Today is Presidents Day \u2014 originally a day to honor the nation\u2019s first president, George Washington. Through the years, both George Washington (born on February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (born on February 12) have come to be honored on the third Monday in February. Today it has supposedly come to be a patriotic observance of all US presidents\u2026 although sometimes it seems like it\u2019s more about Presidents Day sales than any kind of patriotic observance.\u00a0
It is, however, an official federal holiday \u2014post offices and stock markets are closed, as well as most, if not all, banks. Schools (that are open, are also closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know I\u2019ve mentioned some of the things before, but it\u2019s a good day to learn a few things about our past presidents\u2026.
The story about George Washington wooden teeth is a myth. Over the years, he was fitted with false teeth made from ivory, gold and human teeth.
James Madison was the shortest president (5\u20194\u201d) and Abraham Lincoln was the tallest (6\u20194\u201d.)
There have been eight left-handed presidents \u2014 James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.
George Washington was the only president unanimously elected \u2014 all of the state representatives voted for him.
Martin Van Buren was the only president to speak English as a second language. His first language was Dutch.
Rutherford B. Hayes banned beer, wine or any other type of alcohol at the White House. At official functions, Mrs. Hayes was known as \u201clemonade Lucy.\u201d
Joe Biden is the oldest president\u00a0 at 78 years, 61 days<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I suppose it should be noted that on this Presidents Day, Donald Trump\u2019s second impeachment trial just completed. While the outcome of the trial was never in doubt, the former President was impeached \u2014 twice. That\u2019s certainly a stain on the office we celebrate today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today is the first Presidents Day for the new President \u2014 he\u2019s got a tough job and I wish him well. One of his predecessors, Harry Truman, said. \u201cAmerica was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.\u201d Good luck to us all\u2026.
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Today is Presidents Day \u2014 originally a day to honor the nation\u2019s first president, George Washington. Through the years, both George Washington (born on February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (born on February 12) have come to be honored on the … Continue reading