Tag Archives: Presidential history

George Clinton: VP 4 and Maybe 5

Everyone knows John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, VPs 1 and 2. Some know Aaron Burr, VP 3. But George Clinton? George Clinton’s Qualifications George Clinton (1739-1812) was a New Yorker from upstate, considered among our Founding Fathers (perhaps minor, but … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, George Washington, James Madison, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Nifty History People, Thomas Jefferson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Florence Harding: The Lost Decade

Florence Harding was a woman with deep secrets. Florence Kling: Lonely, Angry Girl Florence Kling (1860-1924) was born to Amos Kling, a middle-class businessman in Marion, Ohio, just as the Civil War was getting underway. She was eldest, with two … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Nifty History People, Warren G. Harding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gideon Welles and the Naval Battle

Gideon Welles was Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War. March 9, 1862 It was a Sunday. Navy Secretary Gideon Welles rushed over to Lincoln’s office, where he found the President and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in a … Continue reading

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, American Civil War, Nifty History People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Edith Wilson and the Lalique Brooch

Edith Bolling Galt was the widow of a prestigious Washington jeweler. The Jeweler’s Wife Edith Bolling was born in 1872. Her father was a well respected Virginia judge, somewhat down on his fortunes following the Civil War. Edith was also … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Nifty History People, Woodrow Wilson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

John Quincy Adams: Arborist

John Quincy Adams came late to nature. JQA: The City Fellow John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) was born in rural Massachusetts, but lived within ten miles of Boston, then considered a major city (pop. 10,000) in the Colonies. As a very … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, John Quincy Adams | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Abigail Adams and Polly Jefferson

Abigail Adams always loved children. The Lonely Childhood of Polly Jefferson Mary (or Maria) Jefferson (1778-1804), called Polly as a child, was the second surviving daughter of Thomas and Martha Jefferson. Her older sister Martha (1772-1836), nicknamed Patsy from birth, … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Nifty History People, Thomas Jefferson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

James Buchanan: Tired Ol’ Buck

James Buchanan was nearly seventy in 1861, a time when 75 was a ripe old age. The Election of 1856 When James Buchanan (1791-1868) was elected in 1856, he was a) the last President born in the 18th century; b) … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Abraham Lincoln, James Buchanan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Will and Nellie Taft: A Modern Marriage, Part 1

William Howard Taft and Helen (from-birth Nellie) Herron were born and raised Victorians – but they had a very modern marriage. The Early Years Both William Howard Taft (1857-1930) and Helen Herron (1861-1943) were pedigreed Cincinnatians. He was the son … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Nifty History People, William Howard Taft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Eisenhower Tragedy: Ikkie

Nothing pained Ike and Mamie Eisenhower more than the death of their firstborn son. The Parents Eisenhower Mamie Doud became “Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower” on July 1, 1916. She was nineteen. Surprising everyone, including herself, Mamie adapted well to army living. … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Dwight D. Eisenhower | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Theodore Roosevelt and the Maxwell House Connection

Theodore Roosevelt was a mega coffee drinker from earliest childhood. TR: For “Medicinal Purposes” Coffee is non-alcoholic, but still perceived as an adult drink. It is common today for children to abstain from coffee drinking until way past puberty. Parents … Continue reading

Posted in A POTUS-FLOTUS Blog, Grover Cleveland, Nifty History People, Theodore Roosevelt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment