Happy Presidents' Day
On this, the solemn occasion of Presidents' Day, this blog thought it would take time from its busy schedule of finding GREAT DEALS ON VARIOUS CONSUMER PRODUCTS SUCH AS CARS AND MATTRESSES!!! BECAUSE THIS BLOG DESERVES AMAZING SAVINGS!!! to take a well-deserved look at some of our country's lesser-known presidents, who have served this country so well, and require acknowledgment, on this the day our Constitution has set aside to remember the leaders of this great nation. Every day this week will be devoted to a different, under-appreciated president.
I should note, however, that because of all the time the FANTASTIC SALES have taken from our day, this blog was unable to thoroughly research this post, so it's mostly coming from memory. Nonetheless, please enjoy.
William Henry Harrison: No discussion of the prestigious office of President of the United States of America (POTUS for short, although that sounds like a badger breaking wind) would be complete without the inclusion of President Harrison, our ninth, and perhaps least distinguished president.
A congressman, first governor of the Indiana territory, senator, and war hero, everyone knows this son of a proud political family (read: filthy rich) as the famous "Tippecanoe." Did you know, however, that Harrison's first bid for the presidency was unsuccessful? Van Buren gave him a sound thrashing in the election of 1836, but not to be squelched, he won by a landslide in 1840.
The 19th century is known as a period in American politics rife with biting humor and sleazy negative campaigns. The Democrats sneered condescendingly as they referred to William as "Granny Harrison, the petticoat general," because he resigned from the army before the War of 1812 was at an end. Zing! And get this; the answer to the question of whether Harrison should be elected was said to be, "No Sirrah!" (Get it? Because that's 'Harrison' backwards. I bet those 19th century Democrats had a field day with anagrams, too.) When all was said and done, though, William Henry Harrison took office as our ninth POTUS (excuse me) in 1841.
Unfortunately, he died in office thirty days later. I'm sure you are familiar with the old wives' tale about his refusal to wear an overcoat while delivering his two-hour inaugural address in the freezing cold and wind, thereby exacerbating a cold which led to pneumonia and septicemia. Anyone who has read about this yarn, however, would know how ridiculous it sounds -- his doctors supposedly treated him with opium and snakes. Can you imagine someone actually believing that ridiculous account?
The truth, of course, is much more mundane. Today's historians now know that it was Tecumseh, that fierce leader of the Shawnee Indian tribe, that placed a dreadful curse on ol' Tippecanoe. The curse made it so every president elected in a year ending in zero would die before his term was up. The deaths of Lincoln, Harding, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all belie (or should I say betruth) this sad fact, and if it weren't for Ronald Reagan's foray into the black arts and witchcraft, his life, too, would have been cut tragically short by the Curse of Tecumseh.
Stay tuned! Tomorrow we will discuss yet another fabulous POTUS (it was the dog this time). If you would like to request a president, please take advantage of our handy-dandy comments section below.
