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Last week, in our first “Show Off Your Smarts!” challenge, you guys came up with some great movie facts. And I’m expecting even more this week. In case you missed it, here’s the deal: I give you a topic and you respond in the comments section with an interesting related fact (feel free to share more than one).
This week’s topic: Political Figures
We had to do something related to politics with folks flocking to the polls today. However, in the mental_floss spirit, please do not use this as an opportunity to share your political views. And as always, we love to hear facts about the quirky personalities of politicians in history, but you’re not limited to that.
I’ll get things started.
Did you know FDR was incredibly superstitious? Here are a few things he refused to do:
Light 3 cigarettes with the same match
Sit at a table for 13
Begin a trip on a Friday
Ironically, after FDR passed away, the funeral train that brought him home left Georgia on Friday the 13th. (fact from Secret Lives of The U.S. Presidents).
Okay, your turn. Make us all a little smarter! And if you know any history buffs, please send this along and ask them to contribute. Thanks!
Comments (13)
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John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day, July 4th, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
And as for FDR not wanting to use the same match to light 3 cigarettes, this is actually based on a very practical reasoning. If you were a soldier sharing a cigarette with your buddies at night, the time it takes to light 3 cigarettes is enough time for a sniper to spot you, aim, and shoot you.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 11-7-2006 at 11:12 am
I love the three on a match superstition because it’s made up but sounds SO completely plausible. It was concocted by a really fascinating man, Ivar Kreuger, the Swedish Match King. He made it up about a decade later to sell more matches.
And for my contribution….
Martin Van Buren was the first President born a U.S. citizen; having been born in 1782, he was the first born after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Washington, Jefferson and Adams were all avid collector and players of marbles.
posted by Lyssa on 11-7-2006 at 12:20 pm
Did you know that . . .
Ronald Reagan was a cheerleader in his youth?
President Lincoln’s son Tad made a housepet out of the family’s would-be dinner of Jack the Turkey?
President Eisenhower was the first President to ride in a helicoptor?
posted by Leslie on 11-7-2006 at 1:40 pm
For some reason I have always had an odd fascination with William Henry Harrison, our ninth President.
When he took office in 1841 he was 68 years old. No President would eclipse that number until Ronald Reagan in 1980; Reagan was 69.
During his Presidential bid he concocted one of the best, and most memorable, campaign slogans around – ‘Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.’ This referenced his ‘valor’ in the battle of Tippecanoe.
Finally, after winning the election in a landslide, he took the oath of office on March 4, 1841 which, according to historical record was a very cold day. Opting not to wear an overcoat, he gave the longest inaugural speech in American history. Shortly thereafter he developed a cold which then became pneumonia. He died one month later having served the shortest Presidential term in US history.
posted by Cameron on 11-7-2006 at 2:10 pm
Harry Truman’s mother and father could not agree on a middle name for Harry when he was born. Since the 33rd president’s middle initial, S, doesn’t actually stand for anything, legally, in particular, the period after the letter is often omitted when Truman’s full name is printed.
posted by DLF on 11-7-2006 at 3:30 pm
i heard once that Truman first met his wife when they were kids, and he liked her then because she was the only girl in his town that could whistle through her teeth.
posted by hannah on 11-7-2006 at 5:08 pm
Calvin Coolidge was very well known for his frugality. once a White House visitor asked President Calvin Coolidge for a cigar so he could give it to a friend who collected cigar bands from famous people. Coolidge took a cigar from his desktop box, removed the band, gave the visitor the band and kept the cigar.
posted by Karah! on 11-7-2006 at 6:47 pm
Deviating from the Presidential facts, did you know that Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote? In 1869 when Wyoming was still a territory they extended suffrage to women, at least to some extent, to ensure enough voting citizens to be granted statehood, which would occur in 1890.
In addition to this Wyoming was the first state to elect a female governor. Nellie Tayloe Ross, a former Kindergarten teacher and widow of the previous governor, took office in January of 1925.
Another former school teacher was the first female Congresswoman. Jeanette Rankin was elected to represent Montana on November 7, 1916. She officially took her seat in the House on April 4, 1917. Rankin served two separate terms in the House; first from 1917-1919 and again from 1941-1943. She has the interesting distinction of being the only member of Congress to vote against United States entry into World War I AND World War II.
posted by Cameron on 11-8-2006 at 3:00 am
Most people (that I know at least) forget that there was a U.S. President who was the head of a labor union prior to being elected President.
That man was Ronald W. Reagan who headed the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 until 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960.
posted by Dan H. on 11-8-2006 at 9:51 am
Speaking of Coolidge, he was also known for his frugality with words as well as with cigars. There is the famous story of the President at a dinner party. A female guest said that she had made a bet that she could get Coolidge to say more than two words to her. Coolidge looked at her and said, “You lose.”
posted by Joe on 11-8-2006 at 10:57 am
Lot’s of qoutes from the “Great American Bathroom Book”!! Just a quick question, is Bill Clinton the first American president without an estate, ranch, summer house, or the like, to vacation at or retire to?
posted by Karl Sigren on 11-8-2006 at 12:53 pm
I love this feature! Its like being at a party where EVERYONE is interesting, and I get the feeling that I can join the conversation too.
I love this anecdote about John Quincy Adams. He was the first President to grant an interview to a female journalist. But that isn’t even the cool part. The writer was Anne Royall, considered America’s first woman journalist. (Oh, but it get s better) It seems the Prez turned Mrs. Royall down initially, believing that being interviewed by a lady was beneath his station. What does a resourceful gal do? She finds out that Adams enjoys a morning skinny dip in the Potomac, sneaks up on him and holds his clothing hostage until he consents to the interview. Go girl!
posted by Allison on 11-9-2006 at 12:08 pm
Time for some Canadian content (or can-con as we like to call it up here). Our longest serveing Prime Minister was William Lyon Mackenize King (3 terms in office covering 22 years). He was also one of our strangest. He never married and so his best friend and confident was his dog Pat (and PatII and Pat III). WLMK discussed state secrets, especially during WWII, with his faithful friend. WLMK was also a devoted spiritualist; you can see his crystal ball in Laurier House in Ottawa today (along with one of Abraham Lincoln’s death masks). WLMK spent a lot of time contacting his dead mother and a previous (also dead) Canadian Prime Minister, Wilfrid Laurier. Nevertheless, he helped Canada get out of the Great Depression and he provided strong, clear leadership during World War Two.
posted by Worrals on 11-10-2006 at 2:42 pm