Imyerhero

[imyerhero]

James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States of America.  He served one term from 1857-1861.

I read “James Buchanan” by Jean H. Baker

Political Nicknames: Ten Cent Jimmy, Old Buck

Quote: “There are portions of the Union in which if you emancipate your slaves they will become your masters.  Is there any man who would for a moment indulge the horrible idea of abolishing slavery by the massacre of the chivalrous race of men in the South?”

Some facts on President James Buchanan:

born on April 23, 1791 in Pennsylvania

was the second child of eleven

was a part of the richest family in town growing up

attended Dickinson College, expelled for bad behavior and then re-instated when his father pulled some strings

never had a nickname

graduated with honors and became a lawyer’s apprentice

was under severe pressure from his father to be a success

became a well-respected lawyer in Lancaster, PA

was chief master of his Masonic Lodge

elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly as a Federalist in 1814, was the youngest member

had wandering eyes (literally – the medical condition)

was briefly engaged to Ann Coleman, she broke it off and died soon after

never had to shave

has long been suspected as being a homosexual

the only bachelor President

wrote about himself in the third person

his father died suddenly in 1821

strongly supported states’ rights (a Democrat in those days)

his best friend and suspected sexual partner was Alabama Senator William King; their enemies called them “Miss Nancy and Aunt “Fancy” – they lived together for 15 years

became Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee

was assigned to be Ambassador to Russia by President Jackson in 1831 for 18 months, during which his mother died

elected as the US Senator for Pennsylvania in 1834

was a staunch supporter not only of states rights but Manifest Destiny

wanted to annex Texas and divide it into five states

fought for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 1844

served as President Polk’s Secretary of State but wanted to be a Supreme Court Judge

campaigned for a Presidential nomination by holding lavish dinners every 10 days for the social season, inviting only influential people

wanted to annex Cuba and make it a state

was known for his old-fashioned taste in clothing

bought an estate named Wheatland near Lancaster

was primary breadwinner and guardian for 22 nieces and nephews, 13 grandnieces and grandnephews by 1852; running a family employment agency to help defer costs

his niece, Harriet Lane, was his favorite niece and served as his First Lady (and was the first woman to be called the “First Lady” because she wasn’t his wife)

loved cigars and rye whiskey

was known as a doughface because of his support of the South despite being a northerner

declined the office of Vice President offered to him by President Pierce

served as minister to Great Britain for three years under President Pierce, accepting and withdrawing twice before finally committing

was lonely in Britain and often called meetings with officials just to have someone to talk to

got in social disagreement over proper court dress when dining with royalty and was thought to be “twisting the lion’s tail” – mocking ridiculous British fashions

wrote the “Ostend Manifesto”, justifying the US purchasing Cuba from the Spanish for $100 million

ran against the first Republican candidate for President in history, John C. Frémont

did no campaigning, believing that being elected President was a gift of the people.  instead he wrote letters to influential people stating his views

supported building a railroad to the Pacific, which generally the Democrats did not support

79% of the voting electorate went to the polls for that election – the fourth highest turnout at the writing of the book

barely won his home state

encouraged the American public to view the Republican party as a threat to the South

had made some contact with 10 former presidents when he took office

would invite his Cabinet members to stay at the White House when their wives were out of town so they could have late night discussions on policy

contracted dysentery during a hotel stay en route to Washington DC and was sick for months; his nephew died of it

filled his Cabinet with wealthy Southerners, insulting the North

pushed for a decision in the Dred Scott case, which essentially nullfied the Missouri Compromise

lost a lot of respect, many believing he had influenced the judges’ decision in the Dred Scott case

favorite foods included beef, mutton, venison, ham, terrapin, calf’s head dressed as terrapin, Pennsylvania Dutch specialties such as scrapple and succotash, moss rose cake, peach charlotte, Confederate pudding and Jeff Davis pie, grape pie, and ice cream

was vastly over-involved in his Cabinet’s decision making, often overrident cabinet members on the choices they made concerning their own departments

his Vice President was John Breckenridge, and was very poorly treated by Buchanan

met with his cabinet every afternoon except on Sundays

the White House’s social calendar was managed by Harriet Lane and Buchanan’s nephew, James Henry – both terribly lacking in experience

during his term, 1400 state banks, 5,000 business (including railroads and factories) went bankrupt after a NY branch of an Ohio corporation suspended payment – named the Panic of 1857

Buchanan did nothing to help the economy, blaming it on the North’s greed

also during his term, Brigham Young, governor of Utah and leader of the Mormon church, facilitated and covered up the murder of 125 Arkansas immigrants who “trespassed” on their land and blamed the deaths on the Paiute Indians

sent 2500 troops to discipline the Mormons, but the conflict was peacefully resolved by Thomas Kane

believed slavery existed wherever slaveholders wished to take their “property” – so he did nothing to alleviate growing violence over proslavery terrorism acts in Kansas

used ridiculous lobbying tactics to try and force a slave state Kansas Constitution through the House of Representatives, but he failed

in 1859, asked Congress to raise a military force to invade Mexico

sent 2500 sailors and marines on 19 warships to Paraguay to punish them for firing on an American vessel – the inability of these warships to reinforce coastal forts against attack was part of what convinced some Southern states to secede

he hated New England, believing it to be populated only by religious fanatics and preachers

the Republican controlled House of Representatives initiated a committee to investigate corruption in his administration in 1858

the committee proved that Buchanan’s cabinet was one of the most corrupt in American history, even by today’s standards

because of his corruption and unwillingness to support anyone but the South, Buchanan was the last Democratic President elected for 24 years

he managed to split the Democratic party

was advised by Winfield Scott, General in Chief of the Army, to garrison federal forts in the South in case there were attacks made by seceding states’ troops if Lincoln was elected President – Buchanan disliked Scott and therefore ignored his advice

South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860

Buchanan denied the constitutional right to secession, but also denied Congress or the Presidential right to declare on states who were seceding

he did nothing to stop Southern forces from seizing federal buildings in Texas and other southern states

settled a truce with South Carolina, agreeing not to reinforce forts in exchange for not being attacked, thereby giving South Carolina time to train, arm and ready its militia and to overtake several gov’t buildings full of ammunition and arms

gave signs of suffering extreme mental and emotional duress – twitching in his cheek and jaw, unkempt hygiene, trembling in his limbs, depression so great he could not leave his bed

his Secretary of War, Floyd, had long been involved in embezzlement of government funds but was never fired but instead asked for a resignation, which he did not give until three months before Buchanan left office

Floyd also sent arms to the militias of southern states upon hearing of their intent to secede.  he later became a Confederate general.

Buchanan continued to surround himself with Southern supporting politicians, who managed to leak administrative plans, money to buy from arms dealers, and insider trading information

he wrote and published his memoir, entitled “Mr. Buchanan’s Administration on the Eve of the Rebellion” defending his actions as President

died at age 77 on June 1, 1868 of pneumonia at Wheatland

Preceded in office by Franklin Pierce, followed by Abraham Lincoln

*title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...Pierce repealed the Missouri Compromise...

Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States of America.  He served one term, from 1853-1857.

Nickname: Handsome Frank

Quote: “I believe that involuntary servitude, as it exists in different States of this Confederacy, is recognized by the Constitution.  I believe that it stands like any other admitted right, and that the States where it exists are entitled to efficient remedies to enforce the constitutional provisions.”

