1. George Washington
1789-1797
1. Home State: Virginia
2. “Father of the American Mule” - successfully bred a
donkey and
horse.
3. Sent the first air-mail letter (to Jean-Pierre Blanchard of
France), it was carried by hot-air-balloon from Philly to New
Jersey.
4. He was elected unanimously (without any dissenting
votes).
5. DID YOU KNOW: Many stories about Washington were
fiction: He never chopped down a cherry tree (Parson
Weems invented the story about young Washington
chopping down a cherry tree to illustrate his honesty) and
no wooden teeth (made of ivory, lead, human, sheep, and
cows)
2. John Adams
1797-1801
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1. Home State: Massachusetts
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2. He was a teacher before becoming a lawyer.
•
3. Everyone in his family refused to attend his
inauguration.
•
4. He defended Preston and the British soldiers in
the Boston Massacre.
•
5. DID YOU KNOW: He was the first President to
live in the White House. (He used to be the only Chief
Executive whose son also served as President - no
longer true with election of G.W. Bush)
3. Thomas Jefferson
• 1801-1809
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1. Home State: Virginia
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2. Nicknamed - “Red Fox” and “Father of the American
Dollar”
(devised the decimal system for money).
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3. His VP Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a
duel.
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4. Wrote the Declaration of Independence
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5. He was an architect, (Monticello, Virginia capital,
University of Virginia), musician, (violin) and inventor
(folding chair and dumb waiter).
•
6. DID YOU KNOW: He had so many books, they used
his collection to begin the Library of Congress.
4. James Madison
1809-1817
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1. Home state: Virginia
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2. President during the War of 1812
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3. “Father of the American Constitution”
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4. In 1814 he had to flee the White House
because it was burned by the British.
•
5. DID YOU KNOW: Shortest President – 5
feet 4 inches tall.
5. James Monroe
• 1817-1825
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1. Home State: Virginia
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2. Ran unopposed and got all electoral votes, but
one.
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3. During War of 1812 he was both the Secretary
of War and the Secretary of State (under Madison).
•
4. He wrote the Monroe Doctrine (it warned
European countries not to take over or settle on any
land in North or South America) - Keystone of
American Foreign Policy today.
•
5. DID YOU KNOW: His wife died of severe burns
when she fainted into their fireplace.
6. John Quincy Adams
1825-1829
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1. Home State: Massachusetts
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2. Son of Second President - John Adams.
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3. Installed the first pool table in the White
House.
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4. Negotiated the Treaty of Ghent to end the
War of 1812.
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5. DID YOU KNOW: He used to skinny dip in
the Potomac River every morning on his way to
work at the White House - 5:00am.
7. JACKSON, ANDREW
1829-1837
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1. Home State: Tennessee
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2. Many firsts: First to be victim of assassination attempt, first
president to take a train ride, first President born in a log cabin, first
President to pay off all national government debt.
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3. Gambler, quick tempered, tough, dueled often - “Old
Hickory”
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4. Enacted the “Indian Removal Act” that sent Eastern Native
Americans on “Trail of Tears” to Oklahoma.
•
5. DID YOU KNOW: Fought in the Revolutionary War at age 13
and was a prisoner of war (captured, refused to shine a British
soldier’s boot, was then struck with a sword scarring his face).
8. Martin Van Buren
1837-1841
• 1. Home State: New York
• 2. Nickname was Old Kinderhook (town in New York
where he was born) - signed official papers O.K. (this is
most likely the origin of today’s “okay”)
• 3. Because he was President during the 1837
Depression, he was often referred to as Van RUIN.
• 4. First President to be born as an official U.S. citizen.
• 5. DID YOU KNOW: First began working as a lawyer at
age 14.
9. William Henry Harrison
1841
1. Home State: Ohio
2. Only served one month in office - caught a cold at his
inauguration and died of pneumonia one month later.
