President’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s time to learn something new about our presidents.
The Beginning
Congress added George Washington’s birthday (February 22) to the calendar of federal holidays for Washington D.C. in 1879. Then, in 1885, his birthday became a federal holiday for all federal employees, regardless of location. (Of course, Americans had been celebrating Washington’s birthday long before this.)
Since 1971, President’s Day, a holiday celebrating all American presidents, has been observed on the third Monday in February. Ironically, this date can never fall later than February 21. So, by requiring the holiday to be observed on that day, it can never be celebrated on George Washington’s actual birthday.
Did You Know…
- According to the Julian calendar Britain and her colonies used, George Washington’s birthday was February 11, 1731. However, in 1752, when they changed to the Gregorian calendar, his birthday moved to February 22, 1732.
- The President’s Day holiday is still technically Washington’s Birthday, the name having never been changed in the U.S. Code by Congress or the President.
Births and Burials
The State of Virginia has played a large role when it comes to presidents’ births and burials. Eight presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Zachary Taylor) were born there, and seven presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Tyler, William Howard Taft, and John F. Kennedy) are buried there.
Being the president can be a dangerous job. Four presidents (Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy) were assassinated. Six other presidents (Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt—after term, Franklin Roosevelt—president-elect, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford—twice in one year, and Ronald Reagan) survived assassination attempts. Overall, eight presidents (William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the four listed above as assassinated) have died in office.
Did You Know…
- There have been more presidents born in log cabins (7) than in hospitals (6). (Jimmy Carter was the first president born in a hospital.)
- Born in 1782, Martin Van Buren became the first U.S.-born citizen elected president (1837-1841).
- Herbert Hoover was the first president (1929-1933) born west of the Mississippi River.
- Three presidents died on July 4—John Addams (1826), Thomas Jefferson (1826), and James Monroe (1831). One president, Calvin Coolidge, was born on July 4 (1872).
- President William Henry Harrison served only 32 days—the shortest presidential term in U.S. history. (But he gave the longest Inaugural Address of 8,445 words.)
Technology
As the years passed, the technology used by presidents evolved. In 1877, the White House got its first telephone. The line was installed in the telegraph room. President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) embraced this new technology but seldom received calls. (The Treasury Department had the only other direct phone line to the White House.) More than fifty years would go by before a president (Herbert Hoover, 1929-1933) would get a telephone line installed in the Oval Office.
Another technological advancement drove into the presidency with President Taft (1909-1913). He believed the future lay with motorized vehicles, so he finagled a car budget out of Congress. With it, he purchased three vehicles from the White Company, hired a chauffeur, and converted the White House stables into a garage.
According to a 1909 Washington Post article, Taft’s “daredevil” chauffeur was known for his “fast work at the wheel.” Probably because he knew the president loved speeding along in his White steamer (pre-gasoline steam-powered) touring car, with the wind in his hair.
Did You Know…
- The White House’s first telephone number was 1.
- The White Company, a fledgling automobile business, had the prestige of being the first company to supply vehicles to the presidential limousine fleet.
- President Taft’s chauffeur ignored speed limits and stop signs when driving the president. He flew through intersections with only a toot of the horn as he approached.
- The White House installed electricity in 1891. But President Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) and his wife refused to touch the light switches because they feared being electrocuted.
- During N.Y. World’s Fair opening ceremonies in 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president to appear on TV.
One More Thing…
The Library of Congress has provided a chronological list of United States Presidents, first ladies, and VPs. (Click here to see the list.)
Happy President’s Day!