Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with presidents

Biography suggestions?

GatorFan2000 — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:32:48 -0800

What are some good biographies of James Madison? After reading the Malcolm Gladwell book, "Outliers" I decided I wanted to read a biography of each president of the United States to see what types of advantages lead to someone becoming the president of the United States. I'm about to finish American Sphinx, which is about Thomas Jefferson. Naturally, James Madison is next.

Picutres of young presidents meeting old ones.

bjork24 — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:22:53 -0800

Are there other pictures of future presidents (prior to their political life) meeting current presidents besides the one of a young Clinton meeting Kennedy? I'd also like to exclude military pictures, so no Grant meeting Lincoln, or Eisenhower meeting FDR. Within those parameters, do any others exist?

Penny, nickel, dime, quarter; Who's there?

emhutchinson — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:45:46 -0800

How old were you when you learned who was on our most basic currency-- coins? When could you place them on the continuum of Presidents? And when did you learn that here in the U.S. no one living may be commemorated on currency or stamps?

I have been working as a substitute teacher and have taken this on as something of a private mission, because all my students (up to grade 6) are convinced that all those profiles are either GW Bush (still alive, as you know), "Obama! Obama!" (also alive and not yet President) or, distant third, George Washington. So what did you know, and when did you know it?

Do you know this song about the presidents?

emhutchinson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:41:21 -0800

President Song: Does anyone know the rest of this? It is not a mnemonic device, it is just a song to teach all the names of the presidents in order. "Washington then John Adams followed by Jefferson number three,

Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams and Jackson Ol' Hickory,

Martin Van Buren a little obscure an' he was number eight,

William Henry Harrison died too early, or came too late . . ."

This song was taught to us at camp, oh thirty five years ago, so it must have ended way before Kennedy/Nixon. Can anyone finish it for me, or add to it? I have already tried other avenues. Much obliged.

USA Recession for Dummies

ranunculus — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:22:49 -0800

I'm having a hard time understanding just what is happening to the US economy and why. I'm completely in the dark, I'm not familiar with the terminology, and I'm afraid. Can someone either point me in the right direction or gently explain to me why things are looking so bleak, what the bailout means, how will life change for the average US or non-US citizen, and how McCain or Obama or anyone else might be able to help.

43 Presidents, 43 Books

fancypants — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:42:00 -0800

What are the best and most readable biographies of each American president? I have decided to embark on a (probably foolish) campaign to read a biography of each and every American president. I ask you hivemind, what are the best biographies for each one? I'm not a historian, so what I'm really looking for is the most accessible readable and informative book on these fellows.

For instance, I have read and enjoyed The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris and Truman by David McCullough. More suggestions in this vein would be greatly appreciated.

Most presidents gathered -- past, present and future

beagle — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:14:06 -0800

When, and where, have the most living past, present and future presidents of the United States gathered at the same time in the same place? At the memorial service in Washington for Ronald Reagan in 2004, there were former presidents George H. W. Bush, Clinton, Carter and Ford, plus current president George W. Bush -- five. (No counting Reagan, I said "living".)

At the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 (according to David McCullough in "The Great Bridge") former presidents John Adams, Madison, Monroe and Jefferson attended, along with then-president John Q. Adams and future president Andrew Jackson. That's six.

Have there ever been more at any single gathering?

Books about U.S. presidential elections?

Silune — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:31:40 -0800

What are some good books about U.S. presidential elections? There are lots of books about American presidents, but not so many specifically about elections/campaigns. What are the good ones? (Example. I haven't read it, but it's the kind of book I'm looking for.)

U.S. Presidential Line of Succession Plot Device

ND¢ — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 07:07:01 -0800

I have decided to participate in NaNoWriMo, but I need help with a plot point involving the U.S. presidential order of succession. Okay, Order of Succession is going to be a Tom Clancy-ish political thriller using characters that are thinly disguised members of the current administration. My idea is to have my fictionilized version of Bush die, and have Dick Cheney and Hastert (and however many others are neccessary) decide that they will not be able to effectively govern because they are so unpopular, so they (somehow) refuse the presidency in favor of a popular patsy that they think that they can govern through, but as they decline the presidency somehow, the patsy becomes unavailable to serve, and the book's hero becomes president, and demands Dick, Condi, Rumsfeld, etc.'s resignations immediately, and they decide to try to assasinate the hero president rather than resign. The action of the book is the hero president trapped in the oval office (closed off because of a made-up terrorist threat) trying to escape, or be rescued by his former squadron of Iraq-vets who are in the Whitehouse for a photo-op. Silly, I know, but I think it will be cool.

