If there was ever a man who was unchanged by the power of the Presidency, it was Gerald Ford. Thrust unexpectedly into the Oval Office upon the resignation of Richard Nixon, Ford […]
Being President Doesn’t Make You Master of the House
Happy Birthday to the Chief
UPDATED August 29, 2022 Birthdays are always a time of celebration, whether you live in a small shack or the White House. How much do you know about Presidential birthdays? February may […]
When Someone Tells You, “You Can’t Do That”
If anyone knew what it meant to overcome adversity and achieve greatness despite obstacles, it was the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. When he was paralyzed by polio […]
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
President Andrew Jackson’s relationship with Congress was not always cordial. In fact, it was often outright combative, and he disliked being reminded of that every time he glanced in the direction of […]
So Much for the Era of Good Feelings
The eight years of the administration of President James Monroe (1817-1825) are known as “The Era of Good Feelings.” Not everyone got the memo, however. Hard feelings existed between President Monroe and […]
When POTUS Cleans Up After His Pooch
President Gerald Ford was known for being just a regular guy, unchanged by the power of the Presidency. This was never better demonstrated than on the occasion when his Golden Retriever, Liberty, […]
A Dozen Facts about the 20th President
While President James Garfield tends to be little more than a footnote in the history of the US presidency because of the short time that he served, he was a truly remarkable […]
Accepting Responsibility
At a White House press conference ABC reporter Sam Donaldson directed a question to President Ronald Reagan: “Mr. President, in talking about the continuing recession tonight, you have blamed Congress and mistakes […]
Is There a Third Option?
Illinois Representative William McKendree Springer quoted Henry Clay during a debate in the US House of Representatives, saying, “As for me, I would rather be right than be president.” Speaker Thomas Reed […]
Comedian-in-Chief
Not a lot of people were laughing on September 22, 1862. The Civil War was about a year and a half old, and it was proving to be much more trying than […]
Pity Poor Pierce
Frequently relegated to the footnotes of history, President Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) tends to be remembered, if at all, for ranking among the worst of the nation’s chief executives. There is certainly reason […]
Be Careful What You Wish For
In 1887 James Roosevelt was in Washington, DC and arranged to take his 5 year-old son, Franklin, to the White House to meet President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland must have been having a […]
Do You Think Maybe He Didn’t Care for Them?
PJ O’Rourke P.J. O’Rourke is not known for holding back when he has a strong opinion. This is how he described those who made up the administration of President Bill Clinton: “Those […]
Not the Hometown Favorite
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States more often than any other person. Despite being elected four times, he failed to carry his home county, Dutchess County, New York, […]
Anticipating Presidential Protection
One of the last official acts of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) before leaving for Ford’s Theater where he would be fatally shot was to sign legislation that created the United States Secret […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 