3. His wife never saw the inside of the White House.
4. He ran under the slogan “Tippicanoe and Tyler too!”
5. First President elected from the new “Whig” party.
6. DID YOU KNOW: The only President whose grandson
also became president.
10. TYLER, JOHN
1841-1845
1. Home State: Virginia
2. Educated at William and Mary College
3. He had 15 children.
4. Texas and Florida were admitted to the union under
Tyler.
5. He split with Whig party because he vetoed every
major bill they sent him (very little accomplished/Whigs
tried to impeach him).
6. DID YOU KNOW: He was the first president to get
married while in office - his second marriage.
11. POLK, JAMES
1845-1849
1. Home State: Tennessee
2. A former slave owner with little concern for social
problems.
3. He started the tradition of playing “Hail to the Chief”
whenever the President arrives at official meetings or
functions.
4. His wife served as his official secretary – they had no
children.
5. DID YOU KNOW: Because of his wife’s strong religious
beliefs - there was no drinking, dancing, or card-playing at
White House functions.
12. TAYLOR, ZACHARY
1849-1850
1. Home State: Louisiana
2. He was a career military man - been in military for 40
years before becoming President. (Never held a political
office)
3. He became a national hero after the Mexican War.
4. He created the Department of Interior (Roads, bridges,
etc.)
5. DID YOU KNOW: He died in office after only a year
when he developed a stomach ailment (cholera from
food bacteria - after dining on pickled cucumbers,
cherries and buttermilk.)
13. FILLMORE, MILLARD
1850-1853
1. Home State: New York
2. His first profession was a tailor.
3. He was the last President from the Whig party.
4. Passed the Compromise of 1850 (delayed Civil
War for about ten more years)
5. DID YOU KNOW: We don’t know much about
him - his son burned most information about him
after his death.
14. PIERCE, FRANKLIN 1853-1857
1. Home State: New Hampshire
2. Lawyer and politician
3. Went to college with the famous author Nathaniel
Hawthorne - (author of SCARLET LETTER & HOUSE OF
SEVEN GABLES).
4. He became unpopular because his stance on slavery
kept changing.
5. White House got hot and cold running water during his
term.
6. DID YOU KNOW: His wife was called “The Shadow in
the White House” - she stayed in her room for 2 years
mourning the death of her son hit by a train (this was the
third child to die).
15. BUCHANAN, JAMES 1857-1861
1. Home State: Pennsylvania
2. Not a successful President – (bought slaves
just to free them, but followed the ruling in
Dred Scott - slaves are property not people)
3. 7 of 15 states left the union while he was
President (he did nothing - didn’t want to be
President who started Civil War).
4. DID YOU KNOW: He was the only
unmarried Pres. (used niece)
16. LINCOLN, ABRAHAM 1861-1865
1. Home State: Illinois (KY)
2. Nicknamed “Honest Abe”, because of his integrity.
3. Shot during his second term by John Wilkes Booth at
Ford’s Theater while watching Our American Cousin.
4. He was the first Republican President.
5. Wrote all his own speeches including the Gettysburg
Address.
6. DID YOU KNOW: First President to be photographed at
inauguration and John Wilkes Booth is in the photograph.
•
http://www.nps.gov/foth/index.htm
17. JOHNSON, ANDREW 1865-1869
1. Home State: Tennessee (N.C.)
2. He was the only southern Senator who did not
resign and secede with his state, so Lincoln made
him Vice President.
3. President during the Reconstruction after the
Civil War.
4. First President to have an impeachment trial
(acquitted by 1 vote - he vetoed bills and fired Sec.
of State Stanton)
5. DID YOU KNOW: During his term, we bought
Alaska for $7.2 million. (People had 3 yrs. to
decide if they would stay or go)
18. GRANT, ULYSSES S. 1869-1877
1. Home State: Illinois (Ohio)
2. Educated at West Point.
3. Civil War hero known for smoking cigars during
battle (smoked 20 cigars a day)
4. The S stands for Simpson - his mother’s maiden
name (His real name - Hiram Ulysses Grant - but he
changed it because he didn’t like his initials.)