I read the biography “Franklin Pierce” by Michael F Holt.

born on November 23rd, 1804 in Hillsborough, New Hampshire

sixth child of General Benjamin Pierce and Anna Kendrick Pierce

his father served as NH Governor for 2 terms

was said to be charming, suave, a people pleaser and incredibly handsome

attended Bowdoin college where he met one of his best friends, Nathaniel Hawthorne

he loved wrestling and being outdoors

his favorite “pastime” was drinking, he was a lightweight when it came to alcohol and in all likelihood an alcoholic

his favorite foods were Fried clams, Daniel Webster’s chowder, apple pan dowdy, New Hampshire seed cookies, and New Hampshire fried pies.

was admitted to the bar (a lawyer) in 1827

possessed a deep, pleasing, rich voice

married Jane Means Appleton from Amherst, MA on November 19th, 1834 – they were said to be complete opposites

was elected to 4 consecutive years in the New Hampshire State House of Representatives

the last 2 years, he was Speaker of the House

was an anti-abolitionist because he believed they were “holier-than-thou” and threatened the Union

his first son died 3 days after being born in February 1836

was publicly humiliated and called a doughface in front of the Senate by John C. Calhoun (someone who could not form their own opinions and whose mind changed easily)

his room mate from college, Jonathan Cilley, was killed in a duel

his second son, Frank Robert, was born in September 1839 and died at age 4

was good friends with President Polk, after befriending him when he served as Speaker of the House

was offered the position of U.S. Attorney General in 1846, but declined citing family responsibilities

was appointed a colonel in the army by President Polk in 1847 for the Mexican-American War

was promoted to Brigadier General and tasked with re-supplying General Scott’s troops

was thrown from his horse and received an injury to his groin and knee causing him to pass out during his first serious battle, causing his troops to believe he fainted from fear

his wife hated Washington DC, so when his name was put forward for the Presidential nomination, he violently declined

he agreed to be a candidate later, only if the three other party frontrunners torpedoed each others’ chances

when he was told he had been nominated, he was speechless and his wife fainted

Southerners liked him because he supported upholding the Missouri Compromise, northerners liked him because he was young and from New Hampshire

that election (1836) had the lowest voter turnout rate until the 1920’s

went into the Presidency with the goal of preserving the unity of the Democratic Party as his highest goal

Jane Pierce’s uncle died  before the inauguration in 1852, and as they were returning by train from the funeral, the passenger car derailed and crashed; Pierce and Jane were merely bruised, but their only living son’s head was cut in half right in front of them, killing him instantly

Jane was so grief-stricken, she did not attend the funeral, head to Washington for Pierce’s inauguration, and could not function as the White House hostess until 1854

Pierce put together a cabinet of polar opposites, but which was highly effective and the only Presidential cabinet in the 19th century to remain completely intact throughout an entire four year Presidential term

his first veto was a bill that would have provided federal funds to build and operate asylums for the financially poor insane, stating he did not belive the government could be responsible for public charity

his Vice President, William R. King, died in April 1853 and was replaced by Missouri Democrat David R Atchison

sent James Gadsden to negotiate with Mexico for land that would allow  a transcontinental railroad southern route; Gadsden got much less land than they wanted, but ultimately bought enough for the railroad for $15 million

then turned around and said the government should not be the source of funding for a trans-continental railroad

repealed the Missouri Compromise, claiming the Compromise of 1850 made it unconstitutional

passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which opened up the west for slavery – Kansas was made a slave state and Nebraska a free state

the night the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed, a fugitive slave was caught and imprisoned in Boston.  Anti-slavery supporters formed a mob and Pierce was forced to send federal troops to help escort the slave to a ship bound back to Virginia

because of the K-A act, Democrats lost 66 of their 91 held congressional seats in the elections of 1854

most northern Whigs, anti-Nebraska Democrats,  and Free Soiler party members joined together to form a new party in 1854 – the Republican Party

the Republican Party’s highest mission was to oppose southern slaveholders

when the government of Kansas was formed, there were hundreds of slavery supporting Missourians who cast hundreds of false votes for proslavery candidates and the governor allowed the results to stand

a rival government was set up in Topeka and they fought each other in battles so violent that Kansas was known as “Bleeding Kansas”

when he left office, he was worth $78,000 because of his investments (1.5 million in today’s dollars)

his wife was suffering from tuberculosis and all Pierce wanted to do after retiring was take care of her

one of his favorite past times was having drinking contests with one of his best friends, Clarence March – they drank brandy and champagne

the Pierces traveled to Madeira in December 1857 on a US Navy Vessel for Jane’s health

they traveled Europe, ending up in Rome in 1858 to visit Nathaniel Hawthorne

they returned to the US in September 1859

another trip to Nassau was taken in the winter of 1860

Jane died from tuberculosis on December 2nd, 1863 – their last vacation together had been in the summer at the beach

was asked to take care of Nathaniel Hawthorne as he was ailing – he was the one who discovered Hawthorne’s corpse

he paid full college tuition Hawthorne’s son, Julian, as well as his two nephews

he loved swimming naked in the ocean off of the coast of New Hampshire, even at the age of 60

tried to act as legal representation for Jefferson Davis after the end of the Civil War, but Davis refused him

he died from complications of alcoholism on October 8, 1869

Preceded in office by Millard Fillmore, followed by James Buchanan

title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

Fillmore gave a boat to Commodore Perry...

Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States of America.  He served part of one term (1850-1853)  after President Zachary Taylor died while in office.

Nickname: The American Louis Philippe

Quote: “God knows that I detest slavery, but it is an existing evil, for which we are not responsible, and we must endure it.”   “Where is the true-hearted American whose cheek does not tingle with shame to see our highest and most courted foreign missions filled by  men of foreign birth to the exclusion of the native-born?”

I read “Millard Fillmore” by Paul Finkelman.

was born on January 7th, 1800 to Nathaniel and Phoebe Fillmore in New York

Millard was his mother’s maiden name

grew up in relative poverty

was apprenticed for four years as a wool carder and cloth dresser

met his wife, Abigail, at school in 1819 – she was a teacher

was apprenticed to a county judge, Walter Wood for two years, before Fillmore took a freelance job representing someone and was let go

announced his engagement at age 18 to Abigail, who was 20

was admitted to the bar (to practice law) at age 23

was very focused on outward appearances and wanted to to have a popular public image, he felt inferior b/c of his background

was open about being anti-mason, anti-Catholic, anti-abolitionist, and anti-immigrant

married Abigail in February 1826

Abigail Fillmore was the only First Lady before the twentieth century to work outside the home after her marriage

Fillmore was a great believer in conspiracy theories of all sorts

in 1828, he was elected to the New York state legislature and served three consecutive terms

was considered a protegé of Daniel Webster

was elected chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in 1840

ran for the Whig nomination for Vice President in 1844, but lost to Henry Clay

then ran for governor of New York and lost to Silas Wright

was nominated and elected as state comptroller of New York and closed his law office

pushed for a federal program to improve river and harbor development

was elected Chancellor of the University of Buffalo

for most of the time he was Vice President under Zachary Taylor, he lived alone at the Willard Hotel, his wife remaining in Buffalo

tended to have direct opposite views from President Taylor on the big issues such as statehood for California, the spread of slavery to the west, and the expansion of Texas

was snubbed when President Taylor took Fillmore’s hated political rival, William Henry Seward, to be his closest confidant and adviser

openly stated on one occasion that he would vote against the President’s wishes if there was a chance for him to be the tie-breaking vote on a bill

allied himself with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay

supported the Compromise of 1850, which allowed over 400,000 square miles of territory in the west to be declared as slavery-allowing territory

was sworn in as President on July 10, 1850, after the death of President Taylor

fired every single one of Taylor’s cabinet the day he took office, mainly out of spite – and was the only “accidental” President to do so

had trouble finding men to replace the ones he fired because of his party (Whigs) and because of his petulant attitude

gave Texas the right to define their own territorial boundaries and invade New Mexico, even if Congress said otherwise and he himself declared otherwise

firmly supported the Fugitive Slave Act, which allowed southern slave owners to travel up North to re-claim their runaway slaves (and sometimes free African Americans as well)

established a mint in San Francisco to stimulate the economy and aid those who found gold in getting it circulating in the economy

was the first President to propose a trans-continental railroad

he and his wife started the White House library

sent Commodore Matthew C. Perry on a mission to Japan to begin foreign relations with them – previously, all westerners were considered criminals when they landed in Japan

protected Hawaii from being annexed by Napoleon

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Beef stew, mock turtle soup, fish, ham with macaroni, duck, chicken, pigeon, and larded sweet breads.

