The First Ten Presidents

Facts and trivia about... well, you know...

Presentation to the Rochester Numismatic Association George Irwin February 18, 2010
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Convergence...

...or, leverage what youve already looked up!

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George Washington (1789-1797)

Surveyed the Shenandoah Valley Military service in the French and Indian War, reached rank of Lieutenant Colonel Wanted a planters life after the Revolution Only president elected unanimously Namesake for Washington DC, Washington State, seventeen counties and thirty-one cities Home at Mount Vernon Has been in trust since 1853 to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association Is most visited estate in America Uses zero tax dollars Second term inaugural address was shortest in history: 135 words

2010 George J. Irwin / All Rights Reserved

John Adams (1797-1801)

Pointed toward the church as a child, became a lawyer Defended the soldiers in the Boston Massacre case Initial thought on independence: loyalty to the King, not the taxing Parliament Was ambassador to Great Britain in 1785 meeting George III (!) Second place in first Presidential race made him VP the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived Won bitter election of 1796 over Thomas Jefferson by three electoral votes Rift with Jefferson healed in 1812 Before Billary, there was Johnigail Me: Think John Adams, see William Daniels (in 1776)

2010 George J. Irwin / All Rights Reserved

Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

What didnt Jefferson do? But tombstone lists only: Author of the Declaration of American Independence Statute of Virginia for religious freedom Father of the University of Virginia Did Jefferson borrow from himself for Declaration (A Summary View of the Rights of British America)? Recommended decimal-based coin and currency system Other recommendations (religious freedom, free education, public libraries) annoyed the upper class Election of 1800: tie with Burr broken by the House of Representatives

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James Madison (1809-1817)

Was 15 years old in 1776 but a delegate to Virginia Convention In 1778, appointed to Virginia Council of State At 29, youngest member of the Continental Congress Overcame fear of another monarchy to help establish Constitutional Convention and Constitution and introduced Bill of Rights Washington & Adams vs. Jefferson & Madison on policy = DemocraticRepublican Party (now the Democratic Party) Close friend Jefferson appointed him Secretary of State Some call him the most influential of the Founding Fathers

2010 George J. Irwin / All Rights Reserved

James Monroe (1817-1825)

Served in Revolution at age of 16 Met his wife in New York City (me too!) Voted against the Constitution wanted Bill of Rights and directly elected Senators and President But appointed a Senator anyway in 1790 Helped negotiate Louisiana Purchase as part of extensive foreign service Nominated to run against Madison, but became his Secretary of State instead Two key events as President: Monroe Doctrine and Missouri Compromise Called the last of the Virginia Dynasty But left the Presidency a nearly bankrupt man (no book deals then!) Died exactly five years after Adams and Jefferson, on July 4, 1831

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John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)

Second of five children of John and Abigail Adams Many foreign assignments; met wife overseas, who became only foreign-born First Lady Helped fracture Federalist party by switching to Democratic-Republicans Became Secretary of State under James Monroe Five-way Presidential race of 1824 Andrew Jackson, J.Q. Adams and William Crawford 4th Place: Henry Clay Clay supported Adams, Adams made Clay Secretary of State Jackson: A corrupt bargain One term president, but then elected to House and served until his death in 1848 Met the Founding Fathers and Lincoln!

2010 George J. Irwin / All Rights Reserved

Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

Born in 1767 in one of the Carolinas Last President to have served in the Revolution Very little formal schooling, but became a lawyer in Nashville Smashing victory in Battle of New Orleans (War of 1812, sort of) made him second in popularity to Washington Following The Corrupt Bargain he campaigned for four years for the Presidency Elected as populist but also called King Andrew I Killed Second Bank of the U.S. Led to split of Democratic-Republican Party into Democrats (for Jackson) and Whigs (against him), cementing twoparty system

2010 George J. Irwin / All Rights Reserved

Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)

Tricky trivia: First President born in the United States... ...in the State of New York Old Kinderhook or O.K. referred to Van Buren, thus the term OK A relatively wealthy lawyer who could play in the Bucktail system But got stuck with the Panic of 1837, somewhat brought on by Jacksons ending of the Second Bank of the U.S. Martin Van Ruin: the Golden Spoon Oration of Whig Charles Ogle Attempted to regain the Presidency in 1844 and 1848 Said that his two happiest days were entrance into the office of President and surrender of the office

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William Henry Harrison (1841)

Yes, gave a two hour inaugural address and died of pneumonia 32 days later... ...but was already 68 at the time (which wouldnt happen again until Ronald Reagan) Started in medicine, moved to the military Tippecanoe (and Tyler too) from his battle against Tecumseh there... ...but didnt defeat Tecumseh until the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812 Finished second to Van Buren in 1836 Finished first in 1840 thanks to modern campaigning songs, slogans and advertising

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John Tyler (1841-1845)

First President to assume office after death of predecessor Thereby dubbed His Accidency Believed in strict interpretation of the Constitution unlike Andrew Jackson Upon becoming President, acted like one (not a caretaker) Strongly believed in States Rights which got him thrown out of his own party First to have a veto overridden by Congress Became a member of the Congress... of the Confederacy!

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And then came...

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Online resources for the next 34* presidents...

Grover Cleveland
(officially, the 22nd and 24th President)

Miller Center at the University of Virginia: millercenter.org Scholarly long-form unbiased essays that take the long view White House Site: www.whitehouse.gov Thumbnail sketches, quick facts Individual presidential libraries and historical sites: often have significant quantities of information Wikipedia (yes, really... as a starting point)

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2010 George J. Irwin / All Rights Reserved