peterfeld:
You thought President’s Day came in February? Well, November 2 is the only day that is the birthday of two presidents. Which ones? Well, two you probably know little about: James K. Polk, who served from 1845-49, and Warren G. Harding, president from 1921-23.
Polk was president during the Mexican-American war. Although he had been Speaker of the House — the only one to ever serve as president — he was such an unlikely choice for president in 1844 that the term “dark horse” was coined to describe his come-from-nowhere nomination by the Democrats. He had one of the shortest ex-presidencies, dying in June 1849, only three months after leaving office.
Before George W. Bush disgraced the role, Harding was once considered the worst president of all time, since his term (truncated by his sudden, mysterious 1923 death in a San Francisco hotel room, for which some blamed his wife) was a time of widespread corruption that didn’t come to light until after his death, the Teapot Dome scandal. His young mistress, Nan Britton, claimed the two had sex in a White House coat closet, and that her baby was his daughter.
Happy birthday to ex-presidents Polk and Harding. I’d say we’ll never forget you, but I’m afraid we already have.
MANIFEST DESTINY.
James Knox Polk is my favorite president, and easily one of the most successful in our nation’s history. In 4 years, he was able to win a war with Mexico, annex most of the southwest, and establish an independent treasury. THEN HE DIDN’T RUN AGAIN. The guy was amazing.
