Tag Archives: White House history

James Buchanan: The Successful Failure

The Stellar Resume James Buchanan (1791-1867), a Pennsylvanian from mid-state, was the last President born in the 18th century. His family was large, but he was essentially a brother among a slew of sisters.  Blessed with above average academic gifts, … Continue reading

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Andrew Jackson: The Road to Retirement

The Making of an Old Man In 1837, seventy was a ripe old age, and former President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) was older than his years. His health had been abysmal for decades. “Born for the storm,” by his own admission, … 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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Lincoln’s First Pardon: Private William Scott

By the time of Lincoln’s death, his reputation for compassion had become legendary. Captain Abe When Abraham Lincoln was around 22, living in New Salem, IL, he enlisted in the militia along with a bunch of his buddies. A skirmish … Continue reading

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Aaron Burr and the Madisons

Despite historical innuendos, Aaron Burr was not a suitor for Dolley Payne’s hand. The Promising Burr Aaron Burr (1756-1836) had a childhood mix of tragedy and blessings. His NJ family was reasonably prosperous; his grandfather was the well-known Puritan preacher … Continue reading

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Ida McKinley’s Inaugural Trousseau

Every First Lady is entitled to some new clothes for the inauguration! Clothes Make the Woman… Of course it helps if you are good looking. It helps even more, if you have money. Martha Washington in her late fifties was … Continue reading

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Lincoln: The Triumphal Stroll

The Procession As far back as recorded time goes, when a Great War was over, the victors paraded through their towns and villages, trumpets blaring. Hundreds, and even thousands of soldiers glittered in their armor, assembled and proud.  Most marched. … Continue reading

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Thomas Jefferson and the Cheshire Cheese

Cheese Practically all cultures include cheese (no pun intended). It basically an offshoot of milk, whether from a cow, a sheep or a goat, etc. to include the curd. As one would expect, the different animal milk produces different types … Continue reading

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Civil War Divas: Mary & Julia Part II

After the initial “how-do,” Mary Lincoln and Julia Grant did not meet again for a year. Mary Lincoln: 1864-5 Mary Lincoln took a long time to emerge from her deep grief over her son Willie’s death in early 1862. Custom … Continue reading

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Jefferson, Madison and Mellimelli

Piracy was not new in 1800. It had been around for centuries. The Barbary Pirates For centuries, North African countries then part of the Ottoman Empire, augmented their respective economies by state-sponsoring rogue pirates to plague commercial shipping on the … Continue reading

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