Presidential Tidbits

Here are a few little-known facts about US Presidents to get you through to the inauguration.

Millard Fillmore signed his name with little hearts over the two I’s

Thomas Jefferson invented the aglet

John Tyler had no vice president but carried a ventriloquist’s dummy to fill the position after someone finally noticed.

Wm Henry Harrison’s campaign slogan, “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too,” when played backwards says, “The Walrus is Buchanan.”

Thomas Jefferson’s second VP was George Clinton. Clinton would later go on to lead P-Funk to 6 Number One R&B hits.

John Quincy Adams was the first President to use the, “Pull my finger,” gag on the French ambassador. “Tirez mon doigt,” became the formal form of address in France for 28 years following that.

For four year, from 1845 to 1849, James Knox Polk was President of the United States. No one ever told Polk and he didn’t spend a single day in Washington.

Zachary Taylor was nicknamed “Old Rough and Ready” after his service in Florida. The nickname referred to the sheets at the motel he owned in Boca.

After Lincoln, US “Hiram” Grant became the second Republican President, showing the party’s early penchant for picking candidates for their celebrity.

James Garfield’s last words were, “Well, nuts.”

Between his two non-consecutive terms Grover Cleveland was a knuckleballer for the Chicago Cubs. In four years he had a 21-12 record with 48 saves and twenty eight hit batsmen.

William Howard Taft once ate at a single sitting twelve oysters, a side of smoked salmon, a tureen of turtle soup, a brace of quail, a Porterhouse steak, a quart of ice cream, half a quince pie and his Secretary of the Interior.

Warren G Harding may have been the first to be elected because he “Looked like a President,” when compared to his opponent. In truth voters gave him a landslide because he, “Smelled all Presidenty,” according to the exit polling.

Harry Truman had the hiccups throughout the entire Korean War. A complicit Press Corps hid the fact from the public for fear of demoralizing the nation.