Happy Presidents’ Day! The holiday is celebrated on the third Monday in February. Here are some fun facts about the holiday and the people it honors.
The holiday is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government, but History.com explains that it became “popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.”
Martin Van Buren was the first President born a citizen of the United States. He was born in New York on December 5, 1782. All previous Presidents were born prior to the Revolution. Van Buren was called “Old Kinderhook,” which was shortened to OK, and is where the phrase “o.k.” originated.
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest man to serve as president, ascending to the post at age 42 following the assassination of President William McKinley.
John F. Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected as president at age 43.
Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president at approximately 6’4″. If you ever visit his home in Springfield, Illinois, they have the mirror he used for shaving on the wall and it’s really high. It was well above my head.
James Madison was the shortest President, at just 5’4″.
Grover Cleveland was the only President to serve two terms, not consecutively. He is counted as the 22nd and 24th President.
Not one but two presidents have kept alligators as pets in the White House. President John Quincy Adams received an alligator as a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette. He reportedly kept it in a bathroom in the East Room of the White House. Herbert Hoover’s son, Allan, also had pet alligators.
Former presidents who have been left handed include James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Ronald Reagan was left handed, although he learned to write with his right hand.
The most common among first name among presidents is James. There have been six named James: Madison, Monroe, Polk, Buchanan, Garfield, Carter.
President William Howard Taft started the tradition of presidents throwing the ceremonial opening pitch on the opening day of the baseball season. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the Washington Senators’ game against the Philadelphia Athletics on Opening Day April 15, 1910.
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