Happy Presidents' Day folks! For many of us, the holiday is limited to celebrating a long weekend with a paid day off, but for others, continued work despite the holiday. But wouldn't it be great if most Americans would sit down and reflect on what we are truly celebrating this holiday weekend?
As I recall, in my youth we got to celebrate two president's birthdays with two separate days off. First (of course) was the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday (February 12) and then followed by George Washington's (February 22). Presidents' Day became an official Federal holiday as late as 1971 because there was clamoring to merge the two birthdays into a national day of recognition in the 1960's. Initially, it was the travel lobby that pushed for a national holiday (National Association of Travel Organizations), but was this holiday set aside to recognize the two "merged" birthdays or one in which we celebrate the collection of men that have served as our country's executive? Some will say it is to exclusively celebrate Washington's birthday, but the date never coincides with his actual birthday. So what gives? Perhaps folks today will believe it recognizes all presidents, but anyone my age will almost always recognize the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington and none of the others.
When I mentioned the Presidents' Day weekend in class, a student asked me if the day coincided with Ronald Reagan's birthday. Really. In some eyes, Reagan is the only president worthy of our national "recognition" (Reagan's birthday was Feb. 6). Hmm. So without going into a discussion of whom we should be recognizing, it might be a good idea to at least admit we as a country have very little clue as to the birthdays of our former Commander in Chiefs. Admittedly, I had to look these up myself. So here goes;
1. George Washington - February 22, 1732
2. John Adams - October 30, 1735
3. Thomas Jefferson - April 13, 1743
4. James Madison - March 16, 1751
5. James Monroe - April 28, 1758
6. John Quincy Adams - July 11, 1767
7. Andrew Jackson - March 15, 1767
8. Martin Van Buren - December 5, 1782
9. William Henry Harrison - February 9, 1782
10. John Tyler - March 29, 1790
11. James K. Polk - November 2, 1795
12. Zachary Taylor - November 24, 1784
13. Millard Fillmore - November 24, 1800
14. Franklin Pierce - November 23, 1804
15. James Buchanan - April 23, 1791
16. Abraham Lincoln - February 12, 1809
17. Andrew Johnson - December 29, 1808
18. U.S. Grant - April 27, 1822
19. Rutherford B. Hayes - October 4, 1822
20. James A. Garfield - November 19, 1831
21. Chester A. Arthur - October 5, 1829
22. Grover Cleveland - March 18, 1837
23. Benjamin Harrison - August 20, 1833
24. Grover Cleveland - See above
25. William McKinley - January 29, 1843
26. Theodore Roosevelt - October 27, 1858
27. William Howard Taft - September 15, 1857
28. Woodrow Wilson - December 28, 1856
29. Warren G. Harding - November 2, 1865
30. Calvin Coolidge - July 4, 1872
31. Herbert Hoover - August 10, 1874
32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt - January 3o, 1882
33. Harry S. Truman - May 8, 1884
34. Dwight David Eisenhower - October 14, 1890
35. John F. Kennedy - May 29, 1917
36. Lyndon B. Johnson - August 27, 1908
37. Richard M. Nixon - January 9, 1913
38. Gerald R. Ford - July 14, 1913
39. Jimmy Carter - October 1, 1924
40. Ronald Reagan - February 6, 1911
41. George H.W. Bush - June 12, 1924
42. William J. Clinton - August 19, 1946
43. George W. Bush - July 6, 1946
44. Barack H. Obama - August 4, 1961
Admittedly, as a youth I would revel in knowing my birthday coincided with something or somebody great - even though it is not a date shared with a president. Perhaps yours does though? (As a side note, mine coincides with the Sons of Liberty taking action against the King by emptying a ship in Boston Harbor of its cargo).
Perhaps when celebrating Presidents' Day, we should expand our appreciation for the men that have served our Nation's highest office (along with the good, the bad and the ugly). So, Happy Birthday Mr. Presidents (all men thus far). Thanks for the day off! Have a great week!
As I recall, in my youth we got to celebrate two president's birthdays with two separate days off. First (of course) was the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday (February 12) and then followed by George Washington's (February 22). Presidents' Day became an official Federal holiday as late as 1971 because there was clamoring to merge the two birthdays into a national day of recognition in the 1960's. Initially, it was the travel lobby that pushed for a national holiday (National Association of Travel Organizations), but was this holiday set aside to recognize the two "merged" birthdays or one in which we celebrate the collection of men that have served as our country's executive? Some will say it is to exclusively celebrate Washington's birthday, but the date never coincides with his actual birthday. So what gives? Perhaps folks today will believe it recognizes all presidents, but anyone my age will almost always recognize the birthdays of Lincoln and Washington and none of the others.
When I mentioned the Presidents' Day weekend in class, a student asked me if the day coincided with Ronald Reagan's birthday. Really. In some eyes, Reagan is the only president worthy of our national "recognition" (Reagan's birthday was Feb. 6). Hmm. So without going into a discussion of whom we should be recognizing, it might be a good idea to at least admit we as a country have very little clue as to the birthdays of our former Commander in Chiefs. Admittedly, I had to look these up myself. So here goes;
1. George Washington - February 22, 1732
2. John Adams - October 30, 1735
3. Thomas Jefferson - April 13, 1743
4. James Madison - March 16, 1751
5. James Monroe - April 28, 1758
6. John Quincy Adams - July 11, 1767
7. Andrew Jackson - March 15, 1767
8. Martin Van Buren - December 5, 1782
9. William Henry Harrison - February 9, 1782
10. John Tyler - March 29, 1790
11. James K. Polk - November 2, 1795
12. Zachary Taylor - November 24, 1784
13. Millard Fillmore - November 24, 1800
14. Franklin Pierce - November 23, 1804
15. James Buchanan - April 23, 1791
16. Abraham Lincoln - February 12, 1809
17. Andrew Johnson - December 29, 1808
18. U.S. Grant - April 27, 1822
19. Rutherford B. Hayes - October 4, 1822
20. James A. Garfield - November 19, 1831
21. Chester A. Arthur - October 5, 1829
22. Grover Cleveland - March 18, 1837
23. Benjamin Harrison - August 20, 1833
24. Grover Cleveland - See above
25. William McKinley - January 29, 1843
26. Theodore Roosevelt - October 27, 1858
27. William Howard Taft - September 15, 1857
28. Woodrow Wilson - December 28, 1856
29. Warren G. Harding - November 2, 1865
30. Calvin Coolidge - July 4, 1872
31. Herbert Hoover - August 10, 1874
32. Franklin Delano Roosevelt - January 3o, 1882
33. Harry S. Truman - May 8, 1884
34. Dwight David Eisenhower - October 14, 1890
35. John F. Kennedy - May 29, 1917
36. Lyndon B. Johnson - August 27, 1908
37. Richard M. Nixon - January 9, 1913
38. Gerald R. Ford - July 14, 1913
39. Jimmy Carter - October 1, 1924
40. Ronald Reagan - February 6, 1911
41. George H.W. Bush - June 12, 1924
42. William J. Clinton - August 19, 1946
43. George W. Bush - July 6, 1946
44. Barack H. Obama - August 4, 1961
Admittedly, as a youth I would revel in knowing my birthday coincided with something or somebody great - even though it is not a date shared with a president. Perhaps yours does though? (As a side note, mine coincides with the Sons of Liberty taking action against the King by emptying a ship in Boston Harbor of its cargo).
Perhaps when celebrating Presidents' Day, we should expand our appreciation for the men that have served our Nation's highest office (along with the good, the bad and the ugly). So, Happy Birthday Mr. Presidents (all men thus far). Thanks for the day off! Have a great week!
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