william jefferson clinton

Normally I write about my miniature Presidents on this Blog -
the Presidents of the United States - that are part of a set
of small Presidents that my mother once collected from the
grocery store - then gave to me.

Today I would like to digress from that - and write about a
President that is NOT in my Miniature Collection of Presidents -
and in my mind - a President who is - in fact - of Great Stature.

William Jefferson Clinton - the 42nd President of the United States -
aka Bill Clinton - according to my book - THE PRESIDENTS OF THE
UNITED STATES - by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey - White House Historical
Association - Scala Publishers - during his administration - 'enjoyed
as much peace and economic well being as at any time in its history.'

And Freidel and Sidey go on to say that former President Clinton could
'point to the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest
in 30 years, the highest home ownership in the country's history,
dropping crime rates in many palces' and that he 'proposed the first
balanced budget in decades' - acheiving a budget surplus.

One of his most ambitious programs - that he and First Lady Hillary
Clinton worked tiressly on - Health Care Reform - failed. But in
Robert Allen Rutland' book - The Democrats -From Jefferson to Clinton -
it is pointed out that the Republicans - citing the Health Care
Program as a bureaucratic nightmare - spent $200 million 'on lobbying
campaign to stop the ambitious campaign.

Rutland also points out in his book - that after two years in office,
Bill Clinton 'had an impressive record of accomplishments.'

Bill Cllinton was born on August 19th, 1946 in Hope Arkansas.

In 2009 - Bill Clinton was named - along with former President
George H.W. Bush - a United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti.

He is the creator of the William J. Clinton Foundation to address
issues of Global Importance.

Two books which President Clinton has authored are:

My Life (2004 )

Giving: How Each Of Us Can Change The World (2007)

ulysses s. grant

In researching this post on Ulysses S. Grant - I turned to
three different books - in order to get a handle on our
18th President of the United States.

First - I read - in THE COMPLETE BOOK OF U.S. PRESIDENTS by
William A. Degregorio - that Ulysses S. Grant - after becoming
President - found himself surrounded by scandal. But William
Degregorio writes that Grant was himself 'rigidly incorruptible'
but in spite of his strong inner character - his administration
was certainly 'marked by major scandal.'

This - perhaps - is how we remember Ulysses S. Grant - as President.

But the book PRESIDENTS - written by Dorling Kindersley - in associaton
with the Smithsonian Institution - it says that Ulysses S. Grant
was a National Hero - as the leading Union General - in the Civil War.

And Dorling Kindersley goes on to say that when he found himself
positioned for the Presidency - Grant really had no political acumen - nor had he had any experience in politics - and he had 'no real desire
to use the full powers of his high office.'

In the end - it was what I read in the book - THE PRESIDENTS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey - that
convinced me that Ulysses S. Grant was a man of Great Character -
in that - in the end - he stepped up and showed that he knew What Was Right - for Freidel and Sidey's book says that President Ulysses S.
Grant - knowing that he was dying of throat cancer - wrote his autobiography - so that his family would be provided for after he
died - and finished the book only shortly before his demise.

Ulysses S. Grant is buried at Grant's Tomb - in New York City.

james garfield

As the last of the Log Cabin Presidents - James A. Garfield
attacked Political Corruption - and won back for the Presidency
a measure of Prestige it had lost during the Reconstruction Period.

This is what we are told in the first paragraph in the Essay about
President James A. Garfield - in the Book by Frank Freidel and
Hugh Sidey - THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA -
The White House Historical Association in association with
Scala Publishers.

And this Book also tells us that James Garfield - An Exclusive
Member of The Club Of Presidents SHOT TO DEATH WITH A HANDGUN
- was only President of the United States for six months -
before he died - on September 19th, 1881.

So James Garfield's Legacy is not so much what he did as President -
but what he was as a Man.

In Joseph Nathan Kane's FACTS ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS - From Washington
To Johnson - we learn that James Garfield was born on November 19th,
1831 - in Orange, Ohio - and he was a Teacher by Occupation.

~James Garfield was the first President whose Mother was at his
Inauguration

~he was the second President who was survived by his Mother

~he was the first President to review an Inaugural Parade from a
stand in front of the White House

~James Garfield was a Professor of Ancient Languages and Literature,
Hiram College, Hiram,Ohio

~from 1857-1861 James Garfield was president of Eclectic Institute
of Hiram College where he taught Latin, Greek, History, Mathematics,
Philosophy, English Literature and English Rhetoric

Now what we are looking at here - folks - IS THAT ALTHOUGH
JAMES GARFIELD DID NOT LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO REALLY MAKE HIS
MARK IN HISTORY AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -

this I do know.

