Presidents

In honor of Presidents Day on Feb. 16, we present some little known facts about U.S. presidents.

1

The number of presidents who were also licensed bartenders. Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender while co-owner of Berry and Lincoln, a saloon in Springfield, Ill. Lincoln was also the only presidential candidate in the 1860 election who was not a member of the Masons.

3

The number of presidents who died on the 4^th of July – Thomas Jefferson (1826), John Adams (1826) and James Monroe (1831). Calvin Coolidge is the only president to be born on that day. Adams’ last words were, “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” He did not know that Jefferson had died several hours earlier.

6

The number of presidents named James – Madison, Monroe, Polk, Buchanan, Garfield and Carter.

15

The number of children fathered by John Tyler (by two wives). He was also the first president to be married in office (to his second wife; the first wife and his first eight children did not attend the ceremony).

20

The number of cigars Ulysses S. Grant is said to have smoked daily. He died of throat cancer.

133

The number of words in George Washington’s inauguration speech, which, at less than two minutes long, is the shortest inauguration speech on record.

325

The weight of William Howard Taft, our largest president. It is said he often got stuck in the White House bathtub.

1945

The year Congress voted to commemorate the work Franklin Delano Roosevelt did for the March of Dimes by putting his profile on the 10-cent coin.

5,000

The bill that bears the face of James Madison. While it is still legal tender, it is no longer printed.

6,469

The patent number issued to Abraham Lincoln on May 22, 1849, for a device to lift boats over shoals. Although the device was never manufactured, Lincoln is the only president to hold a patent.

8,758

The number of words in William Henry Harrison’s 100-minute speech. The speech was delivered outside in bad weather, and a month later Harrison was dead from pneumonia, making his the shortest presidency.

Source:  randomhistory.com