Evening star., 1936-07-25
FORGOTTEN CHIEFS
Missouri Honors One 'Pro Tem." Among
National Executives Patriots Who
Led Continental Congress.

ton, thus giving John Tyler virtually
full term in the White House. Tyler.
by the way, was the first Vice Presi-
dent to succeed to the chief magis-
tracy.
Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Garfield.
Mckinley and Harding died while in
Office. OF these, Lincoln, Garfield and
Mckinley died at the hands Of assas-
sins. Taylors death is attributed to
the fact that, after dedicating the
Washington Monument in Washington
one scorching Summer day, he ate a
bowl of iced cherries. Warren CANA
liel Harding, the most recent President
to die in Office, passed away in San
Francisco of pneumonia.
There have been several "presiden-
tial families" The incumbent, Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. is related to the
late Theodore Roosevelt, and the rela-
tionship between Mrs. F. D. R. and
T. r. is still closer. John Quincy Adams
was the only son of a President ever
to follow in the footsteps of his father
and to attain the White House in his
own right. Benjamin Harrison
CGrandpa's Hat'D was the grandson
of William Henry Harrison.
If President Roosevelt should be re-
elected, he will be the twelfth Presi-
dent to achieve second term. OF all
the Presidents, it probably is true that
only Grant definitely sought a third
term. Washington set the precedent
of a two-term limit which never has
been broken. jackson perhaps could
have had third term, but did not
make an effort to break the precedent,
and indicated his successor in the per-
son of Martin Van Buren, astute New
Yorker known popularly as the Red
Fox of Kinderhook." Coolidge un-
doubtedly could have had another
nomination the had been named for
the presidency but once before). but
turned it down ~ith the famous Il
do not choose to run" statement.
Theodore Roosevelt served McKinleys
unexpired term, then his own, broke
with his successor Taft, and made an
other try under the Bull Moose ban
ner, splitting the Republican vote and
bringing about the election of Wilson.
Grover Cleveland was the only
President ever to stage a comeback
after being defeated. Ben Harrison
slipped in for term between the two
Cleveland White House tenancies.
THE ancestry of most of our Presi-
dents has been English; namely,
Washington. the Adamses. Madison,
the Harrisons, Tyler, Taylor, Fillmore,
Pierce, Lincoln, Johnson. Grant. GarA
field. Cleveland, Taft. Harding and
Coolidge. Herbert Hoover traces his
lineage back to Switzerland, while the
forebearS of Theodore and Franklin
D. Roosevelt and Van Buren, were Hol-
landers.
The parents of all the Presidents
up to Jackson had been born in this
country.
Andrew johnson has several unique
claims to fame. He was the first and
only President ever to be impeached
and tried. He was acquitted. Among
all the Presidents, he is the only one
who had been a tailor. and while
Governor of Tennessee he personally
made coat as mark of esteem for
a friend. Johnson married at 19 and
his wife taught him to write.
Twenty-Five Presidents were law
yers; several were professional SOL
diers. Herbert Hoover is the only
mining engineer to attain the White
House. Clearly the shortest route to
the presidency is through Blackstonel
Two Presidents did not claim men,
bership in any religious denomina-
ton. They were Jefferson and Lin
coin. The latter, however, attended
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, which still stands in WASH
ington. More Presidents have claimed
membership in the Episcopalian de-
nomination than any other.
Several Presidents dropped OF
names for one reason or another.
Thus Coolidge was baptized John CAL
win. Cleveland originally was given
the names Of Stephen Grover and
Wilson'S first name was Thomas.
Calvin Coolidge was the chief actor
In the only swearing in of its kind
in the annals Of the presidency.
1t occurred at the time of President
Harding's death. Coolidge was at his
fathers Vermont farm house, an an
cient frame dwelling. The family was
awakened to receive the news CT the
Presidents passing. BY the light of
a Pickering oil lamp the Vice Presi-
dents aged father administered the
oath of cffice. The whole world was
quick to sense the high drama of
those moments.