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President Trivia

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 09:13 AM

I'm researching prezzies at work today, so I'll post questions as I stumble upon answers. Who was the first president born in a hospital?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 09:15 AM

This sounds familiar. Was it Jimmy Carter?

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 09:18 AM

Jimmy. First Eagle Scout to serve as president?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 09:18 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 07 2008 09:18 AM

I've been wondering about Presidents with living ancestors. It looks like GWB will leave office with both of his parents still living. I don't think anyone has done that since JFK. Bush 41 and Clinton all had living mothers when they took office, but both moms died during their son's terms. Same might be true of Jimmy Carter, but I'm not sure. And Obama may or may not be the first president to take office with a living grandparent. (I'm still not sure about that paternal grandma in Kenya.) Other than Bush 43 and JFK (and John Quincy Adams) did any presidents take office while their fathers were still alive? [EDIT: I don't have the answers to these questions, by the way.]

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 07 2008 09:18 AM

Ford

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 09:26 AM

Ford. Scouting was so important to him that he had an honor guard of 400 Eagles at his funeral. Only president to serve a term and finish third on his re-election attempt?

Vince Coleman Firecracker Nov 07 2008 09:34 AM

Taft?

Frayed Knot Nov 07 2008 09:39 AM

Yep, lost to both Teddy & Wilson

metirish Nov 07 2008 09:41 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Ford. Scouting was so important to him that he had an honor guard of 400 Eagles at his funeral. I didn't know that , that must have been some honor for the scouts.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 09:45 AM

Taft it is. We're doing well. Who received what was described by his biographer as "surely one of the most undeserved Silver Stars in history"?

Willets Point Nov 07 2008 09:45 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It looks like GWB will leave office with both of his parents still living. I don't think anyone has done that since JFK. Ouch! JFK didn't exactly leave office.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Nov 07 2008 09:48 AM

LBJ. My friend regularly wears a pair of cowboy boots that were made for Johnson, but returned unworn. I forget how he got them.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 09:52 AM

LBJ. Wow. Hope no cheating is going on. Only president to seek, but not receive, nomination from his party for a second term. (I'm heading to lunch.)

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 10:07 AM

Willets Point wrote: ="Benjamin Grimm"] It looks like GWB will leave office with both of his parents still living. I don't think anyone has done that since JFK. Ouch! JFK didn't exactly leave office. Well, there was no question that he had to go.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 10:07 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Only president to seek, but not receive, nomination from his party for a second term. (I'm heading to lunch.) Andrew Johnson?

Centerfield Nov 07 2008 10:08 AM

Franklin Pierce.

Centerfield Nov 07 2008 10:10 AM

Who, by the way, is an ancestor of W. (But not George HW Bush, Pierce comes from Barbara's side of the family)

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 11:21 AM

Centerfield wrote: Franklin Pierce. Bamalama. Johnson may be our first incorrect answer. Pierce is also the only president from New Hampshire, and the only one who had an unchanged cabinet when he left office. Who are the two presidents to marry (although not to each other) while in office.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 11:24 AM

I know Woodrow Wilson was one. Was Grover Cleveland the other?

soupcan Nov 07 2008 11:31 AM

Kevin Kline? No! It was Michael Douglas.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 11:50 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I know Woodrow Wilson was one. Was Grover Cleveland the other? Actually there's a third.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 11:55 AM

Does Cleveland get counted twice?

Nymr83 Nov 07 2008 12:04 PM

not unless he got divorced and married again because otherwise he's only the correct answer for one of his terms

Centerfield Nov 07 2008 12:13 PM

Edgy DC wrote: ="Centerfield"]Franklin Pierce. Bamalama. Johnson may be our first incorrect answer. Pierce is also the only president from New Hampshire, and the only one who had an unchanged cabinet when he left office. Who are the two presidents to marry (although not to each other) while in office. I'm so happy about this. I never know the answer to any of these trivia things. I only know this because we were talking about Hillary's chances in 2012 if Bam really fucked up.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 12:23 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Other than Bush 43 and JFK (and John Quincy Adams) did any presidents take office while their fathers were still alive? Research gives me Coolidge.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 12:32 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Ford. Scouting was so important to him that he had an honor guard of 400 Eagles at his funeral. Only president to serve a term and finish third on his re-election attempt? True! I know several of them. The Scouts for a time had the only real statue of Ford in the area, and it depicts him as a young man in his scout uniform. He's going to get one in the Capitol routunda soon, but he'll be in a suit.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 12:35 PM

Edgy DC wrote: ="Benjamin Grimm"]Other than Bush 43 and JFK (and John Quincy Adams) did any presidents take office while their fathers were still alive? Research gives me Coolidge. What's cool about Coolidge, I think, was that his father administered the Oath of Office -- as a notary public, or justice of the peace or something like that.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 12:36 PM

Here's a fun one: Who was the first president to visit all 50 states?