failed to stop a man named Lopez from recruiting an army and trying to invade and conquer Cuba; Lopez was killed by the Spanish in Cuba, most of his expedition’s party members were executed or captured and sent to Spain, he then ransomed them and brought them home

amended the Fugitive Slave – barring African Americans from defending themselves at their own hearing/trial

became infuriated with Chicago and Boston when their city councils nullified the Fugitive Slave Act

authorized the use of Federal troops to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act (the Marines)

blamed the disharmony that came from the FSA on other politicians and the public in the North who refused to enforce it

was more concerned about his home state’s local politicians undermining him than he was about his own stand alienating him from the entire country

was only the fourth “Northern” President elected (Adams, Adams, and Van Buren) all the rest were from the South

was the first solidly middle-class President

instructed for the formation of the Washington Territory (it was part of the Oregon Territory previously)

after an African American man escaped while being tried under the FSA, the next trial of a black man under the Act was tried in a courthouse surrounded by nearly 500 special deputies and and ringed with anchor chain so that no one could mob it

personally demanded prosecution of four white people and 36 African Americans who participated in a riot that resulted in the escape of a fugitive slave, they were all charged with treason, by his request,  in the largest treason trial in the history of the US

despite the fact that he and Daniel Webster were cronies, they blocked each other from receiving the Whig nomination for the Presidency in 1852 just by running against each other and refusing to back down or communicate; this was especially ridiculous considering Webster was part of Fillmore’s cabinet and it was frowned upon for a current cabinet member to challenge a current President with their own campaign

his wife, Abigail, died on March 30, 1853 – less than a month after Fillmore left office – supposedly from a cold she caught attending Franklin Pierce’s inauguration

in 1854, Fillmore’s daughter, Mary Abigail, died

when he visited Queen Victoria of England, she reportedly thought him “the handsomest man she had ever met”

despite his deep dislike for Catholics, he agreed to meet the Pope in 1855 (as long as he didn’t have to kneel or kiss the Pope’s ring)

after the downfall of the Whig party, Fillmore joined the American Party (or Know-Nothing Party) which was strongly anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant; he ran as their Presidential nominee in 1856

when he lost the election, he returned to Buffalo and married Caroline Carmichael, a wealthy widow

organized a home guard of elderly men in Buffalo during the Civil War and raised $25,000 to aid wounded soldiers

after giving a speech denouncing the War and President Lincoln, he was regarded by his neighbors as a “Copperhead”, someone who lived in the North but sympathized with the Confederacy

founded the Buffalo Historical Society

died on March 8, 1874 of a stroke, and was buried in Buffalo

Preceded in office by Zachary Taylor, followed by Franklin Pierce

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s song “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...Taylor was a Mexican War hero.

He was the 12th President of the United States of America and served part of one term – from 1849 until his death in 1850.

Nickname:  Old Rough and Ready

Quote: “The idea that I should become President seems to me too visionary to require a serious answer.  It has never entered my head, nor is it likely to enter the head of any sane person.”

I read the book “Zachary Taylor: Soldier, Planter, Statesman of the Old West” by K. Jack Bauer.  Yes, Jack Bauer.

born on November 24, 1784 on his father’s cousin’s plantation in Virginia – the plantation was named Montebello

grew up on a 400 acre farm outside Louisville, KY

did terrible in his first school years

was commissioned into the army on May 3, 1808

his older brother was killed fighting Native Americans

he married Margaret Mackall Smith on June 21, 1810; she was from Maryland

he worked as a part-time land surveyor

served in the military under W.H. Harrison, but he missed the battle of Tippecanoe

successfully led 40 men, only 16 of them healthy, to repel 450 Native American warriors from attacking Fort Harrison; the only building lost was their blockhouse

refused a military position in New York and returned to Louisville to farm

then rejoined the military in 1816

was head of a regiment who built a road from Tennessee to Louisiana

his 2 youngest daughters died in 1820 from a fever

he owned several Louisiana plantations

in 1828, his family moved to Fort Snelling, Minnesota

his daughter, Sarah Knox, married Jefferson Davis without her father’s consent.  She died three months later.

when he was the commanding officer, any man needing punishment would receive a “wooling” – grabbed by both ears and being shaken

was given the responsibility of driving the Seminoles out of Florida, where he was given the nickname “Old Rough and Ready” because of his willingness to stay alongside his troops in the same conditions

he came up with the “squares” program – a fighting tactic used in the Mexican War, in the Philippines and Vietnam

was a semi-successful real estate investor

was a big supporter of soil conservation and crop rotation

put in command of the army asked to hold the line against a Mexican invasion across the Rio Grande

he offered Mexican separatist forces aid in making an independent North Mexican Republic  (obviously, that didn’t work out)

gained control of the northern bank of the Rio Grande river for the United States as the national boundary

while in a standoff with Mexican forces, the Mexican troops would send their women to bathe naked in the river and then use sharpshooters to try and take out any American forces who tried to join the women

the leader of the Mexican forces offered sanctuary, and a homestead of 320 acres of land to any American troops who would desert

after taking the Mexican town of Matamoros, Taylor made a point to treat the enemy wounded and spent several hundred dollars from his own pocket to provide supplies for that purpose

was promoted to Major General by President Polk on May 30, 1846

left Mexico in October 1847

when approached by the Whig party for candidacy for their Presidential nomination, he had never voted

was staunchly supported by Abraham Lincoln

began suffering from rheumatism in 1848

was reluctant to take the Whig nomination because he wanted to be a President “independent of party”

didn’t do any campaign canvassing because he didn’t care if he won or not, he was also still on active military duty

his youngest daughter married William Bliss in 1848 – he was called “Perfect Bliss” by the Taylor family

the 1848 election was the first election in which the entire nation went to the polls on the same day – November 7

a cholera outbreak in New York and New Orleans began in December of 1848 and lasted through the next August; over 5,000 people died in New York

one of the first days of national Thanksgiving and prayer was declared by Taylor for August 3, 1849

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Deviled crabmeat, hominy, and Cajun food

Taylor was struck with dysentery during a tour of the country, he nearly collapsed from exhaustion

he attended the laying the cornerstone of the Washington monument in 1850

threatened any states who seceded from the Union with a trade embargo, and blockaded harbors

had the editor of a major newspaper fired when he refused to print an article attacking Taylor’s nemesis, Henry Clay

contracted some digestive infection on July 5, 1850 – some think it was b/c he ate a large meal of iced milk and cherries on a hot day

predicted his own death by saying on July 7th “in two days I shall be a dead man.”

died soon after 10:30 pm on July 9th, 1850

Fillmore declared six months of official mourning in government offices in response to the President’s death

Taylor was not buried until November 1st, since his wife requested his body be buried in the family cemetery outside Louisville

one of the few early presidents to die a rich man (over $3 million when adjusted to 1980’s inflation – the time this book was written)

his papers and personal items of value were stored at one of his plantations until it was sacked during the Civil War in 1863.  Very little has been recovered.

Preceded in office by James K Polk, followed by Millard Fillmore

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s Song “The Presidents”.

[imyerhero]

...James K. Polk fought Mexico to keep it [Texas]...

James K. Polk was our 11th President and served from March 4,  1845 to March 5, 1849.

