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AMERICAN PRESIDENTS Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president of the United States to wear contact lenses.

Lincoln was shot on Good Friday.

President Teddy Roosevelt died from an “infected tooth.”

George Washington died after being bled by leeches.

President Theodore Roosevelt was the first to announce to the world that Maxwell House coffee is “Good to the last drop.”

Leslie Lynch King, Jr. is the birth name of American President Gerald. R. Ford. Ford was the son of Leslie Lynch King and his wife Dorothy Ayer Gardner, who divorced soon after the birth of their only child. When his mother married Gerald R. Ford, Sr. in 1916, he adopted the name Gerald R. Ford, Jr.

On April 14th, 1910, President Howard Taft began a sports tradition by throwing out the first baseball of the season. That happened at an American League game between Washington and Philadelphia. Washington won, 3-0. Roosevelt was the most superstitious president—he traveled continually but never left on a Friday. He also would not sit at the same table that held thirteen other people. George Washington was deathly afraid of being buried alive. After he died, he wanted to be laid out for three days just to make sure he was dead. Richard Nixon’s favorite drink was a dry martini. James Buchanon is said to have had the neatest handwriting of all the Presidents. Richard Nixon left instructions for “California, here I come” to be the last piece of music played (slowly and softly) were he to die in office. The only president to be head of a labor union was Ronald Reagan. Benjamin Franklin lived at 141 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA. Theodore Roosevelt was the only U.S. president to deliver an inaugural address without using the word “I”. Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower tied for second place, using “I” only once in their inaugural addresses. George Washington died the last hour of the last day of the last week of the last month of the last year of the 18th century. Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to ride in an automobile, fly in a plane, and go underwater in a submarine. JFK was the first president born in the 20th century. Thomas Jefferson was once given a 1,235 pound hunk of cheese, giving us the term “the big cheese.” President McKinley was shot while shaking hands with spectators. Theodore Roosevelt’s wife and mother both died on Feb. 14, 1884. Lyndon Johnson’s First Family all had initials LBJ. Lyndon Baines Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, Linda Bird Johnson and Lucy Baines Johnson. And his dog, Little Beagle Johnson.

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June 08

James Garfield often gave campaign speeches in German.

U.S. President Millard Fillmore’s mother feared he may have been mentally retarded. Although John F. Kennedy was reportedly an accomplished yoyo player, the yo-yo that has commanded the highest price at auction was autographed by President Nixon. This yo-yo was given to “King of Country Music” Roy Acuff onstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1972, after Nixon introduced Acuff’s act. Acuff was famous for yo-yoing on stage and encouraged the President to try. Luckily, the President’s awkward performance was captured in a classic news wire photo. The yo-yo fetched $16,029.00 at Acuff’s estate auction. Abraham Lincoln’s political experience before he became president was a two year term in the House of Representatives. Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain 7 letters. Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. Both Presidents were shot in the head. Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy. Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939. Lincoln was shot in a theater named Kennedy. Kennedy was shot in a car called Kennedy. Booth ran from a theater and was caught in a warehouse. Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater. Both Wilkes and Booth were assassinated before their trials. After telling the press he was an expert in hand gestures, President George Bush gave the “V-for-Victory” sign as he drove in his armored limousine past demonstrators in Canberra, Australia’s capital, in January 1992. In Australia, holding up two fingers to form a “V” has the same vulgar meaning as the middlefinger gesture in the United States. The Aussie demonstrators were enraged, and they signaled in the same manner back at the U.S. President. Pres. Bush later apologized for his faux pas. Alexander Hamilton has been credited with writing George Washington’s famous Farewell Address. June 08

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