Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-06-01
PERSONNEL OF PRESIDENTS.

PERSONNEL OF PRESIDENTS.
How Old They We're When In
augurated-Some of Their Char
acterlstIcs.
General Harrison was, when in
augurated, says the Chicago Times, 55
years, months, and IA days old, about
year younger than tie average of his
predecessors when inaugurate1. His
grandfather, when he took his oath OF
Office, was in his 6Sth year. His age
was greater than that OF any other
president before or since. Gen. Jack
son was within eleven days of being G6
when he began his second term and
Buchanan only five days younger. The
youngest president ever inaugurated
was Grant, he being little under AZ.
Cleveland was next, little less than
4S; this was also the age Of Pierce;
Fillmore was 40, Polk and Garfield
each so, Taylor and Arthur 81, Lincoln
50, Van Buren, and Hayes each 81
In point of ancestry President Harri-
son can trace his genealogy further
than any of his predecessors, with the
exception of Hayes, each of them COW
ering six generations. Cleveland and
Adams rank next each four genera
tions; none OF the others exceed three.
Educational facilities enjoyed by mem
bers of the presidential line are most
marked in the case of John Quincy
Adams. His studies covered courses al
Amsterdam, Holland; the University OF
Leyden, and Harvard college. The
least extensive, but possibly the most
romantic were those of Andrew John
son, for he was taught to read when
village tailor by the lady who after
ward became his wife. 1t has been
stated by member of Johnson's fami-
~ that he did not believe the world
was round and that up to the time Of
his election as president he had never
read but one book through-aThe
Vicar of Wakefield but his natural
endowments were OF high order and
accounted for his success. Grant was
the only one educated at West Point.
Thirteen, including Gen. Harrison,
have been college graduates, their
educational facilities varying accord
ing to the rank and character Of their
respective colleges.
In the extent and variety Of purely
J political work done Adams again heads
\ the list for he filed consecutively thir-
teen important public positions, Mon
roe filed twelve. and Harrison ten.
1t is a popular belief that statesman
who accepts cabinet position has
small chances of becoming president
yet Monroe had been both secretary OF
war and state. and the latter position
4 was held by Jefferson, Madison, Adams,
Van Buren,. and Buchanan.
Though President Harrison at the re-
cent election received little less and
Mr.. Cleveland a little more than 4s
per cent of the popular vote the former
carried nearly So per cent of the states
and received over So per cent of the
electoral vote. 1t has frequently hap
pened that the successful candidate
did not receive a majority of the popu-
lar vote. Such was the case with Polk,
Taylor, Buchanan. Lincoln (when first
elected), Garfield. and Cleveland in
1884. In two other cases the success
full candidate did not receive the high
est plurality those of John Quincy
Adams and r. B. Hayes.
The highest per cent Of the electoral
vote received by any president was
that of Monroe in his second candidacy
-92. 29-and Washington for his second
term ranks next, having received
97.77 per cent The lowest per cent
of the electoral vote received by any
successful candidate was that OF John
Quincy Adams 50. 1S-while jackson.
the defeated candidate, received 6S.15
per cent Of the electoral vote.