If serving as President of the United States doesn’t earn a person an unforgettable place in history, what does? Ask Alexander Hamilton and Millard Fillmore, two notable examples of American statesmen who defy the conventional wisdom of what it takes to be remembered.
A recent study published in the journal Psychological Science showed that 71 percent of those questioned identified Alexander Hamilton as one of the men who served as President of the United States. While that may be flattering to Hamilton, it is also untrue. Hamilton served as the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury, but he died before ever getting the chance to take the top job.
Remarkably, Hamilton’s recognition rate as a President — even though he wasn’t one — was higher than the recognition rate for several men who actually held the office. Among those who legitimately served as Chief Executive, but who failed to gain as much recognition as Hamilton, were Presidents Chester Arthur, Franklin Pierce, Millard Fillmore, Benjamin Harrison, John Tyler, Warren Harding, Zachary Taylor, Rutherford Hayes, and Martin Van Buren.
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The true story of the Manhattan Well Murder—America’s first recorded murder trial—featuring Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and a verdict that shocked early New York.
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The Electoral College, a complex system for electing U.S. presidents, reflects the Founding Fathers’ distrust of direct democracy. It enables electors to cast votes that may not align with the popular vote, resulting in instances of faithless electors. Historical quirks illustrate the system’s unpredictability, highlighting its unique role in American politics.
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The vice presidency in the U.S. has a peculiar history, often deemed insignificant. Before the 25th Amendment in 1967, the office had few defined duties. Presidents like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson faced challenges with their vice presidents, and the office struggled to gain relevance until the Cold War prompted the 25th Amendment’s ratification in…
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