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 12:38 PM

While you ponder that, we're still looking for a White House groom.

Willets Point Nov 07 2008 12:40 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Here's a fun one: Who was the first president to visit all 50 states? When they were states or do territories count?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 12:45 PM

Good question. If it had to be post statehood, then it has to be someone after Eisenhower.

Willets Point Nov 07 2008 12:46 PM

I'll go with Tricky Dick.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 12:54 PM

Willets Point wrote: I'll go with Tricky Dick. Make that Travelin' Dick! You are correct!

sharpie Nov 07 2008 12:56 PM

I know that Nixon campaigned in all 50 states in '60 so I'll say him.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 12:57 PM

Has Bush visited all 50 states yet during his presidency? I remember Clinton going to Nebraska at the end of his term just because it was the only one he hadn't visited. I think Bush had one remaining (Vermont maybe?) but I don't know if he ever checked it off.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 01:07 PM

Was John Tyler also married in the White House? I know he had a couple wives and about 15 kids.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 01:26 PM

Tyler it is. Which groovy president had a tenure that was dubbed "The Era of Good Feelings"?

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 01:34 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Tyler it is. Which groovy president had a tenure that was dubbed "The Era of Good Feelings"? Oh! One of the early ones, pre-Civil War. I'm guessing Quincy Adams.

RealityChuck Nov 07 2008 01:38 PM

No. James Monroe. He ran basically unopposed for his second term, though one elector voted for another candidate. The legend is that the elector didn't want anyone but Washington to be elected unanimously, but, in fact, he just didn't like Monroe.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 01:43 PM

RealityChuck wrote: No. James Monroe. He ran basically unopposed for his second term, though one elector voted for another candidate. The legend is that the elector didn't want anyone but Washington to be elected unanimously, but, in fact, he just didn't like Monroe. Quincy Adams wrong. Monroe right. That elector sounds like a BBWAA member. Who had the insanely tantalizing nickanme "Old Rough and Ready"?

soupcan Nov 07 2008 01:48 PM

Teddy Roosevelt?

Willets Point Nov 07 2008 01:51 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: ="Willets Point"]I'll go with Tricky Dick. Make that Travelin' Dick! You are correct! Travelin' Dick sounds like the name of vibrator.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 01:57 PM

Teddy was not "Old Rough and Ready."

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 01:59 PM

Rough and Ready was Zachary Tyler, who apparently found a bowl of cherries rougher and readier than he! Here's a cool one. Two presidents -- soon to be three -- changed thier names. Gerald Ford's Leslie Lynch King is famous, but who was born Hiram?

A Boy Named Seo Nov 07 2008 02:01 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Teddy was not "Old Rough and Ready." Me, sophomore year of college.

sharpie Nov 07 2008 02:05 PM

US Grant was Hiram. Puzzlingly he changed his name to Ulysees.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 02:05 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Gerald Ford's Leslie Lynch King is famous, but who was born Hiram? I don't know about "Hiram" but Bill Clinton was born as William Jefferson Blythe. His father was killed before Bill was born, and Clinton was his step-father's name.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2008 02:05 PM

Military question on one of our prezzies: Was a clean-mouthed man, but when men under his command started to disperse under attack, he started screaming profanity at them that he learned while working on the railroad, and the shock of it led them to re-assemble and follow him to safety.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 02:26 PM

Sounds like ... Garfield!

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 02:26 PM

sharpie wrote: US Grant was Hiram. Puzzlingly he changed his name to Ulysees. Correct! I forgot about Clinton changing his last name, was thinking first names. Nice job!

A Boy Named Seo Nov 07 2008 03:40 PM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ="metsguyinmichigan"]Gerald Ford's Leslie Lynch King is famous, but who was born Hiram? I don't know about "Hiram" but Bill Clinton was born as William Jefferson Blythe. His father was killed before Bill was born, and Clinton was his step-father's name. Never knew that, either. Cool thread, boys.