Nicknames: Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump

Quote: “I prefer to supervise the whole operations of the Government myself rather than entrust the public business to subordinates and this makes my duties very great.”

I read the biography “Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America” by Walter R. Borneman.  Here’s what I learned:

up until the election of JFK, when asked to list the top ten US Presidents, historians AND laypeople both consistently put Polk at number 8 or 9, sometimes ahead of George Washington

he was of Scotch-Irish descent

born in North Carolina in November, 1795

growing up, he was constantly in poor health due to urinary tract infections and urinary stones; he had surgery at age 17 with no anasthesia but brandy

in 1816, he attended the University of North Carolina and graduated in 1818 with honors

his room mate was a future Florida governor

he was considered Andrew Jackson’s protege

he began his political career as a clerk in the Tennessee Senate while pursuing a law degree

in 1823, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives

married socialite Sarah Childress on Jan 1, 1824

one of his close friends was a man named Davy Crockett

in 1825, he was elected to the Tennessee Congress for the first of five terms

was elected governor of Tennessee in 1839

he lost two subsequent elections for Tennessee Governor and his political career was considered over

then, in 1844, he went from not even an option to becoming the unanimous Democratic candidate for President in under 24 hours, saving a deadlocked convention stuck between Martin Van Buren and Lewis Cass

his candidacy for President was the first to be announced via telegraph

he was also the first President to fail to get his own states electoral votes and still win

took a very personal interest and responsibility in micromanaging his office and laid down the strictest instructions for his cabinet of any President, including: all members must support the principles of the Democratic party, in order to run for President or another office they would be required to resign their Cabinet position, they were expected to stay in the capitol at all times except Christmas

his Vice President was George Dallas

during his Presidency, the brunt of the Oregon Trail was founded

the disputed “Oregon Territory” with Great Britain at that time was actually Washington state

he attended First Presbyterian church in the capitol regularly and refused visitors on Sundays except in dire circumstances

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Ham, corn pone, omelets

right before the conflict with Mexico, he told General Taylor to attack any Mexican forces north of the Rio Grande River to protect Texas

at the beginning of the Mexican-American War, Mexico owed American merchants over five million dollars

on May 13, 1846 we declared war on Mexico

he penned the phrase used by many Presidents about how long a war would last – “no more men will be called out and no more money expended than will be absolutely necessary to bring the present state of hostilities to an end.”

he nearly brought the U.S. to war with Great Britain and Mexico at the same time with the conflicts over Texas and the Oregon Territories, especially when his Secretary of State, James Buchanan, got involved

then, by trying to get California as well, he risked war with Mexico, Great Britain, France, and Russia

he was the President who began the transition of power to declare war from the legislative branch (Congress) to the executive branch (the President)

he formed the constitutional treasury, the pre-cursor to the Federal Reserve System

his Presidential Cabinet was the first to have a group photo taken

New Mexico territory was claimed during his term

Abraham Lincoln considered him a power hungry maniac

Polk laid the cornerstone of the Washington Monument

Cave Johnson, his Postmaster General, was the inventor of the pre-paid postage stamp to place on mail, to ensure the postal service would get paid

Polk authorized the creation of the Department of the Interior, although he had some doubts

He made 5 campaign promises while running for President and he kept all 5 of them: he would only run for one term, he would resolve the Oregon Territory in favor of the US with Great Britain, he would reduce the tariff to a revenue basis, he would form an independent government treasury, and he would secure California and the Southwest for the United States

he took a long tour through the South after leaving office on his way to his new retirement home in Tennessee, Polk Place

he died, probably of cholera and overwork from his term as President, 4 months after leaving office and after only 13 days at Polk Place, on June 15, 1849

his wife, Sarah, had the longest widowhood of any First Lady – 42 years

his grave was in the front yard of Polk Place until Sarah died

during the Civil War, both sides respected President and Mrs. Polk so much that they made a point never to attack Polk Place and generals from both sides would come to call on Mrs. Polk peaceably

Preceded by John Tyler, followed by Zachary Taylor

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...John Tyler annexed Texas from Mexico...

John Tyler was our 10th President.  He served from April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845.

Nicknames:  His Accidency, The Accidental President

Quote: “Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality.”

After checking it out about seven times, I finally made it through Edward P. Crapol’s (unfortunate last name) book “John Tyler: The Accidental President.”  Here is what I learned:

John Tyler Jr was born on March 29, 1790

he is most famous for being the first Vice President to become a President because of the incumbent President’s death – this is called “The Tyler Precedent”  and before it happened, nobody had a plan for what happened if a President died, John Tyler pretty much made the decision to take the position on his own

it was mostly his actions and attitude during the hours and days after President Harrison’s death that secured Tyler the Presidency

The Tyler Precedent eventually became the 25th amendment to the Constitution of the United States

he was sworn in on April 6th, 1841

he was mockingly called “His Accidency” because he wasn’t actually voted in, but he was chosen as President Harrison’s running mate as a plan in case Harrison died in office

his taking of the role of President helped preserve the autonomy of the Executive Branch of the government

the Senate voted 38-8 in support of him taking the Presidency

he was born and raised on a slave plantation in Virginia named Greenway

born less than 20 minutes away from where President Harrison was born

the entire Tyler family was political and John Tyler was groomed for politics his entire life

his father, Judge John Tyler, was Thomas Jefferson’s room mate at the College of William and Mary, the college President Tyler attended

before entering politics, he had the pre-cursor career – lawyer

at age 21, he began serving in the Virginia House of Delegates

before becoming Vice President, he served in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and as the governor of Virginia

he was forced to resign from his position in the House in 1821 because of health problems

was elected to the Senate in 1827 at age 37

is the only President to serve as the President pro tempore (second to the VP in the rank of the Senate and the highest ranking Senator)

rather than vote to retract a censure of President Andrew Jackson, he resigned his Senate seat

wrote Thomas Jefferson’s eulogy and presented it at the funeral

Tyler was a crazy strong Anglophobe (prejudiced against and afraid of the British) – so strong that he refused to set foot in Canada b/c he didn’t want to set foot on British soil

he loved champagne, it was his favorite drink

played the fiddle

he suffered often from dysentery

loved Shakespeare and often quoted his works

he was usually a strong advocate of restricted executive power and put a priority on states’ rights

he opposed the slave trade but not slavery (no more importing slaves, but those already in the States were still slaves)

despite being pro-slavery states, he wanted to eventually phase out slavery by adding more slave states to diffuse the slave population

over his lifetime, he owned several hundred slaves and used several of them as servants in the White House

like many others, he was accused of fathering children with his slaves and then selling the children for profit

he believed many anti-abolitionists were British spies and disunionists

he was married twice and fathered 15 children – the most of any President, and his youngest child lived until 1947

his two wives were named Letitia Christian and Julia Gardiner

Letitia Gardiner suffered a stroke before he took office and mainly lived on the 2nd floor of the White House, she was the first First lady to die in office and the youngest at 51

loved books and had a personal library of 1200+ books when he died

he started a political feud with longtime friend Henry Clay when he refused to support a national bank (like his party, the Whigs, expected him to do as President)

because of his veto of a national bank, the entire Whig cabinet, except his Secretary of State, resigned and President Tyler was voted out of the Whig party

in 1841, he sent out a secret agent to Britain to undermine the anti-slavery movement – Duff Green

there really was a Dr. Peter Parker, a medical missionary to China (one of the first U.S. missionaries to China)

signed the first treaty with China in 1844, the treaty of Wangxia

signed the first treaty with Hawaii in 1845, but had a hard time recognizing them as a nation b/c of their skin color

he strongly supported Territorial Expansion and was the first President to consider bringing the Republic of Texas into the United States