5. DID YOU KNOW: He got several slaves as a
wedding gift, but set them free.
19. HAYES, RUTHERFORD
1877-1881
1. Home State: Ohio – (home in Fremont is open to public for
touring)
2. Traveled around country in disguise to talk to people about
politics.
3. His wife was the first FIRST LADY to have a college degree.
4. His motto - “He serves his party best who serves his
country best.” - based appointments on merit rather than
favoritism/influence.
5. First President to use a telephone.
6. DID YOU KNOW: He wrote his speeches and did his work in
the bathroom. (it was the only place to get peace from
kids/guests)
20. GARFIELD, JAMES 1881
1. Home State: Ohio (home in
Mentor is open to the public)
2. Major General in the Civil War.
3. Assassinated by Charles Guiteau
only four months into his term.
4. First left-handed President.
5. His presidential staff was the first
to use typewriters.
6. DID YOU KNOW: At the age of 26
he became President of Hiram
College.
21. ARTHUR, CHESTER A. 1881-1885
1. Home State: New York
2. He became President when Garfield died – best known
for modernizing the American Navy (with 4 new steel
warships).
3. His wife died just before becoming President (used his
sister)
4. He was the first man to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
(1883).
5. DID YOU KNOW: He refused to move into the White
House until it was redecorated and a bathtub was installed.
22. CLEVELAND, GROVER 1885-1889
1. Home State: New York
2. Only President to serve non-consecutive terms.
3. Only President to get married inside the White
House.
4. His wife was the youngest first lady - 21 years old
(daughter of a deceased friend and he was 49).
5. DID YOU KNOW: Candy Bar “Baby Ruth” was
named after Cleveland’s daughter.
23. HARRISON, BENJAMIN 1889-1893
1. Home State: Indiana
2. His grandfather was William Henry
Harrison – 9th President.
3. More new states were admitted into the
union during his term than any other - 6 (ND,
SD, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming brought total to 44)
4. His nickname was “Little Ben” - he was
only 5’6” tall
5. DID YOU KNOW: Electric Lights were first
installed in the White House during his term,
but they were seldom used for fear of being
shocked.
24. CLEVELAND, GROVER 1893-1897
1. Home State: New York
2. Only President to serve non-consecutive
terms.
3. He was the first Democratic President
elected after the Civil War.
4. He paid a Polish immigrant $150 to fight in
his place in the Civil War (was legal – made him
the first President since the Civil War who had
not fought in that conflict).
5. DID YOU KNOW: During this term as
President, he got mouth cancer - he kept his
illness a secret, had surgery aboard a yacht - it
changed his appearance only slightly. Public
didn’t know until 24 years later.
25. McKINLEY, WILLIAM
1897-1901
1. Home State: Ohio (McKinley Birthplace Memorial
and Museum open to public in Niles, Ohio)
2. His wife was an invalid, and he never left her side, so
he became famous for his “Front Porch” campaign for
Presidency.
3. Nicknamed the “Idol of Ohio”
4. He was the third Chief Executive to be assassinated,
six months into his second term, by Leon Czolgosz.
5. DID YOU KNOW: He was the first man in his home
town to volunteer for the Civil War, and the last Civil War
Veteran to become President.
26. ROOSEVELT, THEODORE
1901-1909
1. Home State: New York
2. His motto on foreign policy was: “Speak softly and
carry a big stick”.
3. Led the Rough Riders cavalry through the SpanishAmerican War.
4. First President to fly in a plane - 4 minutes long built by Wright Brothers.
5. First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize
(negotiating peace between Russia and Japan).
