Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-04
Forlner Presidents
Quit Public Life
Az End Of Terms

Former presidents of the United
States. after laying down the heavy
burdens OF their once. ordinarily have
retired to the quiet Of private life.
There are notable exceptions to this
rule, however.
One former president was later
co11mander-in-chief Of the armies Of
thes nation Another WA 4 leader In
the lower house OF congress for q. con-
siderable period, a third was elected
to5fhe ~. 6. senate, another was prom
Ate%states, and several others remain
"a active In politics after relinQuish-
inf their posts.
5Hs George Washington retired In 1897
after serving two terms. In 1873,
however, the French under Napoleon,
DAD become SO overbearing and insult
ing to the young American republic
that a state of war existed. The
great Washington was induced to be-
pm the commander-in-chief Of the
provisional army which was formed
TO tight the French, and he re.enterei
pubic lifeSfor q season. He died the
next year, on December IA, 1799.
When John Adams retired from the
presidency he withdrew from public
life for all time. Adams was a great
scholar and his last years were spent
with his books. He lived for a quar-
ter OF a century after leaving the
White House and saw the day when
his son was inaugurAted president.
strangely, he died on the 50th ami
versary of the Declaration of indie
when his great political foe, Thomas
JEFFERSON, passed away.
40 Years OF Service.
It was on March+t4, 1909, that JEFF
ferson left the White House after 40
years Of public service. Jefferson in
his declining years founded the Uni
versity Of Virginia, and he regarded
this work as SO important that on his
tomb he had written the following
words: Here was buried Thomas JEFF
ferson, author Of the Declaration OF
American Independence, Of the statute
81: Virginia for religious freedom, and
father Of the University OF Virginia
James Madison retired to his Mont
pelier estate in Virginia in 1917, and
his home became q rendezvous for
literary folk. He emerged into public
life for q season when in 1929 he be-
came q leading member Of the Virgin
la constitutional convention. He died
In 1885 at IS, the Oldest age attained
by q president of the United States.
After his retirement in 1925 James
Monroe held two pubic posts, one as
regent of the University Of Virginia,
ginia constitutional convention OF
1929. He was the third. president to
die on July 4, the year Of his death
being 1881.
It remained for John Quincy Adams
to demonstrate that a man can actu-
ally come into fame as a mem
Of congress than as president. Adj
ANS was defeated Tor recollection BY
Andrew jackson and he retired in
1929. In the following year he wAs
elected to the national house Of rep
resentAtives from his Massachusetts
district.
In congress, he became a. leader, .es-
pecially Of the ~anti-slavery movement.
He died In the public service, drop
ping dad in the house in 194S.
Andrew jackson on his retirement
in 1887, withdrew to the Hermitage
at Nashville, Tenn. He continued to
take In active interest in his party,
but held no public office and died in
1845 at the age of Is.
Martin Van Buren, was In politics
from his earliest years and ne remain
ed IN the public eye long after his re-
1s41. Defeated BY Harrison In 1870,
in.1s44 he again sought the Demo
cratic nomination. He had a majority
Of the votes on eight ballots, but gee
ing the inposstbility OF marshaling
the necessary two-thirds, he withdrew
from the contest. In 1S4S he was the
presidential nominee Of the Free Soil
ers. but he failed to get a single cleo
toral vote. He died in 1862 at the
age Of go.
Death removed william Henry Har-
~xA~A A<%Ax 81 - 49,
he was succeeded by John Tyler, who
failed to obtain nomination from his
party and left the presidency in 1S45.
Tyler was against disunion IN 1850 and
he presided over the peace confer