In recognition of the federal holiday for the observance or commemoration of President George Washington's Birthday, and in recognition of the fact that it is more commonly, but inaccurately, referred to as "Presidents' Day", here is a diary of little substance describing some of the background, experience and circumstances of their attaining office of the 42 men who have served as President of the United States of America.
Please excuse my very human compulsion to look for patterns, as we are so accomplished at finding patterns that sometimes they are seen even when no significant pattern really exists.
Probably useless aggregation of facts follows, over the fold....
In the history of the United States of America, forty-two men (and zero women) have been President of the United States. (Because his two terms were non-consecutive, Grover Cleveland is counted as both the 22nd and 24th President, hence, George W. Bush is counted as the 43rd president). I thought it might be interesting to aggregate some information on the political backgrounds of these 42 men.
Dates in parentheses indicate the year(s) the person was elected.
All 42 were, as far as is known, descendants exclusively of northern European white people. 38 had surnames from the British Isles – 3 had Dutch surnames and one of German origin (Eisenhower).
All were men over the age of 42.
All but one were married. James Buchanan (1856) was never married.
14 former Vice Presidents have served as president: John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; Martin Van Buren; John Tyler; Millard Fillmore; Andrew Johnson; Chester A. Arthur; Theodore Roosevelt; Calvin Coolidge; Harry Truman; Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson; Gerald Ford; George H. W. Bush.
Of these Vice Presidents, 9 became President by succeeding upon the death or resignation of the President. Of these, 4 were elected President for a succeeding term.
The 8 were Vice-Presidents who assumed office on the death of the president were: John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson.
Of these, 4 were elected to a succeeding term: Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson. None were re-elected President to serve a third term.
From 1840 until 1979, every president elected in a year ending in 0 died in office: W. H. Harrison; Abraham Lincoln (not in the same term); James A. Garfield; William McKinley (second term); Warren Harding; Franklin Roosevelt (not the same term); John Kennedy. Four of them were assassinated.
One president not elected in a year ending in a 0 died in office: Taylor (1848).
4 incumbent Vice-President have been elected president: John Adams (1796); Jefferson (1800); Van Buren (1836); George H. W. Bush (1988). Of those 4, only Jefferson was elected to a second term.
Since WWII, 4 incumbent Vice-Presidents have been nominated by their party as its presidential candidate: (1960 - Nixon; 1968 - Humphrey; 1988 - George H. W. Bush; 2000 - Gore). Of these, 1 became president in that election.
2 serving US Senators have been elected president: Warren G. Harding (1920) and John F. Kennedy (1960).
1 serving member of the House of Representatives has been elected President: Garfield (1880)
2 sons of presidents have been nominees of one of the two major parties at the time and both became president: John Q. Adams (1820) and George W. Bush (2000)
1 grandson of a president has been nominated by one of the two major parties at the time and he became president: Benjamin Harrison (1888). He was defeated for re-election in a rematch against Cleveland in 1892.
6 presidents had formerly served as Secretary of State, none since the Civil War: Jefferson; Madison; Monroe; John Q. Adams; Van Buren; Buchanan.
3 had served in other Cabinet capacities: Monroe – Secretary of War; Taft – Secretary of War; Hoover – Secretary of Commerce.
1 President had formerly served as Speaker of the House: James K. Polk
15 presidents formerly served in the US Senate: Monroe; John Q. Adams; Jackson; Van Buren; W. H. Harrison; Tyler; Pierce; Buchanan; A. Johnson; B. Harrison; Harding; Truman; Kennedy; L. B. Johnson; Nixon.
1 former president served in the United States Senate after leaving office: Andrew Johnson, who was the only President who received no formal education (either by tutoring or school attendance) as a child.
18 presidents served in the US House of Representatives before assuming office: Madison; Jackson; W. H. Harrison; Tyler; Polk; Fillmore; Pierce; Buchanan; Lincoln; A. Johnson; Hayes; Garfield; McKinley; Kennedy; L. Johnson; Nixon; Ford; George H. W. Bush
1 former president served in the House of Representatives after leaving office: John Q. Adams.
1 former president served on the Supreme Court after leaving office: Chief Justice Taft.
3 former presidents ran for president as the nominee of a "Third Party" after leaving office: Van Buren (lost in 1848); Fillmore (lost in 1856); and Theodore Roosevelt (lost in 1912).
10 were Generals: Washington; Jackson; W.H. Harrison; Taylor; A. Johnson; Grant; Hayes; Garfield; B. Harrison; and Eisenhower. Eight Generals were elected during the 19th Century, and one during the 20th Century.
Of the remaining 32, 20 were military officers - Army (5), Navy (6) or Militia and National Guard (9) and 1 (Buchanan) served as Private in the Militia. Fillmore served in the Home Guard of the New York Militia. 10 had no recorded military service.
Fifteen presidents were Freemasons: Washington; Monroe; Jackson; Polk; Buchanan; A. Johnson; Garfield; McKinley; T. Roosevelt; Taft; Harding; F. Roosevelt; Truman; L. Johnson; and Gerald Ford.
17 had served as a state Governor: Jefferson; Monroe; Van Buren; Tyler; Polk; A. Johnson; Hayes; Cleveland; McKinley; T. Roosevelt; Wilson; Coolidge; F. Roosevelt; Carter; Reagan; Clinton; G. W. Bush.
5 presidents had held no previous elected public office: Taylor; Grant; Taft; Hoover; and Eisenhower.
Presidential Genealogical Relationships not mentioned above:
1st Cousins: none
2nd Cousins: Madison - Taylor
Many cousin relationships more distant than 2nd exist.
Special mention: Eleanor Roosevelt (Mrs. FDR) was a niece of T. Roosevelt.
Finally, 1 president spoke English as a second language: Van Buren, whose first language was Dutch.
Can any sense be made from these facts? I doubt it.
Oh, and feel free to suggest corrections in the comments, if comments there be. I hate to be wrong when it comes to verifiable facts.
Happy Washington's Birthday (or what.........ever)!
UPDATE: proofreading errors corrected.