Who Was President?
1 of 13
Who was president when NASA first landed a man on the moon?
Richard Nixon
Lyndon Johnson
John Kennedy
ANSWER: The Apollo 11 moon landing occurred on July, 20 1969. The moon exploration program was started by Dwight D. Eisenhower, and widely ballyhooed by John F. Kennedy as the next necessary step towards solidifying the country's status as the most accomplished global superpower, but Nixon was in office when all those years of NASA calculations and innovation came to fruition. Interesting side note- Nixon had his speechwriter (William Safire) prepare a condolence speech for delivery in the event that Armstrong and Aldrin became marooned on the Moon's surface and could not be rescued. The Apollo 11 moon landing occurred on July, 20 1969. The moon exploration program was started by Dwight D. Eisenhower, and widely ballyhooed by John F. Kennedy as the next necessary step towards solidifying the country's status as the most accomplished global superpower, but Nixon was in office when all those years of NASA calculations and innovation came to fruition. Interesting side note- Nixon had his speechwriter (William Safire) prepare a condolence speech for delivery in the event that Armstrong and Aldrin became marooned on the Moon's surface and could not be rescued.
2 of 13
Who was president when The Great Gatsby was first published?
Franklin Roosevelt
Warren Harding
Calvin Coolidge
ANSWER: This F. Scott Fitzgerald classic was first published in April of 1925, and is set in 1922. Coolidge took office after Harding's death in 1923 and served until 1929. This F. Scott Fitzgerald classic was first published in April of 1925, and is set in 1922. Coolidge took office after Harding's death in 1923 and served until 1929.
3 of 13
Who was president when Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states?
Harry Truman
Dwight Eisenhower
Richard Nixon
ANSWER: Alaska was admitted on January 3, 1959. Hawaii came aboard on August 21 of that year. (Want to add that Alaska t-shirt to your collection? Visit the mental_floss store.) Alaska was admitted on January 3, 1959. Hawaii came aboard on August 21 of that year. (Want to add that Alaska t-shirt to your collection? Visit the mental_floss store.)
4 of 13
Who was president when The New York Times was founded?
Millard Fillmore
James Polk
Rutherford Hayes
ANSWER: The Times has been published since 1851, though it was called The New-York Daily Times until 1857. Fillmore was president from 1850-53. The Times has been published since 1851, though it was called The New-York Daily Times until 1857. Fillmore was president from 1850-53.
5 of 13
Who was president when Mount Rushmore was completed?
William Howard Taft
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin Roosevelt
ANSWER: Carving began in 1927 and ended in 1941. If you're wondering, the four presidents on Mount Rushmore are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and (Theodore) Roosevelt. Carving began in 1927 and ended in 1941. If you're wondering, the four presidents on Mount Rushmore are Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and (Theodore) Roosevelt.
6 of 13
Who was president when the Wright Brothers made their famous flight at Kitty Hawk?
Grover Cleveland
William McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
ANSWER: On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers pulled off what is generally considered the first "controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight." On December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers pulled off what is generally considered the first "controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight."
7 of 13
Who was president when Saturday Night Live premiered?
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
ANSWER: The first episode aired October 11, 1975. Ford—famously portrayed by Chevy Chase—was a regular target. The first episode aired October 11, 1975. Ford—famously portrayed by Chevy Chase—was a regular target.
8 of 13
Who was president during the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II?
Dwight Eisenhower
Harry Truman
Lyndon Johnson
ANSWER: The coronation took place on June 2, 1953, was televised, and was seen by an estimated twenty million people. The coronation took place on June 2, 1953, was televised, and was seen by an estimated twenty million people.
9 of 13
Who was president when Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial during the historic March on Washington?
Dwight Eisenhower
John Kennedy
Lyndon Johnson
ANSWER: Kennedy was said to have opposed the March on Washington because he felt it undermined his own attempt to pass civil rights legislation, but the organizers of the march wisely disregarded those protestations and proceeded regardless. Kennedy was said to have opposed the March on Washington because he felt it undermined his own attempt to pass civil rights legislation, but the organizers of the march wisely disregarded those protestations and proceeded regardless.
10 of 13
Who was president when France gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States?
Theodore Roosevelt
James Garfield
Grover Cleveland
ANSWER: The technical name for the statue is Liberty Enlightening the World, and it was given to the United States in 1886. Cleveland unveiled the statue at a ceremony on October 28, 1886—this was ironic because when Cleveland was Governor of New York prior to becoming president, he vetoed a bill approved by the state legislature to contribute $50,000 to the building of the pedestal on which the statue stands. The technical name for the statue is Liberty Enlightening the World, and it was given to the United States in 1886. Cleveland unveiled the statue at a ceremony on October 28, 1886—this was ironic because when Cleveland was Governor of New York prior to becoming president, he vetoed a bill approved by the state legislature to contribute $50,000 to the building of the pedestal on which the statue stands.
11 of 13
Who was president on Black Tuesday when the "Great Crash" occurred on Wall Street?
Franklin Roosevelt
Herbert Hoover
Calvin Coolidge
ANSWER: Hoover was the Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under both Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding. Hoover promoted government intervention as a form of "economic modernization," and believed in the Efficiency Movement- which was rooted in the idea that technical solutions existed for all social and economic problems—a perfectly reasonable belief to hold when not faced with a Great Depression. Hoover was the Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under both Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding. Hoover promoted government intervention as a form of "economic modernization," and believed in the Efficiency Movement- which was rooted in the idea that technical solutions existed for all social and economic problems—a perfectly reasonable belief to hold when not faced with a Great Depression.
12 of 13
Who was president when the British Army set the White House ablaze during the War of 1812?
James Monroe
James Madison
John Quincy Adams
ANSWER: James Madison was a member of the Democrat-Republican party, and was in office during the "Great Burning of Washington" by the Red Coats in 1814. James Madison was a member of the Democrat-Republican party, and was in office during the "Great Burning of Washington" by the Red Coats in 1814.
13 of 13
Who was president when the first issue of mental_floss was released?
Benjamin Harrison
George W. Bush
Franklin Pierce
ANSWER: While the idea was hatched during the Clinton administration, it came to fruition under Bush. The first issue was Jan-Feb 2002 (pictured). Want to see all the covers of the last seven years? Click here. While the idea was hatched during the Clinton administration, it came to fruition under Bush. The first issue was Jan-Feb 2002 (pictured). Want to see all the covers of the last seven years? Click here.
