Presidential Alma Maters

ANSWER: According to Harvard Magazine, when FDR first ran for president, a straw vote held by the Harvard Crimson showed a three-to-one preference for Herbert Hoover. According to Harvard Magazine, when FDR first ran for president, a straw vote held by the Harvard Crimson showed a three-to-one preference for Herbert Hoover.

ANSWER: Polk graduated with honors in 1818. Polk graduated with honors in 1818.

ANSWER: The school was known as the College of New Jersey at the time. The State Normal and Industrial School for Women in Harrisonburg, Virginia, later became James Madison University. The school was known as the College of New Jersey at the time. The State Normal and Industrial School for Women in Harrisonburg, Virginia, later became James Madison University.

ANSWER: Taft went to Yale; Roosevelt went to Harvard. Taft went to Yale; Roosevelt went to Harvard.

ANSWER: According to a 2001 BusinessWeek story on Bush's b-school days, "He was a happening guy. He was a referee for intramural sports. He also played intramural basketball and baseball. When it was time to put work aside, classmates say you could usually find him at parties thrown by his B-school buddies or at Charlie's Kitchen, a local hangout for burgers and beer. Legal Sea Foods restaurant was a favorite destination, too." According to a 2001 BusinessWeek story on Bush's b-school days, "He was a happening guy. He was a referee for intramural sports. He also played intramural basketball and baseball. When it was time to put work aside, classmates say you could usually find him at parties thrown by his B-school buddies or at Charlie's Kitchen, a local hangout for burgers and beer. Legal Sea Foods restaurant was a favorite destination, too."

ANSWER: Here's his student council campaign poster:

Here's his student council campaign poster:

ANSWER: When Obama was elected in 2008, Occidental's president called him "the latest expression of Occidental’s long history of public service that has produced such distinguished leaders as Robert Finch, Class of 1947, Jack Kemp, Class of 1957, and Rear Admiral Marsha Johnson Evans, Class of 1968.” When Obama was elected in 2008, Occidental's president called him "the latest expression of Occidental’s long history of public service that has produced such distinguished leaders as Robert Finch, Class of 1947, Jack Kemp, Class of 1957, and Rear Admiral Marsha Johnson Evans, Class of 1968.”

ANSWER: From the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library: "Herbert Hoover entered Stanford with what was later known as the pioneer class in October, 1891. His classes gave him a good background in geology while his student life centered on business. Hoover set up a laundry and a newspaper route, which brought him income. He also worked for Dr. Branner, who presided over the Department of Geology. Bert was paid thirty dollars a month. Various other jobs and summer employment in Arkansas and California with the United States Geological Survey helped Herbert earn his way through Stanford with no loans. In addition to his work, he was elected treasurer of the junior class, and was the manager of the football and baseball teams." From the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library: "Herbert Hoover entered Stanford with what was later known as the pioneer class in October, 1891. His classes gave him a good background in geology while his student life centered on business. Hoover set up a laundry and a newspaper route, which brought him income. He also worked for Dr. Branner, who presided over the Department of Geology. Bert was paid thirty dollars a month. Various other jobs and summer employment in Arkansas and California with the United States Geological Survey helped Herbert earn his way through Stanford with no loans. In addition to his work, he was elected treasurer of the junior class, and was the manager of the football and baseball teams."

ANSWER: From the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library: "A gifted athlete, Ford played on the University's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. He was voted the Wolverines' most valuable player in 1934 and on January 1, 1935, played in the annual East-West College All-Star game in San Francisco, for the benefit of the Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital. In August 1935 he played in the Chicago Tribune College All-Star football game at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears. He received offers from two professional football teams, the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, but chose instead to take a position as boxing coach and assistant varsity football coach at Yale hoping to attend law school there." From the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library: "A gifted athlete, Ford played on the University's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. He was voted the Wolverines' most valuable player in 1934 and on January 1, 1935, played in the annual East-West College All-Star game in San Francisco, for the benefit of the Shrine Crippled Children's Hospital. In August 1935 he played in the Chicago Tribune College All-Star football game at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears. He received offers from two professional football teams, the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, but chose instead to take a position as boxing coach and assistant varsity football coach at Yale hoping to attend law school there."

ANSWER: Duke can boast of many notable alumni in politics, from former senator Elizabeth Dole to med school grad Ron Paul. But the school hasn’t been great to its most famous alum. In 1954, a committee recommended that then-VP Richard Nixon, a 1937 School of Law graduate, be given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and Nixon agreed to be the graduation speaker. However, after vociferous debate, a faculty panel voted down the recommendation, and Nixon bailed on the commencement address. Over a quarter-century later, Duke President Terry Sanford pushed to build Nixon’s presidential library on campus, even meeting with Nixon himself to work out the details. However, a similar faculty committee killed the idea. The Nixon Library ended up in Yorba Linda, California.

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Duke can boast of many notable alumni in politics, from former senator Elizabeth Dole to med school grad Ron Paul. But the school hasn’t been great to its most famous alum. In 1954, a committee recommended that then-VP Richard Nixon, a 1937 School of Law graduate, be given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and Nixon agreed to be the graduation speaker. However, after vociferous debate, a faculty panel voted down the recommendation, and Nixon bailed on the commencement address. Over a quarter-century later, Duke President Terry Sanford pushed to build Nixon’s presidential library on campus, even meeting with Nixon himself to work out the details. However, a similar faculty committee killed the idea. The Nixon Library ended up in Yorba Linda, California.

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