Presidential Moments: Hail to the Chief Nicknames

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Teaser

Presidential nicknames, fond or far-fetched. Everyone has one, but as president, they garner the respect and allegiance of the nation. Therefore, their nicknames are particularly intriguing and important to us.

quiz_instructions

When you're in the public eye (and the press) as much as the U.S. Commander in Chief, it's difficult to avoid gathering a few unofficial titles. Match the President to his nickname.

Quiz Answer

1. "Flying Dutchman":

Martin Van Buren. Martin Van Buren was a Dutch-American who grew up in Kinderhook, New York, speaking Dutch at home. The first President who was actually born a citizen of the country, he worked as a party organizer and a political strategist. He was not a popular leader, like his predecessor, charismatic Andrew Jackson. Other nicknames include "Red Fox of Kinderhook," "Little Magician," and "American Talleyrand."

2. The "Plodder":

James K. Polk. As Speaker of the House, prior to becoming President, Polk was known for his conscientiousness. He was not a popular man, without a personal following, known for being cold, suspicious, humorless, lacking charm and personal magnitude. He failed twice in reelection for governor of Texas.

3. "General Mum":

William Henry Harrison. Democrats criticized Whig Harrison for evading the issues during the campaign. The Whig party lacked an actual party platform in the election of 1840. Harrison made few speeches, apparently so nothing could be used against him. His most memorable speech, where he was not "mum," was his two-hour inauguration address. Unfortunately, he caught cold and died of pnemonia. He was also nicknamed "Old Tippecanoe," "Granny Harrison" (he was the oldest elected president of his time at age 68), Log Cabin Candidate (although he came from a privileged background), and "Cinncinatus of the West."

4. The "Usurper":

Rutherford B. Hayes. Due to the controversy of the election of 1876 resulting in a vote in the House of Representatives between Samuel J. Tilden and Hayes, who won by one vote, Hayes was also called "His Fraudulency and "Rutherfraud B. Hayes."

5. "Mr. Malaprop":

William Howard Taft. Careless about remembering names and tactless references, Taft often made politically self-damaging remarks. He was also known as "Taft the Blunderer." He often fell asleep during cabinet meetings dinners, and conferences.

6. "Chief of the One Liners":

Ronald Reagan. Reagan was also nicknamed "Great Communicator," "Chief Jokster," and "Chief Punster." He collected funny stories and solicited jokes for opportune situations. Secretary of State George Schultz often added a joke to cables sent to Reagan while overseas just to make sure the President read the cable. Reagan told many jokes about the Soviet Union and often told anti-Soviet stories, helping to develop a good relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev.

Sources
  • Paul F. Boller, Jr. Presidential Anecdotes (Philadelphia: Running Press, 2007).
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By the Numbers: Election Maps

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Teaser

What can historical election maps tell us? Take a look at the electoral vote for several 19th-century presidential elections.

quiz_instructions

During modern presidential campaigns and elections, red-and-blue maps dominate reporting on politics, tracking the success of candidates and their parties state by state. Check out these older maps, drawn from 19th-century presidential elections. The colors indicate Electoral College results for each state then in existence. Figure out what year each election occurred.

Quiz Answer

1. 1848
Blue: Democrat
Orange: Whig
Whig Zachary Taylor beat Democratic candidate Lewis Cass. Third party Free Soil candidate Martin Van Buren did not get one electoral vote.

2. 1856
Blue: Democrat
Red: Republican
Yellow: Know Nothing
Democrat James Buchanan won with 174 electoral votes over Republican John C. Fremont's 114 and Whig-American Millard Filmore's 8.

3. 1852
Blue: Democrat
Orange: Whig
Democrat Franklin Pierce beat out Whig candidate Winfield Scott. The popular vote was much closer than the electoral vote: 50.8% to 43.9%.