HE WAS SHARP.

How do I know that?

I know that because I read once that James Garfield could -
amd often did at Dinner Parties - Write In Greek With One Hand
And Latin With The Other - AT THE SAME TIME.

and well - That's Good Enough For Me.


James A. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States.

He died in Elberon, New Jersey - and was buried at Lake View Cemetery,
Cleveland, Ohio.

benjamin harrison

According to the Arrow Book of Presidents - by Sturges F. Carey -
(1965) Scholastic Book Services, a division of Scholastic Magazines, Inc, -
Benjamin Harrison married his childhood sweetheart - Caroline Scott -
and they settled down in Indianapolis, Indiana, to begin their Life
Together.

He was a lawyer - and according to Sturges Carey - he was actually born
into a Political family - his father had been a Congressman from Ohio -
and his grandfather was none other than - the 9th President of the
United States - William Henry Harrison.

Cary goes on to say that President Harrison pretty much let
Congress run the country - a Congress that spent over a billion
dollars - in Peacetime.

Some other facts on Benjamin Harrison from Sturges Carey's book:


~he sometimes wore gloves when shaking hands with People to avoid
getting germs - which didn't help his reputation for being 'cold and
unfriendly'


~although not always well-liked - Harrison did command Respect from
People


~Benjamin Harrison served as President of the United States between
the nonconsecutive terms of President Grover Cleveland


~the White House stayed on a strict schedule while Benjamin Harrison
was President - with meals and bedtime being no exception


~and President Benjamin is remembered for this:


that after the White House was wired for electricity - the Harrisons
were afraid of getting shocked - and often went to bed at night
leaving the lights burning



Benjamin Harrison was born on August 20, 1833 in North Bend, Ohio -
and died in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 13, 1901 - at the age of 67.


He was the 23rd President of the United States of America.

james monroe

The 5th President of the United States was a Good Solid President.


But in The Look-It-Up Book of PRESIDENTS By Wyatt Blassingame
the overwhelming facts point to James Monroe as a 'feelings'
President - and here's why:


~he was close Friends with Thomas Jefferson - in fact he even
studied law under Our 3rd President


~James Monroe was the Last of The Revolutionary Leaders to
become President


but here's the part about how he was a 'Feelings' President:


~Monroe's Presidency actually came to be Known as 'The Era Of
Good Feeling'


~He was recieved by Cheering Crowds wherever he went


~He used Clothes to make his Point - and what I'm talking about
here is that James Monroe - even though styles had changed - went
about in old-fashioned knee breeches and shoes with buckles on them


~He was Smart - and Unpretentious


~and if that's not enough - the Author of The Look-It-Up Book
of PRESIDENTS - Wyatt Blassingame - tells us this - which should
Pretty Much Confirm that James Monroe was very much Loved By So Many:



he was elected to a second term as President of the United States
in 1820 - WINNING EVERY VOTE IN THE F*ING ELECTORAL COLLEGE EXCEPT
ONE...










and the one man who Voted against Monroe said - that he did
not think anybody but George Washington should ever get all
the Votes









But you know that and I know you know

franklin pierce

Franklin Pierce - the 14th President of the United States -
is generally near the bottom of the list in Rankings of the
Presidents - of the United States.

But give me a Break here - Folks.


Shortly before Franklin Pierce took office his last surviving
son was run over and killed by a train - BEFORE HIS VERY EYES.

By all reports Franklin Pierce was an Alchoholic - not his Fault.


I think we could give him a few pitty points for both of those
things.


And furthermore - he said this:


My mind has long been impressed with the fact that if our
present lifed is not probationary in its character, if we
are not placed here, as the Blessed Word of God teaches,
to prepare for another and more Exalted Stat of Being,
we are Destined to waste our energies upon things that are
unsubstantial, fleeting, passing away and that can bring
no Permanent Peace - can give no Calm Hope that is as an
Anchor To The Soul.


And if a loser President can Understand the Meaning of words
with such Deep Meaning - then well - maybe I can too.

Oh I understand them all right - but I just don't agree with them.


Franklin Pierce Was Born On November 23rd, 1804 and died on
October 8th, 1869.

May he Rest in Peace.

harry s. truman

In their Book - THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA - published by The White House Historical
Association in association with Scala Publishers -
co-authors Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey clearly
point out of the Value of Our Twenty-Third President.