Frayed Knot Nov 07 2008 05:00 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: ="sharpie"]US Grant was Hiram. Puzzlingly he changed his name to Ulysees. Correct! I forgot about Clinton changing his last name, was thinking first names. Dwight David Eisenhower was born David Dwight Eisenhower but flipped the first and middle somewhere along the way. I remember reading of several other Prez name changes too so, while none immediately come to mind, I suspect we're missing a few.

DocTee Nov 07 2008 05:59 PM

The only bachelor was....

metsguyinmichigan Nov 07 2008 06:48 PM

DocTee wrote: The only bachelor was.... Buchanan! I forgot about Eisnehower switching his names around.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 07 2008 06:52 PM

There were others, though, who didn't have a wife during their presidency. Jefferson, for one. His daughter served as First Lady. I think there was another President (maybe it was Buchanan) whose sister was the First Lady.

DocTee Nov 07 2008 08:30 PM

Buchanan it is.

TheOldMole Nov 08 2008 02:16 PM

Didn't Harry Truman change his name by adding the "S" so that he'd have a middle initial?

Edgy DC Nov 08 2008 07:17 PM

Nope. I think he had two grandfathers with S. names, so his parents pleased them both.

RealityChuck Nov 10 2008 09:50 AM

Should be easy: What state holds the longest streak of having major party candidates for president or vice president either natives or residents at the time they ran? How long did it run?

A Boy Named Seo Nov 10 2008 10:15 AM

I'll take a stab at Virginia. Not sure how long. 16 years? Disclaimer: I'm stoopid.

Willets Point Nov 10 2008 10:16 AM

RealityChuck wrote: Should be easy: What state holds the longest streak of having major party candidates for president or vice president either natives or residents at the time they ran? How long did it run? I'm going to go with Virginia: Washington - Jefferson (VP) - Jefferson - Madison - Monroe (1789-1825). First President to fly in an airplane?

Edgy DC Nov 10 2008 12:06 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Military question on one of our prezzies: Was a clean-mouthed man, but when men under his command started to disperse under attack, he started screaming profanity at them that he learned while working on the railroad, and the shock of it led them to re-assemble and follow him to safety.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 10 2008 12:08 PM

Grant?

Edgy DC Nov 10 2008 12:10 PM

I can't imagine profanity from Grant being very surprising.

metsguyinmichigan Nov 10 2008 12:21 PM

Theodore Roosevelt in the airplane. The Wright Bros. took him up.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 10 2008 12:24 PM

Edgy DC wrote: I can't imagine profanity from Grant being very surprising. Me neither. I was going for the chance that Grant was surprisingly clean-mouthed. I'll take another stab at it then: Eisenhower?

Edgy DC Nov 10 2008 01:53 PM

Not Ike.

Willets Point Nov 10 2008 02:05 PM

Jimmy Carter?

Edgy DC Nov 10 2008 02:18 PM

Carter's an interesting choice --- having been both a reflective Christian and command-level military guy --- but I don't think he ever had a combat deployment, despite serving through the Korean War era. At any rate, it's not him.

Edgy DC Nov 11 2008 10:13 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 12 2008 07:10 AM

Times up. Our silver-tounged officer is Harry S. Truman. We also would have accepted "Truman." Next question: Which president gave his name to Marcia Brady's junior high school.

HahnSolo Nov 11 2008 12:27 PM

Van Buren?

Edgy DC Nov 11 2008 12:28 PM

Nope.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 11 2008 12:44 PM

F F F-I-L L L L-M-O O O O-R-E Fillmore Junior High!

Edgy DC Nov 11 2008 12:47 PM

Thank you. Who was the only member of the clergy to serve as president?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 11 2008 12:48 PM

Edith Baines Bunker went to Fillmore High. Fillmore High! Fillmore High! We are high on old Fillmore! Everybody runs when they hear us roar! Fillmore! Fillmore! ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!

themetfairy Nov 11 2008 01:31 PM

I have a question to throw out. Is that ok, or does it violate protocol?

Edgy DC Nov 11 2008 01:34 PM

As long as you don't tell anyone to smell your feet or anything.

themetfairy Nov 11 2008 01:38 PM

I promise to refrain from asking anyone to smell my feet. As for my trivia question - what college classmate of Barack Obama's was also on a Presidential ticket last week?