However, the U.S. presidential line of succession is complicated, and I don't feel like figuring out how to make this happen in a somewhat believable manner. It doesn't have to be perfect, because I don't think that anyone will actually ever read Order of Succession, but I would prefer if the set up of my novel was not completely unbelievable (no cracks about how the whole idea for the book is completely unbelievable).

Just to recap: Bush dies, those next in line for the presidency somehow refuse it, thinking that the evil popular patsy will become president, but the person who they think will get it next is somehow unavailable, and the recently appointed or elected Iraq war-vet hero of my novel becomes president. So, any ideas how I can make this happen?

Doin my homework with you

Hal Mumkin — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:48:46 -0800

(SongFilter) Dear mother recently lamented that she could die happy if only she could find a song (perhaps from her childhood in the 50s?) that names all the presidents. A key lyric seems to be "Doin my homework with you." An old woman's hyperbole to be sure, but we do try to please our parents. I managed to find some lyrics buried in a random forum comment (scroll down). Are there more verses? What's the title, how does the tune go, who wrote it? I'd be especially pleased with any audio file, even a midi, as I don't know what it sounds like and I think ma would like to reminisce. Thanks.

Here is what I know so far:

Washington, Adams, Jefferson OH!
James Madison, James Monroe;
John Quincy Adams, ooh ooh,
Doin' homework with you___

Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison WHEW!
Tyler, Polk, Taylor too;
Followed by Fillmore, ooh ooh,
Doin' homework with you.

(We gotta cram, for our exam,
By knowing every name.
Cause if we do__, I'll be with you__
Saturday's game!)

Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln; Johnson, Grant
Some I can remember, some I can't;
Rutherford Hayes, ooh ooh,
Doin' homework with you!

anyone out the REALLY like Ike?

peppermint22 — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 17:57:23 -0800

Did Dwight Eisenhower ever say this about leadership... "I'm not sure how to define it, but I know it when I see it"? Yes, I know that is a paraphrase of what Potter Stewart said about pornography.

I am taking a college management class on "Leadership" and I'm afraid the professor might be ignorant. One reason is that she opened the first day of class by reading a quote (which is also prominently featured at the top of her syllabus):
"Leadership, I'm not sure how to define it, but I know it when I see it." -Dwight D. Eisenhower...

and I'm not sure Eisenhower said that.

It seems to me that she is just misremembering the Potter Stewart quote. (Eisenhower did nominate Stewart to the Supreme Court - coincidence?) Any Ike fans out there know one way or the other? My internet searching has been futile. I need to know before I leave a strongly worded course evaluation...

Also... should I just lighten up?

Why did you vote for Bush in 2004?

papercake — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 12:33:49 -0800

I really want to understand: Why did you vote for Bush? Not snark at all -- a sincere question. I voted for Kerry. 51% of the people in this country think differently than I do and I'd like to try to get past my usual filters and biases and hear your point of view. If you voted for Bush/Cheney I'd appreciate you taking the time to explain to me what issues, beliefs, hopes, and fears motivated you voted the way you did, if you're willing.

What Traditions or Protocols Govern the Timing of Presidential Portraits?

phyrewerx — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 19:46:49 -0800

Are there any special protocols concerning the use of photos/portraits of the POTUS? I'm asking because I'm curious as to why all the Presidents up to Bush I here used a painting while Clinton and W. Bush used photos. Is there a set number of years before a President should get a portrait?

Presidential biographies

NekulturnY — Sun, 22 Aug 2004 06:20:36 -0800

BiograPhilter. While I eagerly await the publication of volume four of Robert A. Caro's 'The Years of Lyndon Johnson', what other biographies do I have to read of American presidents/politicians? Note: I'm not American, so I don't really care much for the founding fathers, or Abe Lincoln's constitutional worries etc. Also, no partizan bitch books or hagiographies, please. The wielding of raw power is what interests me most.

Good European biographies (De Gaulle, Talleyrand, Churchill) are welcomed as well.

Presidential Inauguration: Walk or Limo?

john — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 13:59:25 -0800

History question: January 21, 1977. "The afternoon of infamy" for people in the limousine business. After having just been inaugurated, Jimmy Carter decides to exit his limo and walk with his family (and a large crowd) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. What has been the trend since?