They begin their Article about Harry S. Truman by writing
that the Former President 'scarcely saw' Presdient Franklin
Roosevelt while he served as Vice President and had
'received no briefing on the development of the atomic
bomb or the unfolding difficulties with Soviet Russia.'

Yet this Man - who grew up in Independence, Missouri - stepped
up and made 'some of the most crucial decisions in history':


~by dropping the Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - thus leading
to the Japanese surrender

~and developing his own Policies - such as the expansion of
Social Security, a full-employment program, a permanent
Fair Employment Practices Act, and public housing and slum
clearance - all of which collectively became known as the
Fair D -eal

~President Truman also made a call on the worsening situation
in South Korea - which Freidel and Sidey point out was supported
virutally by all - and that Good Judgement was to Attack North
Korea but that 'war' was wisely held to Limitation


President Harry S. Truman died at the age of 88 in December
of 1972.

john quincy adams

John Quincy Adams was a member of the Renowned
Adams Family. And he was indeed One of the Good
Ones - for not only was his Mother the First Lady
of the United States - but His Mother - Abigail
Adams - just happened to be Married to the Second
President of the United States - John Adams. And
furthermore - Johm Quincy Adams had a very famous
Second Cousin - whose name was Samuel Adams - a
Man Who Was Instrumental In The Formation of
Our Country - A Patriot - you might say.

So John Quincy Adams was no Stranger To The World
Of Politics. Not only was he a Graduate of Harvard -
and a Lawyer - but before becoming the Sixth
President of the United States John Quincy Adams
held the Positon of Secretary of State and it was
generally assumed that he would Ascend to the
Presidency.

And although John Quincy Adams was a One Term
President - in their Book published by the White
House Historical Association - Frank Freidel
and Hugh Sidney list a number of Achievements
by this Distinguished Member of the Adams
Family.

As President of the United States - John Quincy
Adams:

~laid out an ambitious program proposing that the
Federal Government bring together Sections of the
Country with a Network of Highways and Canals

~he was responsible for Breaking Ground for the
185 mile C & O Canal

~he encouraged the development of the ARTS and
Sciences

John Quincy Adams not only was the First Son Of
One Of This Country's Finest First Couples - but
after leaving Office he distinguished himself
by becoming the First Former President To Serve
In Congress - for seventeen years.


John Quincy Adams was born in Quincy, Massachusetts
in 1767 - and died in Washington, D.C. in 1848.

george washington

The Key to Knowing who George Washington was lies
at Mount Vernon.

Ya gotta go to Mount Vernon folks.


Why - you might ask?


Because Mount Vernon is/was his House.


I Believe that every American should go to Mount Vernon
at least ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.


kinda like Muslins hafta go to Mecca


But if you do go to Mount Vernon - and this is America folks
so no one is gonna make you go - you will see who this Great
Man was.


I'm not even going to talk about it on this Post.


Just go.


And if you do go - and for you Poor Folks it's free on his
Birthday - check out these Things:


~the Magnificant View of the Potomac River from the backyard

~stand by the Bed in which he Drew His Last Breath

~note the Simple but Elegant Way in which he Lived - Unpretentious
Really

~see where his Slaves prepared his Food in the really cool
oldfashioned kitchen

~his over the top Carriage in which he went for rides


and much more




You Really need to go to Mount Vernon - Folks.












because George Washington is As Good As It Gets












and he was the Father Of Our Country - wasn't he?

warren g. harding

Before he became the 29th President of the United States -
Warren G. Harding (1921-1923) was a state senator in Ohio.
Following that he became the lieutenant governor of Ohio
and finally a U.S. Senator.

In her workbook FOCUS ON PRESIDENTS - Cynthia Holzschuher
writes that in his short time as President:



Warren G. Harding was the first President to speak for
Civil Rights in the South.

And Warren G. Harding said that it was his Hope that
Black Men would regard themselves as 'full participants
in the benefits and duties of American Citizens.




And another thing that really caught my attention in Cynthia
Holzschuher's workbook was that First Lady Florence Kling
DeWolfe Harding was interested in Astrology and once
visited a clairvoyant who 'predicted that her husband
would become President but die in Office.




I Believe that Warren G. Harding did become President.




And he died unexpectedly in San Francisco on August 2nd,
1923 of a Heart Attack




without having finished out his one term as President
of the United States.

chester a. arthur

In writing this Article about our 21st President
of the United States - Chester A. Arthur - I turned
to my COMPLETE BOOK OF PRESIDENTS & STATES which
was put out by American Education Publishing and
was edited by Kent Publishing Services, Inc. in
2000.

