Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-08-21
NiCknameS Of the Presidents.

ever escaped being nickdamed. 1t
seems to be national weakness with
Americans to give favorite names to
men prominent in politics, in the army
and in the navy. Usually the names
are bestowed in fun, or in admiration
for the person nicknamed, but some
times political feeling crops in, and the
nicknames are given in scorn and deri-
sion.
Our first president, George Washing
ton, is known to every American
school boy and girl as the "Father of
His Counry." He was also called the
"Cincinnatus of the West" because he
was living peacefully on his planta-
ton when he was sent for to take COM
mand of the continental forces at the
beginning of the revolution.
In his day, John Adams was often
spoken of as the COLOSSUS of Inde-
pendence" because of the intimate con-
nection with the adoption of the De-
claration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson was frequently re-
ferred to as the "Sage of Monticello, !"
that being the name of his plantation.
He was tall and thin, and his political
opponents called him "Long Tom"
President Madison was supposed to
be the "Father of the Constitution"
| hocaI,So ho offoroI a rocol,,t;o,, ~, a VIZ
ginia legislature which resulted in the
convention of 1884, which led the way
to the adoption of the constitution of
the United States.
James Monroe always insisted upon
wearing three-cornered hat such as
was fashionable during the revolution
ary war, and therefore he was given
| the nickname of the 1.-THE Last Cooked
! Hat"
John Quincy Adams while in con-
gress, earned such a reputation for ora
tory that his friends dubbed him "Old
Man Eloquent"
The old hero Andrew Jackson, was
always called by the Creek Indians
"Big Knife" while to his friends and
political foes he was better known as
"Old Hickory" or ''The hero of New
Orleans"
Martin Van Buren, had numerous
nickmanes. During his political ca
reer he acquired such reputation for
shrewdness that he was called the
"Little Magician" also the "Wizard of
Kinderkook, the name of his birth
place. His enemies spoke of him as
"King Martin, the First"
William Henry Harrison fought so
much in and around Canada against
the British that he was sometimes call
ed the "Washington of the West" but
he was better known by his nickname
of "Tippecanoe," given him after his
celebrated fight with the Indians.
John Tyler had no nickname except
"His Accidency," and James X. Polk
Jared no better, his popular name be-
ing "Young Hickory" because he
somewhat resembled Andrew Jackson
in appearance and actions.
Zachary Taylor was dubbed "Old
Rough and Ready" and also "Old
Buena Vista" 1t was in that battle
that he made the famous remark. ga
little more grape, Captain Bragg" and
he was often called "Old Zach.'
Millard Fillmore was frequently call
ed the "American Louis Phil
lippe," whom he was said to closely
resem BILE in dress and figure. Frank
lin Pierce was known to the political
world as ''Tight PURSE" that being the
way in which his surname was pro-
nounced in some parts of the country.
In the exciting days before the civil
war James Buchanan was termed in
derision ''the government back" but
he was better known as ''old public
functionary, the expression being TAX
en- from one of his messages to congress
in 1859. He was frequently called "Old
Buck, +" and the "Bachelor President"
Probably no man had more nick
names than President Lincoln, some
of them being sold Abe" "Honest
Abe" s'The Sectional President" ''The
Rail Splitter" and the negroes always
called him "Massa Linkum.o The ex-
preston "Father Abraham" was given
to him in the war song. "We are Com
ing, Father Abraham. Five Hundred
Thousand Strong"
The unpopular Andrew Johnson was
| nicknamed ''Sir Veto,o on account of
his frequent rows with congress.
General Grant had nearly as many
nicknames as President Lincoln. For
instance, he was called 'rThe Hero of
Appomattox," Unconditional Surren-
der" and "Old Three Star" When he
was mentioned for third term he was
frequently alluded to as the american
Caesar.n The "Butcher from Galena"
was the epithet applied to Grant by
Charles O'Conor of New York, in his
letter accepting the nomination of the
democratic party in 1872. The allusion
was to the large number of soldiers
killed in Grants campaign.
Rutherford B. Hays was frequently
STYLED by the democratic press "Presi-
pent de Facto," ON account of the fact
that it was claimed that Samuel J.
Tllden, his opponent for the presidency,
had been counted out, and was actually
sPresident de Jure."
James Garfield had two nicknames,
the ''Teacher President and the
"Canal Boy" Chester A. Arthur was
called the ''First Gentleman of the
Land" because he drove four-in-hand
and lived in great elegance.
Grover Cleveland was cordially dis
liked by his political opponents, and
they called him s'The stuffed Prophet, y