Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-28
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Many Presidents Left It Without
a Pang of Regret.
GLAD TO ESCAPE ITS CARES.
jefferson. With Tears In His Eyes,
Voiced His Joy In Returning to His
Clover FieIds-Johnson Also Depart.
ed With Feelings Of Deep Relief.

Voiced His Joy In Returning to His
Glover FieIds-Johnson Also Depart
ed With Feelings Of Deep Relief.
The varied circumstances under
which presidents Of the United States
left Washington following the ending
of their terms of office Is interesting.
for no two followed exactly the same
course. Each presidents manner Of
farewell depended upon his tempera-
ment or upon his success In Office.
Washington and John Adams and JET.
ferson all said farewell with gladness
in their hearts, for each Of these was
well along in life at the time, and each
was glad to lay down the formalities
Of public office.
John Quincy Adams, like his father
before him, did not wait to witness the
Inauguration of his successor. Thomas
jefferson, after two terms in the White
House. said. with tears in his eyes.
that he was glad beyond expression tc
return to the "clover fields of his farm
at Monticello" .. ..'....
Andrew Jackson left the White
House without regret. Not that he was
tired Of serving his country. but that
age was creeping upon him and the
mental and physical strain Of public
life was beginning to tell upon his gen.
eral health. 49,.
President Van Buren, left the White
House on foot. becoming thus Of sud
den once more an ordinary citizen. the
transition taking place with as much
apparent Indifference as was his COM
ing to the White House. An Albany
newspaper of the time relates that ION
Monday. March l. large number of
the Democracy called upon Mr.. Van
Buren, and were received by him in the
celebrated east room, where he bid
them farewell. He walked down the
avenue today March a. as unconceru-
ed as the most humble spectator in the
crowd"
President Tyler, before leaving the
White House. engaged quarters at a
Washington hotel and, after welcom-
ing his successor, President Polk,
drove to his temporary home with Mrs.
Tyler. President Johnson, beset by en-.
emies whose attacks had continued TIC
harass him all during his term of office,
left the White House with feelings of
deep relief. Reporters of that day tell
us how, on the Sd Of March. 1869. the
day before General Grant came to the
White House, "at IL o'clock President
Johnson's private reception room was
thrown open to an immense throng Of
visitors. The president was in the
room and shook hands with all the WIS.,
itors, many Of whom seemed much af-
fected, being personal friends"
When President Hayes took his de-
parture from the White House he re-
NAMED for short time in Washington
as the guest of Senator Sherman, sec
rotary of the treasury. and of Mr.. SUIT
ton. The evening before President
Harrison's leavetaking his daughter
Mrs. Mckee, held farewell reception
The majority of the presidents have
accompanied their successors to the
capitol to be sworn in, departing after
ward in their own private carriages
Many of them later revisited the White
House. but the most striking Of these
revisits were those of President Grant
and Benjamin Harrison. 1t was more
than twelve years after his second term
that Grant paid his visit to the White
House. 1t was during President Ar
thurs term. He arrived there un
announced and was wandering abOu,
the building renewing old acquaint
ances. when he was taken in hand by
Thomas Pendel. the head doorkeeper
who had occupied the same position
during the Grant administration.
While President Mckinley was the
tenant of the White House he was one
day approached by one Of the ushers
who said: "Mr. President, ex-Presiden
Harrison is in the east room just t.
look around and says not to disturb
YOU" Mr.. Mckinley at the time wa!
holding a cabinet meeting. which ht
instantly adjourned and went to the re
ception room to welcome General Har
rison and his wife. They spent pleas
ant hour with the president and Mrs
Mckinley in their private apartments
San Francisco Chronicle.
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