This book - which really is done in a Workbook
Format aimed at students in Grades 4-6 - I found
the paragraph about Chester A. Arthur to be concise
and to the point - but what really amazed me about
the article is that most of the points made in
presenting information on Chester Arthur the
authors of the Workbook allowed me insight into
how even back in late 1880's many issues and
mindsets were so similar to what we experience
in our Country today.


~Chester A. Arthur was a Veteran - of the Civil War.

~He became President at a time when the People had
pretty much lost Respect for the Presidency.

~President Arthur was considered to have brought
Values back to the Office of President of the United
States.

~Arthur was inherently a Private Person and Believed
that his Private Life should be kept from the Public.


Now these are the main things that stood out for me as
issues that have been arising today while we are in the
Process of Choosing a President.

Other facts about Chester A. Arthur that I found in this
Workbook are:


~Arthur was a Republican and a One Term President.

~His four years as President were marred by the scandal
that also surrounded his predecessor - James Garfield -
mainly the Spoils System.

~An important accomplishment that Arthur achieved was the
Modernization of the Navy.

~Chester A. Arthur was a staunch Defender of Civil Rights
for Slaves.

~He passed the Pendleton Act which was instrumental in
eliminating political favors.


Chester A. Arthur was born in 1829 and died on Novembber 18th
in 1886.

woodrow wilson

Of all the books about the Presidents of the United
States that I own - the best one by far is
William A. Degregorio's THE COMPLETE BOOK OF U.S. PRESIDENTS.

In this book I found the following information on Woodrow
Wilson:


~Although he is mostly referred to as Woodrow Wilson -
Degregorio lists Wilson's first name as Thomas. The name
Thomas was given to him because of his grandfather and
although President Wilson - for a while - went by the
name of T. Woodrow Wilson, Degregorio writes that
Wilson soon dropped the first initial.

~Woodrow Wilson did not enjoy good health for most of
his life - having been plagued by indigestion, the strain
of his Presidential duties, and of course the serious
stroke he suffered in 1919. In addition - Wilson was
virtually blind by the end of his life.

~Degregorio tell us that Woodrow Wilson was a 'complex'
man - emotionally - that he allowed himself few close
friends - and that his best and lasting friends were
women. He is described as very confident - and even
gifted - when appearing before crowds - yet in person
he seemed shy - and perhaps awkward.


Woodrow Wilson was born on December 28th, in 1856 -
and died on February 3rd, in 1924.

At 11:15 am.


Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States
of America.

martin van buren

Martin Van Buren had the distinction of being
the First President of the United States - and
let me tell ya folks I'm sure he had a Birth
Certificate to Prove It.

Other interesting facts about Martin Van Buren
that I found in my Presidents TimeLine Workbook
(2003) written by Ellen and Dick Sussman are:


~On February 21st, 1807 he married Hannah Hoes -
and will you know what they say...


~Martin Van Buren was the first President born after
the signing of the Declaration of Independence.


~He was a Supporter of Andrew Jackson.


~He was a U.S. Senator.


~While serving in the Senate he spoke out against
imprisonment for debt.


~Martin Van Buren tried in vain to stop Slave Trade.


~He remained active in Politics for over 20 years after
he was no longer President.


~Martin Van Buren had only been in office for 67 days
when the First Great Depression hit in 1837. Those people
blamed it on him anyway. Hmmmm.....


~At age 79 Martin Van Buren died. He was buried beside
his wife.



Yes - Martin Van Buren was a Democrat.


And yes - he was a one termer.


But it sounds to me folks like he did his best - and that
ain't all bad.


Thank you - Martin Van Buren.


For What - you might ask?


For doing what you were called upon to do - and for
standing up and doing it.


And no one can ask anyone for more than that.

millard fillmore

Millard Fillmore was the 13th President of the United States.

He was:


~born in Cayuga County, New York

~a Whig

~74 years old when he died

~50 years old when he became President

~married twice

~married for 27 years the first time

~married for 16 years the second time

~a lawyer

~of English ancestry

~Chancellor of the University of Buffalo

~a Unitarian

~President for two years and 236 days

~never a college student

~buried at Forest Law Cemetery in the state of New York



Information taken from:


FACT ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS (FROM WASHINGTON TO JOHNSON)
BY JOSEPH NATHAN KANE (1959)