6. DID YOU KNOW: There was an attempted
assassination on his life, and it didn’t stop him from
delivering a campaign speech. (He later went to the
hospital - the bullet was never removed - a metal
eyeglass case and a speech in his pocket kept the
bullet from reaching his heart).
27. TAFT, WILLIAM 1909-1913
1. Home State: Ohio (Home in Cincinnati is open
for touring)
2. He weighed over 330 pounds as the President.
3. Childhood nickname “Big Lub”. (Did get stuck
in the bath tub)
4. Taft was the first President to open the major
league season by throwing out the “honorary first
pitch”.
5. His wife is responsible for the famous Cherry
Trees planted on the White House lawn.
6. DID YOU KNOW: He considered his
appointment as Chief Justice to the U.S. Supreme
Court a greater honor than when he was
President of the U.S.
1. Home State: New Jersey
2. He was the first President to cross Atlantic
Ocean to attend the Paris Peace Conference.
3. He had a major stroke in 1919, became
paralyzed, and his 2nd wife helped him to
continue serving as President.
4. He set up the Federal Reserve System
(controls nation’s money).
5. First President to have a Ph.D.
6. DID YOU KNOW: During WWI, to conserve
on gas and manpower, a flock of sheep was
brought to the White House to keep the grass
“mowed” short naturally.
29. HARDING, WARREN G.
1921-1923
1. Home State: Ohio
2. First President elected when women could
vote.
3. Campaign slogan: “Return to Normalcy”
(after WWI).
4. First time election returns were broadcast
on the radio.
5. DID YOU KNOW: He died suddenly
(pneumonia or a heart attack) in 1923 after a
trip to Alaska just when rumors of corruption
surfaced (Teapot Dome scandal, Secretary of
Interior, Albert Fall, rented our oil reserves to
businesses and kept profits).
30. COOLIDGE, CALVIN 1923-1929
1. Home State: Massachusetts
2. Nicknamed “Silent Cal” because he
rarely spoke.
3. Charles Lindbergh had first solo flight
across Atlantic during his Presidency.
4. Chief Justice Taft gave him the oath of
office when he was elected. - First time a
former President had done that.
5. Born on the fourth of July.
6. DID YOU KNOW: When Harding died,
Coolidge took the oath of office from his
own dad (notary public/justice of the
peace).
31. HOOVER, HERBERT 1929-1933
1. Home State: California
2. First President elected from west of
the Mississippi.
3. President during Great Depression
(never accepted his Presidential salary).
4. One of only four Presidents to live to
90. (Reagan/Ford/Adams)
5. DID YOU KNOW: Star Spangled
Banner became our official National
Anthem during his term.
32. ROOSEVELT, FRANKLIN D.
(5th cousin of Teddy) 1933-1945
1. Home State: New York
2. He was the first President to appoint a
woman to his cabinet.
3. Served for more than 12 years (4 terms).
4. He gave radio broadcasts called “Fireside
Chats” to inform public.
5. First President to appear on television.
6. Declared war on Japan after Pearl Harbor.
7. DID YOU KNOW: He contracted polio (later
he was able to take steps with the aid of leg
braces and crutches. He was not
photographed unless seated or standing still).
33. TRUMAN, HARRY S.
1945-1953
1. Home State: Missouri
2. Became President when Roosevelt died.
3. He never went to college.
4. He gave order to have Atomic Bomb dropped on Japan
to end WWII.
5. Signed legislation that ended segregation in the Armed
Forces.
6. DID YOU KNOW: He had no middle name. The S. was
to please his grandparents, named Solomon Young and
Anderson Shippe.
34. EISENHOWER, DWIGHT D.
1. Home State: New York
2. Campaign Slogan – “I Like Ike”
3. Commander of Allied European
Forces in WWII (Led D-Day invasion
of France - June 6, 1944)
4. First President over all 50 states.
5. Sent Federal troops to Little Rock,
Arkansas, to integrate schools.
6. DID YOU KNOW: First President to
be on color TV.