he believed America had the right and duty to bring democracy and liberty to the rest of the world, but by leading through example and not force, and was the first to state the U.S.  had the means to become a superpower

despite his desire for American expansion, he was the least well traveled President in history, he never traveled past the Mississippi River

he recommended the conversion of U.S. navy ships to steam vessels, the creation of the positions of Admiral and Vice-Admiral, and the formation of the Naval Academy

worked against the recognition of Haiti as a free country, including using the Secret Service against it

he supported the Revolution of the Dominican Republic from Haiti

he was the first President to be subjected to impeachment hearings, and the first President to have a veto overturned

used Secret Service agents on/against American citizens for propaganda purposes

his first Secretary of State and personal friend, Abel Upshur, was killed in an explosion on a warship which would have killed the President had he not been below decks in the dining room flirting with his future wife

he and his Secretary of State, Daniel Webster, settled the Webster-Ashburton treaty concerning the U.S./Canada border in Maine

his Secretary of State, Daniel Webster’s refutation of Britain’s case for self defense (when their forces sank the U.S. ship The Carolina) has been used many times as precedence including: the Nuremburg Tribunal for Nazi War Crimes, the 1976 Israeli raid of the Entebbe airport in Uganda, and the current War on Terror in Iraq

he believe in and supported the “American Multiplication Table” method of claiming territory – sending settlers to reproduce in an area and overrun it with American citizens

when he decided to annex Texas, he removed all members of his administration/cabinet who were opposed to it and replaced them with people who supported annexation

he hired Irish gang leaders to intimidate rival party members into annexing  Texas

had his son coerce postmasters to buy a lot of copies of his propaganda biography to distribute to people in their districts

he had 4 Secretaries of State: Upshur (killed), Legate (died of illness), Webster (removed from office), and Calhoun

he married Julia Gardiner when she was 24 and he was 54

she was the first First Lady to hire her own PR person, and was the one who started having “Hail to the Chief” played at public Presidential appearances

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Woodcock, pigeons, oysters, kidneys, ham, venison, champagne, and grateful pudding.

retired to an estate named Sherwood Forest in Virginia, one of the largest estates – 300 feet long, and was formerly owned by President Harrison

he considered going to California during the gold rush and encouraged his relatives to go

believed women should never be active in politics except by throwing parties

owned a river barge named the Pocahontas

he arranged a peace conference between the 12 border states, 6 slave and 6 free, to try and preserve the Union in 1861

while he was at the conference, his 19 year old grand-daughter, Letitia Tyler, raised the Stars and Bars at the dedication ceremonies of the new Confederate capitol of Montgomery, Alabama

he voted for Virginia secession

he negotiated to move the Confederate capitol to Richmond, Virginia

he died of a stroke on January 18th, 1862, 9 months after Virginia seceded

his death wasn’t even noted in the North because of the Civil War, no flags at half mast, no moment of silence, and no official government announcement – he had been labeled a traitor in the North on par with Benedict Arnold

he believed white slave masters were the beginning of a new master race

his oldest son was nearly lynched in the North and was hung in effigy in his front yard by his neighbors

several of his children died in the Confederate Army

Sherwood Forest was sacked by a regiment of Northern black soldiers and Tyler’s former slaves

Preceded in office by William Henry Harrison, followed by James K Polk

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s song “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

William Henry Harrison died early...

William Henry Harrison was the 9th President of the United States.  He served from March 4, 1841 to April 4, 1841.

Nicknames: Old Tippecanoe, Old Tip

Quote: “There is nothing more corrupting, nothing more destructive of the noblest and finest feelings of our nature, than the exercise of unlimited power.”

I have not been able to find an adult-sized biography on him, so I resorted to what I had – which was, unfortunately, Wikipedia.  If you have any I could borrow, that’d be much appreciated.  For now, some facts:

was the 2nd oldest President to be elected

came from a very political family: his father was on the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence and was governor of Virginia, his brother served in the House of Representatives for Virginia, his father-in-law was also a Representative and his stepmother-in-law was daughter of the governor of New Jersey

the last U.S. President born before the Declaration of Independence was written (therefore, was born as a British subject)

started out studying medicine but he disliked it

joined the army at age 18 because of financial troubles  and fought in the Northwest Indian War

he asked Anna Symes’s father for hand in marriage ans was refused, so they eloped when her father left on business

the had 10 children

replaced the outgoing Secretary of the Northwest Territories in 1798

and then became the first Congressional delegate from the Northwest Territories

He ran a horse breeding farm

got the Harrison Land Act passed in 1800, which made it easier to buy and settle land in the NW Territories

he served as governor of the Indiana Territory (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota)

negotiated treaties with the Native Americans to buy 240,000 square kilometers of land

he built one of the first brick houses in the Indiana Territory – his plantation and house which he named “Grouseland”

despite being anti-slavery most of his life, he tried to legalize slavery in the territories twice, once in 1805 and again in 1807

he had a head-to-head argument with Chief Tecumsah over treaties and nearly got himself and 1,000 others massacred

in spite of a sneak attack by the Native Americans, he defeated Tecumsah’s army at the Battle of Tippecanoe, which earned him the nickname “Old Tippecanoe”

despite his victory at Tippecanoe, the media’s handling of it made matters worsened ties with Great Britain and hastened the beginning of the war of 1812

he talked President Madison into removing General James Winchester from the position as Commander of the Army of the Northwest and putting him in the position

with the Army of the Northwest, he invaded Canada, defeated the British at the Battle of the Thames and killed Tecumsah

he resigned from the army when he was removed from the position of General and reassigned to a less prestigious post

after the war, the government decided he had been mistreated by the Secretary of War and awarded him a gold medal for his services to the country

served as a Senator for Ohio

he was sent as plenipotentiary to Gran Columbia and claimed to have taught Simon Bolivar about democracy

then he reported that he thought Bolivar was going to become a military dictator and was called him in June 1829 – after only six months

settled in Ohio on his farm, living off of savings, a pension, and money from his farm and the royalties from his biography

started a distillery, then felt convicted about it when it became successful.  So he closed it down and wrote a letter of apology to the Agricultural Board for his sins

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Squirrel stew, roast wild duck, apple cider, cornbread, cheese, and fresh vegetables.

ran for President unsuccessfully in 1836 as the Northern Whig Candidate, the only US Presidential election when a major political party intentionally had more than candidate running for the same position

both times he ran for President, it was against Martin Van Buren

his campaign in 1840 used the opposition’s tactics to their advantage, using symbols and slogans

he had one of the most famous campaign slogans in U.S. history – “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!”

to appear capable and heroic, when he was sworn into the office of President, he gave a 2 hour speech and rode in an inaugural parade in cold, wet weather without a coat or a hat (this didn’t cause his death like many people believe)

his political rival and fellow Whig, Henry Clay, envied him winning the office of President and the fight got so bad that Clay was banned from visiting the White House

caught a cold on March 26th and because of the added stress of his position, social calendar and people seeking positions in his cabinet, (plus the medical techniques of that time) it developed into pneumonia and then pleurisy

he died on April 4, 1841

served 31 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes as President of the United States – the shortest term in U.S. history

he was the first President to die while in office

first sitting President to have his photo taken

he laid the groundwork for many modern campaign tactics

his widow received $25,000 after his death ($500,000 in today’s money) and the right to mail anything for free

he was one of only 4 Presidents who didn’t get the chance to nominate a Supreme Court Judge

Preceded by Martin Van Buren and followed in office by John Tyler

*title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...Van Buren served one term but he wasn’t bad.

Martin Van Buren was our 8th President, and served from 1837-1831.

Nicknames: Little Magician, Red Fox of Kinderhook

Quotes: “There is a power of public opinion in this country which will not tolerate an incompetent or unworthy man to hold in his weak or wicked hands the lives and fortunes of his fellow-citizens.”

