Tag Archives: First Ladies history

The Disastrous Inaugural Ball of 1873

President Grant had just won his second term. Inaugural Balls in General When George Washington took his first oath of office in New York City, in 1789, it was a solemn occasion. His wife Martha did not arrive for another … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Abraham Lincoln, American Civil War, Andrew Johnson, George Washington, James Madison, John Adams, Nifty History People, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Poems by First Ladies: A Book Review

Poetry often evokes emotional memory, and I am old enough to remember when it was an important part of a grade school curriculum. We were taught to recite lines of poetry from memory even in the fourth grade. I can … Continue reading

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Woodrow Wilson. Dr. Grayson. Edith. And Golf.

For Medicinal Purposes At his inaugural luncheon at the White House, the new President Woodrow Wilson had occasion to meet naval physician Dr. Cary Grayson, and invited him to become his personal physician. A few days later, when Grayson gave … Continue reading

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U.S. Grant and the Wildflowers

Ulysses S. Grant was a true case of still waters running deep. The Young Romantic Hiram Ulysses Grant (his name at birth) was an amalgam of both his parents: the tenacity of his father and the taciturnity of his mother. … Continue reading

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William Howard Taft and the Supreme Court Building

While two Presidents served in the Legislative Branch post-presidentially (JQ Adams and Andrew Johnson), only one ex-POTUS served in the Judiciary. Cincinnati Patrician Politician William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was Cincinnati-born to a prosperous Ohio transplanted family with a strong Republican … Continue reading

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Archie Roosevelt’s Christmas Surprise

Christmas a la Roosevelt Few White House families were as robust and open for fun as Theodore Roosevelt, his wife, six children and a slew of pets. Nevertheless, very few stories, articles or even anecdotes are about how the TR’s … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Benjamin Harrison, Franklin Pierce, Nifty History People, Theodore Roosevelt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Margaret Taylor: Army Wife

“She was just as much a soldier as I was.” – Zachary Taylor Margaret Mackall Smith …long forgotten by history, Margaret Smith was a Mackall on her mother’s side. They were a prominent Maryland family, whose distaff members were said … Continue reading

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Dusting Off Franklin Pierce

The Basic Pierce Facts Franklin Pierce (1804-69), Democrat from New Hampshire, was a dark horse nominee, elected President in 1852. It took 49 Ballots to put him on the ballot, which was an exhausting exercise for the convention attendees. Few … Continue reading

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Abigail Adams and The Misdirected Tea

Tea was expensive. Very expensive!! The Colonists and Tea By the time of the Boston Tea Party, tea itself was one of the most expensive commodities traded between Great Britain and her American colonies. It was more than just a … Continue reading

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John Quincy and Louisa Adams: The Rouge Story

John Quincy Adams was twenty-nine when he married. His bride was twenty-three. Bride and Groom By the time John Quincy Adams was eighteen and ready to enter Harvard, he was already the most cosmopolitan young man in the country. As … Continue reading

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