1953-1961
35. KENNEDY, JOHN F. 1961-1963
1. Home State: Massachusetts
2. First Catholic to become President.
3. Youngest man ever elected President.
4. Started the Peace Corps
5. Wrote book - PROFILES IN COURAGE about brave
deeds performed by Senators - won a Pulitzer Prize for it.
6. DID YOU KNOW: He was assassinated in Dallas on Nov.
22, 1963.
36. JOHNSON, LYNDON B
1963-1969
1. Home State: Texas
2. Became President when Kennedy
was killed/took oath of office on Air
Force One (the Presidential plane).
3. President during most of the
Vietnam War.
4. Created the Food Stamp System.
5. DID YOU KNOW: First space walk
took place during his term.
37. NIXON, RICHARD 1969-1974
1. Home State: New York
2. Originally ran against Kennedy and
lost - very close race.
3. First President that 18 year olds
could vote for.
4. First President to visit China while
in office (1972 - “Journey of Peace”).
5. DID YOU KNOW: Only President to
resign office on Aug. 8, 1974.
38. FORD, GERALD
1974-1977
1. Home State: Michigan
2. Took office when Nixon resigned. Only
President to serve without ever being elected appointed VP, appointed President.
3. His wife, Betty, was an alcoholic, and started
the Betty Ford Clinic.
4. He pardoned Nixon and this is why he did
not get re-elected.
5. DID YOU KNOW: There were 2 assassination
attempts on his life, both in September 1975.
39. CARTER, JIMMY 1977-1981
1. Home State: Georgia
2. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy.
3. He was a successful peanut farmer from Plains, GA.
4. Canceled US participation in 1980 Summer Olympic
Games in Moscow, because Russia invaded
Afghanistan.
5. Speed Reader - 2000 words per minute
6. DID YOU KNOW: He won the Nobel Peace Prize for
helping found Habitat for Humanity and for other
efforts for world peace
.
40. REAGAN, RONALD
1981-1989
1. Home State: California
2. Oldest man ever to be elected President at 69
years of age.
3. Only President to have been divorced.
4. March 1981 - shot by Hinckley, who was found not
guilty by reason of insanity.
5. He was a film and television actor before entering
politics.
6. DID YOU KNOW: He appointed the first woman
to the US Supreme Court - Sandra Day O’Connor.
41. BUSH, GEORGE (H.W.) [SR.]
1989-1993
1. Home State: Texas
2. Youngest commissioned fighter pilot during
WWII.
3. Refused to eat broccoli at the White House upset broccoli growers in USA.
4. Asked Congress to declare war on Iraq for
invading Kuwait in 1990 - this became the Persian
Gulf War.
5. DID YOU KNOW: He is a distant cousin of
Princess Diana.
42. CLINTON, BILL 1993-2001
1. Home State: Arkansas
2. He was a Rhodes Scholar - studied at
Oxford (England) for 2 yrs.
3. Signed into law the Brady Bill, which
requires a waiting period before
purchasing a handgun.
4. Second President to be impeached not guilty.
5. Was inspired at 16 to become
President when he met Pres. Kennedy
6. DID YOU KNOW: He is a talented
musician - plays saxophone.
43. BUSH, GEORGE W. [JR.]
2001-2008
1. Home State: Texas
2. Only second time in U.S. history the son of
a President also becomes President.
3. He served as an F-102 pilot in the Texas Air
National Guard.
4. He was President during World Trade
Center bombings and the current War in Iraq.
5. DID YOU KNOW: He was an
owner/partner of the Texas Rangers baseball
team until he became governor of Texas.
44. O Bama, Barack
2008-present
1. Home State: Illinois Born in Hawaii
2. First African American President of
the USA (he is bi racial)
3. Was formerly an Illinois senator
4. Brings 2 young daughters to live in
the White House, the first time young
children live there in a long time.
5. DID YOU KNOW:
His favorite sport is basketball