Willets Point Nov 11 2008 03:11 PM

themetfairy wrote: As for my trivia question - what college classmate of Barack Obama's was also on a Presidential ticket last week? Hugo Chavez. They both went to the College of Evil Socialists. But you'll never hear that on the liberal MSM. Mainly because I just made it up.

themetfairy Nov 11 2008 03:19 PM

No - not that college, wise ass!

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 07:16 AM

Mikheil Saakashvili.

themetfairy Nov 12 2008 07:17 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Mikheil Saakashvili. No

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 07:22 AM

The time for guessers has passed.

themetfairy Nov 12 2008 07:24 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 12 2008 07:43 AM

Edgy DC wrote: The time for guessers has passed. In that case, the answer is that Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate Wayne A. Root also graduated from Columbia College in 1983.

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 07:28 AM

I was just humbly making fun of my sig line in light of my incorrect submission. Wayne A. Root sounds like the name of a libertarian vice presidential candidate.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 12 2008 07:48 AM

Is Joe Biden going to be the first Catholic VP?

Willets Point Nov 12 2008 09:02 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 12 2008 09:06 AM

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Is Joe Biden going to be the first Catholic VP? Yes. http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=2484 Cardinal Martino may disagree.

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 09:04 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Thank you. Who was the only member of the clergy to serve as president? Last call.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 12 2008 09:08 AM

um... Pierce?

Willets Point Nov 12 2008 09:10 AM

Richard Nixon. He was a Quaker and every Quaker is a minister.

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 09:21 AM

Pierce is a good guess. Nixon is a tricky guess. Not who I'm looking for. The one I'm looking for is from the Disciples of Christ, and went into politics after finding the ministry, academia, and law each to be unsatisfying careers.

Fman99 Nov 12 2008 09:30 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Pierce is a good guess. Nixon is a tricky guess. Not who I'm looking for. The one I'm looking for is from the Disciples of Christ, and went into politics after finding the ministry, academia, and law each to be unsatisfying careers. James A. Garfield. The guy has a fascinating bio.

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 09:51 AM

Almost all of them do, but I agree. Good show. A stumper I learned from my dad: When New York City went looking for the desk Teddy Roosevelt used as police commissioner, where did it turn up?

Willets Point Nov 12 2008 10:37 AM

Ellis Island.

Edgy DC Nov 12 2008 10:46 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Nov 12 2008 09:08 PM

Not Ellis Island, but the Spanish American War Office of New York's Veteran's Administration. They closed the office in the eighties when the last vets died and recovered the desk, which Ray Kelly sits at today. What did George Washington forbid among his troops, as an expression of religious tolerance?

RealityChuck Nov 12 2008 08:37 PM

Willets Point wrote: ="RealityChuck"]Should be easy: What state holds the longest streak of having major party candidates for president or vice president either natives or residents at the time they ran? How long did it run? I'm going to go with Virginia: Washington - Jefferson (VP) - Jefferson - Madison - Monroe (1789-1825). Not even close. It is, of course, New York. 1868 -- Horatio Seymour (D -- President) 1872 -- Horace Greeley (D -- President) 1876 -- Samuel J. Tilden (D -- President) 1880 -- Chester A. Arthur (R -- VP) 1884 -- Grover Cleveland (D -- President) 1888 -- Cleveland 1892 -- Cleveland There was a break in 1896, but the streak started again: 1900 -- T. Roosevelt (R -- VP) 1904 -- TR 1908 -- James S. Sherman (R --VP) 1912 -- TR (well, the Bull Moose Party outpolled the Republican Party), James S. Sherman (who died), and Nicholas Butler (who replaced Sherman) 1916 -- Charles Evans Hughes (R -- Pres) 1920 -- Franklin D. Roosevelt (D -- VP) 1924 -- John W. Davis (D -- President) (born in WV, he was practicing law in New York City when nominated). 1928 -- Al Smith (D -- Pres) 1932 -- FDR 1936 -- FDR 1940 -- FDR 1944 -- FDR and Thomas Dewey 1948 -- Dewey defeats Truman 1952 -- Eisenhower (R) -- (He was president of Columbia University and officially resided in New York.) 1956 -- Eisenhower 1960 -- Richard M. Nixon (again, his residence was in New York City). 1964 -- William M. Miller (R -- VP) The streak ended in 1968 -- Nixon had moved back to California and resided there.