“Those who look to the action of this government for specific aid to the citizen to relieve embarrassments arising from losses by revulsions in commerce and credit, lose sight of the ends for which it was created, and the powers with which it is clothed.  It was established to give security to us all…It was not intended to confer special favors on individuals…The less government interferes with private pursuits, the better for the general prosperity.”

I read the book “Martin Van Buren” by Ted Widmer.

Some facts about the 8th President of the United States:

when people are asked to list the Presidents in order of how successful they were in office, Martin Van Buren comes in dead center nine out of ten times

he was a close friend and one time room mate of author Washington Irving

was the first President from the state of New York

he was also the first President not of Anglo Saxon blood, he was Dutch – 100%

he was one of only 2 Presidents to never attend college or join the military

Van Buren was the first person in his county to own a porcelain toilet

his idol was Aaron Burr, and some people even wondered if he was related to Burr

while he was a very talented lawyer, it was obvious through his life he was born to be a politician

was known for being able to handle his liquor, he could drink nearly anyone under the table despite his small stature

was born in a tavern…that might have something to do with it

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Boar’s head, oysters, doughnuts, figs, raisins, and apples.

he ran as both a Federalist and a Democrat at some times

at 29, he was the second youngest senator, ever, in New York

he married a distant cousin, Hannah, and she died of TB in 1819

but not before giving him four sons

Van Buren served as the Attorney General for four years

he helped rewrite the New York Constitution

also, he was a terrific flirt – especially with Jefferson’s grand-daughter

he was mortal enemies with John C. Calhoun

during an election year, he pushed a paralyzed man (Crawford) to run for President even though he knew the guy was unfit for office

Van Buren is credited as the creator of the first Democratic Party

that party was the first to have members nation-wide

was always considered an impeccably dressed man, although he wore loud prints and bright colors

he served as the governor of New York for only one month

then he began serving as Jackson’s Secretary of State

his arch-enemy, John Calhoun, is the only man to ever serve as Vice President under 2 consecutive Presidents, although he resigned from the VP of Jackson

President Jackson and Van Buren were close friends

from 1831-1832, Van Buren served as the Minister to England but was called back due to Calhoun’s scheming

people made fun of his sideburns allllllll the time

he was President Jackson’s Vice President during Jackson’s second term

by 1835, New York City was one of the biggest commercial cities in the world, second only to London

when he ran for President in 1836, he won by a landslide

was an expert at straddling the fence on important issues

he was sworn into office the same year the Queen Victoria took the throne

unfortunately, 13 days after he took office, the Financial Panic of 1837 hit (the worst recession/depression in US history until the Great Depression)

he called the first special session in US history that wasn’t concerning military matters, it was about the financial state of the US

President Van Buren formed an Independent Government Treasury

during his lifetime, there was a political group named the Locofocos, which one of his sons supported

his oldest son married Dolley Madison’s cousin

President VB sent out the first American sea exploration voyage

was called “Matty”

he was the first President to visit Chicago while in office

he had a chance meeting with Abraham Lincoln in an inn on one of his trips.  The two men hit it off immediately and both of them remembered it later as “one of the most agreeable evenings of my life.”

he ran for President a total of three times, but only won the first time

by the second and third times he ran for the office, his views had cemented and placed him firmly on the side of abolishing slavery

he was one of only 2 Americans to ever serve as the Secretary of State, the Vice President, and the President.  The other was Thomas Jefferson.

Martin Van Buren died in July of 1862

Preceded in office by Andrew Jackson, followed by William Henry Harrison

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s song “The Presidents.”

[imyerhero]

...Andrew Jackson got rid of all the Indians...

Andrew Jackson was our seventh President and served two consecutive terms from 1829-1837.

Nicknames: Old Hickory

Quote: “The people are the sovereigns, they can alter and amend.”  “I have only two regrets: that I have not shot Henry Clay or hanged John C. Calhoun.”

The book I read was “Old Hickory: A Life of Andrew Jackson” by Burke Davis.

Here’s what I learned:

suffered from a drooling problem as a child

his older brother, Hugh, was killed during the Revolution

his entire family (except his father) died as a result of the Revolution in some way, except him

he loved cockfighting and horse racing

was captured by the Redcoats in 1781, his mother negotiated he and his brother’s release

caught and almost died of smallpox while a prisoner

served as Attorney General of Tennessee

married Rachel Robards in 1791, thinking she was divorced, unfortunately she wasn’t legally divorced when they married, which haunted them the rest of their lives

remarried Rachel legally in 1794

was responsible for naming the state of Tennessee

owned his own distillery and sold whiskey for 75 cents a gallon

served on the Tennessee Superior Court for 6 years

killed a man in a duel for insulting his wife, he received a gunshot wound to the chest and the bullet stayed dangerously close to his heart for the rest of his life

fought 13 duels to defend his wife’s honor

had one officially adopted son, and one half Native American adopted son who died of tuberculosis at age 16

built a house on his property entirely out of resources from that same property (stone, brick, wood) he named it the Hermitage

seized Florida under dubious circumstances

had an in-resident painter for 17 years because his paintings were in such high demand

served as governor of Florida

his wife, Rachel, smoked cigars and was considered dowdy by city women

lost the Presidency to JQA in 1824 in what was considered one of the most dirty Presidential races in American history

the 1828 Presidential race was so cruel, and the Jackson’s questionable period of marriage from 1791 – 1794 brought up so much, Rachel went into shock and eventually died from it

Jackson made popular the word “ok” – from a Native American word “oke” which means “all is well”

Rachel suffered from asthma and died from shock and asthma attacks before Andrew could take office – she was buried on Christmas Eve

Jackson had the first outdoor inauguration

also had the first inauguration which invited the public, mobs overran the White House

wanted to liquidate the national debt – and brought it to it’s lowest since the formation of the national debt itself

the White House portico was finished during his Presidency

his Secretary of State was Martin Van Buren

almost died of dropsy while he was in office

bled himself whenever he felt ill

he started negotiations for the addition of Texas to the US

silenced the idea of nullification (individual states can nullify laws which the Federal Government sets out)

five members of his cabinet resigned over the Petticoat Affair – a social disagreement among women whether the vain, beautiful, and morally questionable Peggy Eaton should be accepted in high society

he and his first VP (John Calhoun) never got along, they were bitter rivals

his first VP resigned his office to become a Senator

he was considered to be the first backwoods President, all the others came from wealthy or longstanding American families, Jackson was first generation American from Irish immigrants

suffered from neuralgia

was the first President to have indoor plumbing at the White House

he chose the place for the National Treasury building in a fit of frustration and forever obstructed the view between the Capitol building and the White House

was the first President to ride on a train, he complained that it gave him a migraine

made the first treaty between the US and an Asiatic nation – the country of Siam

was the first President to have a valid assassination attempt, a legally insane man tried to shoot him

was given a 1,400 pound round of cheese that was used in the White House kitchen through his and most of Van Buren’s Presidencies

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Tenderloin with jezebel sauce, corn cakes, lamb chops and leg of lamb chops with rosemary, hoppin’ John, rabbits, oysters, wild duck and goose, fried ham, fried apple pie, leather britches, “Old Hickory” nut soup, Daniel Webster’s punch, and French wines.

was responsible for the Cherokee Trail of Tears, and believed Native Americans were a conquered people and should make way for whites

also respected Native American tribes, learning their customs and languages in order to negotiate with them

Arkansas and Michigan became states during his terms

died in June 1845 from heart failure, dropsy, and/or tuberculosis

Preceded in office by John Quincy Adams and followed by Martin Van Buren

*title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s song lyrics “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...John Quincy Adams looked just like his dad...

