphy has set up its Presidential Footwear exhibit inside the historic hotel located just blocks from the White House.

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According to the 175-year-old Genesco-owned footwear brand, a collection of 15 of these historical shoes can now be seen at the exhibit. The display features the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnston, Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the company said.

The tradition of making presidential footwear started in 1850 when William Dudley, an immigrant shoemaker and founder of Johnston & Murphy (originally named The William J. Dudley Shoe Co.), offered to make a pair of custom shoes for President Millard Fillmore, who accepted his offer.

Continuing down the presidential line, there’s Abraham Lincoln, who wore a pair of lace-up boots in a size 14, the largest shoe created by the company to date.

It wasn’t until President Benjamin Harrison’s shoe made in 1889, however, that the company became Johnston & Murphy. It was acquired in 1886 by two new owners.

J&M Roosevelt — Theodore Roosevelt shoe created by the now Johnston & Murphy shoe company in 1901. Courtesy of brand.

Moving on, Theodore Roosevelt opted for sturdy dress boots, while John F. Kennedy preferred black wingtips. For Ronald Reagan, a pair of black cap-toe shoes best suited his style.

Herbert Hoover wore a size 11 1/2 AA, the narrowest ever created for a president, while Lyndon B. Johnson need specially designed shoes to accommodate the difference between his right foot, and 11 C and his left an 11 1/2 C.

Barack Obama shoe by Johnston & Murphy — Shoe created by Johnston & Murphy for President Barack Obama. Courtesy of brand.

Barack Obama had two pairs of shoes crafted — black oxfords complete with a box handmade of loa wood from Hawaii in addition to a modern version of Lincoln’s lace-up boots.

In the late ‘80s, Johnston & Murphy took its connection to the Oval Office a step further with a monetary donation to help finish the Presidential Trail at Mt. Rushmore, part of a major renovation of the historic landmark.

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