Here are some of the traits of Presidents Harding through LBJ and a look at how I personally see some of their traits.
Warren Harding was the first real newspaper man to become President. He owned the Marion Star. Harding was another President that fell under the spell of the Curse of Tecumseh (will this curse never end?). Some have questioned whether he might have been poisoned by his wife. It is possible she found out about an extramarital affair he was having. She would not allow an autopsy. Harding’s Mom was a state-licensed midwife. His Dad was a farmer and a teacher. His Dad also went to medical school for a year, after which he became a doctor and started a small practice. Upon Harding’s death, he was one of the most popular Presidents. That popularity quickly vanished shortly after his death when several scandals were revealed in his administration and the extramarital affairs became public. Harding owned the Marion Star. When I delivered newspapers, when I was younger, I delivered the Washington Evening Star.
Calvin Coolidge became the second Vice President to ascend to the Presidency on the death of a President who also got elected on his own right. Coolidge’s popularity rose when, as governor of Massachusetts, he stood up to the Boston Police Union when they decided to strike in 1919. He would send in the National Guard and the striking policemen would be fired and replaced. He believed public safety came first. He favored a smaller, less active central government. He was remembered by his famous nickname: Silent Cal. His witty, dry sense of humor, alone, has been written about in books. Coolidge had the fifth shortest retirement (from the time he left office until his death) of all the Presidents. Only Polk, Arthur, Washington and Wilson had shorter retirements. Coolidge died 1403 days after he left office (a little less than four years). Like old “Silent Cal,” there are many who could probably tell you about my dry sense of humor.
Herbert Hoover was the first President born west of the Mississippi River. He was born in West Branch, Iowa. Hoover nearly died when he contracted croup when he was two years old. He also became an orphan at the age of nine years old. Hoover went on to become a mining engineer and made a fortune doing that. He was in China during the Boxer Rebellion doing some mining work. In fact, his family became trapped in Tianjin in 1900. Hoover was a Quaker and actually had a very good heart. He helped organize two separate food drives for victims of wars. Ironically, Hoover is remembered as someone who didn’t understand the struggling families during the Stock Market Crash and the Great Depression and because of that preception he was turned out of office. This was probably far from the truth, but Hoover was not able to turn back that image. I think I often get misjudged, too. People think they have me “figured out,” but rarely do they ask me questions to truly understand where I really come from.
Franklin Roosevelt is the only President elected to more than two terms. He was elected four times. He served three full terms and died shortly into his fourth term. Yes, he was our next victim of the Curse of Tecumseh. FDR was born into a very wealthy family. It was one of his grandfathers who made the family fortune by becoming involved in trade with China. His grandfather’s biggest “cash crops” included such items as opium and tea. Franklin’s wife, Eleanor, was also his fifth cousin once removed. Eleanor Roosevelt didn’t have to change her last name when she married Franklin since she was already a Roosevelt. President Theodore Roosevelt gave away the bride, who was also his favorite niece. Eleanor’s father had passed away long before the wedding. Eleanor lost both her parents by the time she was ten years old. FDR came up with many programs to put Americans back to work during the Great Depression and at the same time helped improved our nation’s infrastructure. I, too, believe that Americans need to have jobs in order to make our country productive. Unfortunately, I believe, the expansion of the role of government into our lives was misinterpreted by his efforts. He wanted government to get people back on their feet and make their lives better, not rule their daily lives.
Harry S Truman has the strange distinction of being the only President to have a single letter as his middle name. To please both his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, Harry’s parents chose the letter “S” as his middle name. He would continue the streak of Vice Presidents being elected on their own after becoming the President on the death of a President. Truman was probably best remembered for approving the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan to help hasten the end of World War II. He would leave office with one of the lowest approval ratings, but years later his popularity would increase when indecision seemed to be the rule in Presidential decisions. People would start saying, “That wouldn’t have happened if Harry Truman was President.” I think my professional life has been ruled by that philosophy. I’m just someone who gets things done and I don’t spend a lot of time looking for approval when I know the right path to take. Employers are usually surprised when I quit because they have had no real idea I was that upset. Since my wheel doesn’t usually squeak, my complaints often fall on deaf ears. It’s not until I’m gone a little while that they start realizing all that I have done. I have usually done it without their help.
Dwight Eisenhower was the first President who was termed-limited under the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution. He was voted Gallup’s most admired man twelve times. Some unforgotten facts about Eisenhower are that he ordered coups in Iran and Guatemala, threatened to use nuclear weapons to end the Korean War, condemned Israel, Britain and France for their invasion into Egypt during the Suez Crisis in 1956, and he gave major aid to France to help them in their fight in Vietnam. Still, Eisenhower is well remembered as the Five Star General who helped guide us through World War II. Because of his long service in the military, he did not purchase his first house until after he left the Presidency. Historians often list Eisenhower as one of our top ten Presidents. As President, and General, Eisenhower seemed to have a “get it done” attitude without much fanfare. That is the same attitude I try to live by in my own life. In today’s culture of “hey, look at me” or “hey, what about me, look what I did,” I often feel like a misfit.
When John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, he would become the last victim of the Curse of Tecumseh. In fact, since his death in 1963, we have not had a President die in office. That’s almost 53 years, which is almost the same amount of time of all Presidents serving before the curse started. The handsome, young Kennedy was the American version of golden boy. Kennedy was probably the least healthy President we have ever had. His chronic back problems plagued him his entire life. In fact, in 1954 he had back surgery and developed a urinary tract infection. This resulted in having to be put into a coma. He was given last rites as it was thought he was going to die. In 1947 it was discovered that he also had Addison disease. On the trip home from England on the Queen Mary, after the doctor diagnosed that condition, he became extremely ill and he was also given last rites because they didn’t think he would make it home alive. He also had scarlet fever when he was two years old and almost died. Kennedy’s final last rites were given after he was shot in Dallas, Texas. Especially this past year, I can relate to Kennedy’s health issues, although I don’t believe any of mine are life threating. In the last year I have had back surgery, another back procedure, and pneumonia. Trying to hide your discomfort is sometimes a very hard task.
Lyndon Johnson was one of four men to serve as President, Vice President, and a member of both Houses of Congress. John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Richard Nixon were the others. Johnson made the first around-the-world Presidential trip. It would cover 26,959 miles and it would only take 112.5 hours (4.7 days) to complete. Although Johnson would start out running for reelection in 1968, it quickly became obvious that the badly split Democrat would not choose him as their candidate. Johnson would drop out of the race. The Johnson Administration would call itself the “Great Society.” He would push for legislation upholding civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to education, the arts, urban and rural development, and public services. He would also declare a “War on Poverty.” Like LBJ’s 1968 reelection campaign, I will usually concede the cause when the odds are overwhelming against me and throw in the towel. I figure my voice will be redeemed at some future day, my timing isn’t right, or I am wrong about the situation.
Through these eight Presidents we have changed the direction of our government. The government now has started taking a more active role in our daily lives. Gone are the days of the government’s chief concern is that of protecting its citizens. Reform and injustice would ring louder and louder. Taking care of the citizens in their daily lives would play a bigger role in the government’s edicts. Starting with these men the United States government would take a more active role in the names of personal freedom and personal rights. As a nation our attention would no longer just be focused on ourselves but on the bigger picture of helping our fellow citizen.