I read the book “John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life” by Paul C. Nagel.

Nicknames: Old Man Eloquent

Quote: “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

Here are some fun facts about our sixth President:

he always signed things as “JQA” so he would be distinguished from his father

was admitted to Leyden University at age 14

travelled to St. Petersburg in 1781-1783 with an aide and friend of his father’s

loved Sweden more than any other foreign country he visited

was a bit of a party boy on his trip back from Russia to Boston, often staying out with socialites until 4 am and then collapsing in bed from drunkenness

wasn’t charged tuition for attending Harvard

his favorite color was blue

he thought the concept of courtship was humiliating and hated doing it

was a member of Phi Beta Kappa

he played the flute

he desperately wanted to be famous for literary accomplishments and considered himself a poet

he suffered from clinical depression on and off throughout his entire life

he fell in love at age 22 but his mother, Abigail, broke the two up, believing the girl wasn’t good enough for John

was closer to his aunt Elizabeth than to his mother, feeling his mother was pressuring him to be great like his father

he permanently damaged his eyes when he looked at a solar eclipse without proper protection

political pen name was “Publicola”

was somewhat forced into being the American minister to Holland by his father

he translated “Oberon” into English in what is now the most widely recognized great English translation

his wife, Louisa, suffered 4 miscarriages before giving birth to their first son, George, and she suffered over 8 throughout their lifetimes

when George was born, the Prussian royalty blocked off their street to any traffic so Louisa would have peace and quiet for recovery

eventually had four children: George, John Adams II, Charles, and a daughter who died before she was one while they were in Russia

JQA helped designate and enforce the boundary line between Canada and the U.S.

was offered the position of President of Harvard, but turned it down in favor of being the first Oratory and Philosophy professor at the University

served as Minister to Russia under President Madison

helped to formulate and write the Monroe Doctrine

was President Monroe’s Secretary of State

he was very close friends with Czar Alexander I and would take almost daily walks with him

he declined a seat on the Supreme Court, knowing he couldn’t be non-partisan in his judgments

claimed to be a Christian

had six leeches put on his eyelid after a gun accident – he was showing his sons how to properly load and fire a pistol and double loaded it with powder…it exploded

was elected as President of the American Bible Society

favorite foods (via The Awl) – often satisfied with a few crackers and a glass of water for dinner, but he was fond of fruit, enjoying apricots, plums, pears, and apples from the White House orchards

his second son, John, was expelled from Harvard for rioting

he won the presidency by one vote in the House

he was the first President to face serious assassination threats and confronted his would-be assassin face-to-face and talked him out of it

nearly drowned during his Presidency while swimming in the Potomac and had to hide naked in the bushes for five hours while his servant went to get him suitable clothes for the President to walk home in, his having washed away

he and his father were 2 of the only 3 Presidents to be absent from their successor’s swearing in ceremony

one of only 2 Presidents to serve in government after his Presidential terms, he served in Congress

his eldest son, George, was assumed to have committed suicide by drowning himself

his second son, John, died from alcoholism

he fought for the right of the individual to petition government

gave eulogies for both Madison and Monroe at their memorial services

was the first President to have his photograph taken

was the only major political figure to know both the American revolutionary forefathers (Washington, Adams, Madison, Monroe) and Abraham Lincoln

was paralyzed by a stroke nearly a year before he died and made a complete recovery

died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1848

Preceded in office by James Monroe, followed by Andrew Jackson

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s song “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...James Monroe told Europe they could suck it...

He was the fifth President of the United States and served two consecutive terms from 1817-1825.

Nicknames: The Last Cocked Hat, Era-of-Good-Feeling President

Quote: “The earth was given to mankind to support the greatest number of which it is capable, and no tribe or people have a right to withhold from the wants of others more than is necessary for their own support and comfort.”

I read the book “James Monroe” by Gary Hart.

After finishing it, I now know the following about President Monroe:

was with General George Washington at Valley Forge

is in the painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware,”  he’s the guy holding the flag

nearly died from a gunshot wound at the Battle of Trenton

grew up with John Marshall – the first Chief Justice

was close friends with Washington, Jefferson, and Madison

was a governmental aide to Thomas Jefferson while Jefferson was Governor of Virginia

he married a New York socialite named Elizabeth Kortright in 1786, she was known for her beauty

served as a Senator

he hated Alexander Hamilton (who doesn’t at this point) so much, they nearly dueled on many occasions

his political pen name was “Aratus”

he proposed the Northwest Ordinance – the first organizing of a territory by the US

went to France to serve as minister in 1794

he did not take criticism well

had a house built on land adjacent to Monticello and named it Highlands

served as governor of Virginia

met and spent time with Napoleon, and Napoleon predicted the War of 1812 to Monroe

was chief negotiator for the Louisiana Purchase

worked as minister to Great Britain to stop impressment of American sailors

served as Madison’s Secretary of State and Secretary of War at the same time

was the first politician to suggest a network of spies be set up in Britain

was the first and only Secretary of State to engage in active military service (out in the battle) while still in office

was a key figure in saving many of the people when Britain burned the Capitol, slowing the opposing forces down long enough for Dolley Madison to save national treasures from the White House and flee

he organized the defeat of the Redcoats at Baltimore

was a leader in pushing for Westward expansion and protecting Native American’s rights

he wanted to set aside the entire west coast of the continent as land for the Indians

had John Calhoun serve as his Secretary of War

was plagued by the unsanctioned attacks against Spanish Florida by the out-of-control Andrew Jackson

defined “new republican” (wanting a standing army, recognizing a republican federation)

was the first President to tour the nation since President Washington

ran unopposed for election and for reelection

when the country went into a significant recession, he drastically cut the War Department’s budget

requested a military post at the mouth of the Columbia River for protection

signed the Missouri Compromise

forced the Russians out of the Oregon territories

set forth the first national statement on foreign relations – the Monroe Doctrine  (it’s not what you think it is)   It stated 1.  No more land in North or South America can be colonized by European powers.   2.  Any effort on the part of a Euro-power to colonize will be considered a hostile act by the U.S.  3.  The U.S. won’t interfere in existing colonies, but any former colonies which are now declared independent and are being harassed by Euro-powers for control will be seen as a reason for the U.S. to get upset.  4.  The U.S. will remain neutral in any ongoing wars between South American colonies and Euro-powers unless they feel their security is threatened.  5. The U.S. won’t interfere with Euro-power business if they don’t interfere with ours. 6.  The Western Hemisphere is off limits to any monarchical powers in Europe.

he refused to name a favorite to succeed his position as President

five states were born during his Presidency: Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, and Missouri

favorite foods (via The Awl) Fried chicken with rice, biscuits, tomatoes and eggs, spoon bread, chess cakes, sponge cakes, and cream jumbles.

had to sue his own government in his later years to be reimbursed for his time spent as an ambassador to Europe

lived out his final years in New York, sick with tuberculosis and destitute

died on July 4th, 1831, the third President to die on the Fourth of July

Preceded in office by James Madison and followed by John Quincy Adams

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

...In 1812, James Madison kicked the British in the Pants.

He was the fourth President of the United States and served two consecutive terms from 1809-1817.

Nicknames: Father of the Constitution, Little Jemmy

Quote: “In framing a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this:  You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.”

I read the book “James Madison: The Founding Father” by Robert Allen Rutland.