4. 1860
Red: Republican
Blue: Democrat (Southern)
Yellow: Constitutional Union
Green: Democrat
Sectional divide split the nation prior to the Civil War when Republican Abraham Lincoln won the election. John Breckinridge led the Southern Democrats, John Bell ran for the Constitutional Union party, and the northern Democratic candidate was Stephen Douglas.

5. 1844
Blue: Democrat
Orange: Whig
Democrat James K. Polk won over Whig candidate Henry Clay.

6. 1840
Blue: Democrat
Orange: Whig
Whig candidate William Henry Harrison beat Democratic candidate Martin Van Buren with 234 electoral votes to 60.

7. 1864
Red: Republican
Blue: Democrat
This mid-Civil War election map reflects the separation between North and South. Republican Lincoln beat Democrat George McClellan.

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Ford's Theatre Teacher Museum Preview Night

Description

From the Ford's Theatre website:

"Ford's Theatre will offer local area teachers the chance to preview the new and improved museum. Follow Lincoln from the first days of his presidency to the last days of the Civil War. The dynamic and interactive new museum features videos, three-dimensional figures and a remarkable collection of artifacts. There will be door prizes, refreshments and classroom resources offered."

Contact name
Jake Flack
Contact email
Sponsoring Organization
Ford's Theatre, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Tudor Place Historic House, President Lincoln's Cottage, U.S. Capitol Historical Society
Phone number
2026382941
Target Audience
Local DC-area teachers
Start Date
Cost
Free
Contact Title
Education Programs Coordinator
Duration
Two hours

Presidential Academy for American History and Civics

Description

From the Ashbrook Center website:

"This Presidential Academy will lead teachers in a careful study of three turning points in American history: The American Revolution, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Our study will be framed by the three famous documents that memorialize these American epochs: the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the "I Have a Dream" speech. Participants will spend five days in Philadelphia, six days in Gettysburg, and six days in Washington, DC.

The professors conducting the Academy are among the finest scholars of American history and government from across the country. They include a Pulitzer Prize winning author and many recipients of teaching awards at their respective colleges and universities."

Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Ashbrook Center
Target Audience
Middle and high school
Start Date
Cost
Free; $1500 stipend
Course Credit
"Teachers may choose to receive four hours of Master's degree credit from Ashland University. This credit can be used toward the Master of American History and Government offered by Ashland University or may be transfered to another institution. The four credits are offered at a discounted cost of $880 ($220/semester credit hour)."
Duration
Nineteen days
End Date

William Robertson Coe Workshop in American History: Revolutions in American Life

Description

From the Stanford University Department of History website:

"The 2010 William Robertson Coe Summer Workshop in American History will be organized around the theme of 'Revolutions in American Life.' Participants will explore problems of historical change and continuity through a close examination of three watershed periods in American history: the American Revolution, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights era. Each period was marked by bitter conflict and momentous change, not only in the realm of politics but also in American social, cultural, and political life. Not surprisingly, each has generated intense debate among historians.

Participants in the Coe Workshop will examine these three periods, as well as the historiographical debates to which they have given rise. Salient themes include changing conceptions of citizenship and of the relationship between individuals and the state; struggles over the meaning of federalism; and the continuous struggles of women, African Americans, and other historically marginalized groups to claim their full portion as American citizens.

Instruction will include daily lectures by Stanford University historians, as well as group discussions of select primary and secondary sources. (Participants will receive a resource packet, including books, documents, and sample curricula, about one month before the workshop begins.) These lectures and discussions, convened daily from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, will be supplemented by evening movie screenings, as well as by occasional field trips to local museums, archives, and historical sites. While the primary focus is on content enrichment, the workshop will also include dedicated pedagogy sessions, enabling participants to debate and exchange effective teaching strategies. In addition, each participant will create a lesson examining one of the three historical periods under consideration, which he or she will then share with other workshop members."

Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Stanford University
Target Audience
11-12
Start Date
Cost
Free; fellowship stipend provided
Course Credit
"Fellows who wish to receive credit for participation in the workshop may request a certificate of completion (an equivalent of 3 units of graduate credit, or 2 semester units)."
Duration
Twelve days
End Date

America at War: 1950-2010

Description

From the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum:

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum will be offering a summer course for teachers in July. Presenters will examine the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and discuss its legacy. Teachers will have the opportunity to hear scholars from around the nation and discuss the latest research on topics such as the Vietnam War, the Iran hostage crisis, the end of the Cold War, and present-day conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Educators will also create lesson plans and teaching materials based on the presentations.

Speakers include Adrian Lewis, University of Kansas; representatives from nine presidential libraries; Paul Edwards from the Center for the Study of the Korean War; military historians; and currently serving military officers from Fort Leavenworth.

Teachers will have access to numerous primary sources from the Truman Archives during the week-long conference and will be encouraged to share their ideas during the conference.

Contact email
Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Target Audience
Secondary
Start Date
Cost
$100
Course Credit
"Two hours credit is available from UMKC for an additional cost."
Duration
Five days
End Date

Civil War and Reconstruction

Description

From the Ashbrook Center website:

"This course will examine military aspects of the war, as well as political developments during it, including the political history of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the Second Inaugural. The course also examines the post-war Amendments and the Reconstruction era."

Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Ashbrook Center
Phone number
8772895411
Target Audience
K-12
Start Date
Cost
Free; $500 stipend
Course Credit
"Teachers may choose to receive two hours of Master's degree credit from Ashland University. This credit can be used toward the Master of American History and Government offered by Ashland University or may be transferred to another institution. The two credits will cost $440."
Duration
Six days
End Date

The American Revolution

Description

From the Ashbrook Center website:

"This course focuses on three topics: political developments in North America and the British empire and the arguments for and against independence, culminating in the Declaration of Independence; the Revolutionary War as a military, social, and cultural event in the development of the American nation and state; and the United States under the Articles of Confederation."

Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Ashbrook Center
Phone number
8772895411
Target Audience
K-12
Start Date
Cost
Free; $500 stipend
Course Credit
"Teachers may choose to receive two hours of Master's degree credit from Ashland University. This credit can be used toward the Master of American History and Government offered by Ashland University or may be transferred to another institution. The two credits will cost $440."
Duration
Six days
End Date

Life, Leadership, and Legacy: George Washington and Harry Truman

Description

From the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum:

Staff from George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens will join with staff from the Truman Library to present this unique workshop. Both Presidents Washington and Truman will come under close scrutiny as their early life, influences, military careers, and presidency will be compared. Themes include leadership, character, decision making, and handling crises. A reenactor from the Washington era will also be present!

This two-day workshop will be a one-time offering and numerous primary sources and ready-to-use teaching materials will be supplied. In addition to excellent content, teaching strategies and methods will be discussed.

Contact name
Mark Adams
Contact email
Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Phone number
8162688236
Target Audience
K-12
Start Date
Cost
$50
Course Credit
"One hour of continuing education graduate credit is offered through the University of Missouri - Kansas City for an additional fee of $75.00."
Duration
Two days
End Date

Great American Texts: Abraham Lincoln

Description

From the Ashbrook Center website:

"Abraham Lincoln wove his words into the fabric of American history. In the twenty-first century, Lincoln's political language remains more contemporary than all but the most timeless of the political language of the American Founding. This course is a study of selected Lincoln speeches aiming to illuminate Lincoln's understanding of the relation of the principles of the American Founding to the most pressing issues of his day."

Registration Deadline
Sponsoring Organization
Ashbrook Center
Phone number
8772895411
Target Audience
K-12
Start Date
Cost
Free; $500 stipend
Course Credit
"Teachers may choose to receive two hours of Master's degree credit from Ashland University. This credit can be used toward the Master of American History and Government offered by Ashland University or may be transferred to another institution. The two credits will cost $440."
Duration
Six days
End Date