While reading this book, I learned the following fun facts about our fourth President:

He had a Virginia estate named “Montpelier’

Madison county was named after him even before he became President (as in “The Bridges of Madison County”)

He suffered from hemorrhoids and loose bowels almost constantly through his life

He initiated the Bill of Rights

Madison was close friends with Thomas Jefferson his entire life

While friends with Alexander Hamilton in his early years, he hated him later in his life

Was a friend and confidant of George Washington during Washington’s first term

He disliked hard cider

After being spurned by a woman in his younger days, Madison married a woman almost 18 years younger than himself after courting her in secret because she was a Quaker

The U.S. almost collapsed due to speculation on war debts stemming from Hamiltonian financial policy

Madison was Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson after he had sworn and entered retirement from political life; Jefferson had to coax him back

He went head-to-head with Napolean over shipping rights

He was considered an “Anglophobe” (someone who believes the British are out to get them)

He tried to take Florida by force

Louisiana and Indiana both became States during his Presidency

He allowed the Official Bank of the United States to be dissembled in 1811 and then rechartered in 1816

He fired his Secretary of State, Robert Smith, because Smith was working behind his back. Madison replaced him with James Monroe.

His first Vice President, George Clinton, died in office in 1812 and was replaced by Eldridge Gerry, who also died while serving as the Vice President

Madison sent the first Presidential request for war for the War of 1812 against Great Britain; Americans called it “Mr. Madison’s War”

He authorized and supervised the invasion of Canada

Madison was the President in office when the British invaded the U.S. and burned the White House and many other government buildings in retaliation for US forces burning York (Toronto)

Dolley Madison was credited with saving the famous portrait of George Washington from the burning White House, along with other important items

James Madison loved Madeira – and kept his house constantly stocked with quality bottles

favorite foods (via The Awl) – Chicken and okra soup, pickled eggs, corn oysters, popovers, seed cakes, gingerbread, ice cream, and Yard of Flannel.

He was the first United States President to be generally liked at the end of his final term

Unfortunately, he believed that blacks and whites could not flourish together

Madison supported a freed slave resettlement concept – he wanted freed slaves shipped to the Western coast of Africa

In his retirement, he served as President of the Albemarle Agricultural Society

He was on the first Board of Trustees for the University of Virginia and also served as its rector until 1834

He tried to start a public education system in Kentucky

He was entrusted with the settlement of Thomas Jefferson’s will and the internment of his remains

He was the final survivor of the Convention of 1776

He died in 1836

Preceded by Thomas Jefferson and followed by James Monroe

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s song, “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

Jefferson Made the Louisiana Purchase

He was the second Vice-President of the United States and third President. He served two consecutive terms from 1801-1809.

Nicknames:  Red Fox

Quote: “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.”

I read the book “Thomas Jefferson” by R.B. Bernstein (after starting four other books and not being able to stay awake while reading them).

Before I read this book, I was unaware that:

he was the first Secretary of State

he kept meticulous records of spending but was in debt for nearly all his life

married only once and was an early widower

did not really believe in God

had a horrible relationship with his mother

idolized his father, who died in his forties despite being an impressively strong man

he founded the University of Virginia and specified it could not be a religious university

was a violin virtuoso

was Governor of Virginia during part of the Revolution

was very good friends with his successor in the role of President – James Madison

his Vice President was the first to be charged with treason – Aaron Burr

the first President to not deliver the State of the Union address in person

helped found the Library of Congress

wrote the book of protocol for use in the Senate

sponsored the Lewis and Clark expedition – partly in response to Europe’s claim that America didn’t have as varied wildlife and plant life

favorite foods (via The Awl) Waffles, macaroni, parmesan, figs, ragout, soufflés, and anchovies (all of which he had developed a taste for during his travels in Europe), pineapple, turnip greens, Virginia ham, crab, shad, oysters, partridge, venison, and Madeira wine.

Preceded by John Adams and followed by James Madison

Post title taken from Jonathan Coulton’s “The Presidents”

[imyerhero]

John Adams kept us out of war with France

He was our first Vice-President and second President. He served as Commander in Chief from 1797-1801.

Nicknames: Duke of Braintree, His Rotundity

Quote: “There are two types of education…One should teach us how to make a living, And the other how to live.”

The biography I read was “John Adams” by David McCullough. Yes, the same one the HBO miniseries was based on…but I started reading it before the miniseries was out. So there.

Things I didn’t know before I read this book:

Harvard University is older than the United States

John Adams went to Harvard

He was a lawyer before he was involved in politics

He represented the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, practically for free

In their first 14 years of their marriage, he and Abigail were only living together for 7 of those years, the rest of the time he was working for the good of the country apart from her

His son was expelled from Harvard for streaking

He was the first ambassador to be recognized from the United States of America as a separate country (by Holland)

He served as ambassador to France, Holland, and Britain

He and Benjamin Franklin did not get along at all

His best friends, other than Abigail, were Dr. Benjamin Rush and Thomas Jefferson

He was the first President to live in the White House

He was vehemently opposed to slavery

He lived during the Yellow Fever Epidemic

He was never wealthy; Abigail even hung laundry up to dry in the rooms of the White House after doing it herself

Was one of the only US politicians to recognize how bloody the French Revolution would be

Was the founder of the U.S. Navy

Provided funds for the famous light house at Cape Hatteras

Broke from his Federalist party ideals in order to make peace with France

His daughter, Nabby, died from breast cancer

He wrote the Massachusetts constitution

The day the US declared itself a free country was actually July 2nd, not July 4th

He was known as a very talkative person

He barely won the election for the Presidency

Signed the Sedition Act (anyone criticizing the President can be imprisoned) and later said it was one of the worst things he did while in office

favorite foods (via The Awl) baked salmon, oyster rolls, codfish cakes, Baptist cakes, cream of corn soup, green turtle soup, scootin-long-the-shore, Plymouth succotash, Indian pudding, beggar’s pudding, flummery, syllabubs, gooseberry fool, and copious amounts of cider.

Died only hours after Thomas Jefferson on the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1826)

Preceded by George Washington, followed by Thomas Jefferson

Post title taken from “The Presidents” by Jonathan Coulter

[imyerhero]

Washington came first, and he was perfect...

He was our first President, served two consecutive terms from 1789-1797, and ran completely unopposed.

Nicknames: Old Man, Father of the Country

Quote:  “Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world.”  – to his mother

The biography I read was “George Washington” by James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn.

Things I didn’t know about President Washington before reading this book:

he liked clothes and fashion a lot

the most important thing to him was character, and how people perceived him

he pushed for an almost monarchial executive office but was overruled by the constitutional convention

he was nearly impeached

he was very prejudiced towards first the British, then the French

he was paranoid of the Illuminati spreading dissension in the US during his second term

he never wanted to serve a second term

he had lost all of his teeth by the time he was President

John Adams was his VP – and the Vice President was voted in separately from the President

he was not a Christian, instead he was a deist, if anything

he wanted the US to become an agrarian country, but was thwarted by Hamiltonian politics

his best friends were Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom he felt betrayed by towards the end of his second term

he is the only President to have actually led troops into war while in office, during the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 (against American citizens)

only married because he thought it was the right thing to do, he never had any children

died of pneumonia

had red hair and did not wear a wig but instead powdered his hair

supported a policy of independent isolation when it came to foreign affairs, i.e. we only form temporary treaties when it suits our best interest (sound familiar?)

was opposed to slavery but kept mum about it publicly b/c he knew it’d tear the union apart

supported the Sedition Act and did a complete 180 on allowing immigration (from supporting it to being suspicious about immigrants spreading dissension and undermining the new government)

hated the thought of a political party system, realizing that even if they were inevitable, they would eventually serve no purpose but to slow down the political system with petty individualistic battles

greatest dream was to found an enormous American university that taught about politics, farming, and freedom…still hasn’t happened

favorite foods (via The Awl) Madeira wine, hazelnuts, sliced tongue and toast for breakfast, hoe cakes, rice waffles, macaroons, gingerbread, cream trifle, lettuce tart, mutton, assorted wild game, and beer.

Post Title taken from “The Presidents” by Jonathan Coulter