President Grover Cleveland was the first to have hanged a man.
From 1871 to 1873, he was sheriff of Erie County,New York. When two men were sentenced to death there,Cleveland put the hoods over their heads, tightened the noose, and sprung the trap door himself. He explained later that he couldn't ask his deputies to do it just because he didn't want to. The experience affected him so deeply that he didn't run for re-election.
Presidential Firsts
President William Howard Taft was the first president entrapped by a White House plumbing fixture.
Taft weighted in at between 300 and 350 pounds while he was president. He was so big that one morning he got stuck in the White House tub--and had to call his aides to help him get out. Taft subsequently ordered a tub large enough to hold four men. He never got stuck again.
Taft weighted in at between 300 and 350 pounds while he was president. He was so big that one morning he got stuck in the White House tub--and had to call his aides to help him get out. Taft subsequently ordered a tub large enough to hold four men. He never got stuck again.
James Madison was the first president to weigh less than his IQ.
Madison unofficial "Father of the U.S. Constitution," was only 5' 4" tall and never weighed more than 98 pounds,as president. One historian has called him " a dried-up, wizened little man"-- and observed that when he was walking with his friend Thomas Jefferson, the two looked "as if they were on their way to a father-and-son banquet.
Madison unofficial "Father of the U.S. Constitution," was only 5' 4" tall and never weighed more than 98 pounds,as president. One historian has called him " a dried-up, wizened little man"-- and observed that when he was walking with his friend Thomas Jefferson, the two looked "as if they were on their way to a father-and-son banquet.
John Tyler was the first president to elope while in office.
On June 26,1844, the 54-year-old Tyler sneaked off to New York City with 24-year-old Julia Gardiner to tie the knot. They decided on a secret wedding because supporters were worried about the public's reaction to their 30-year age difference. It didn't matter--the press found out about it almost at once.Ironically, Julia turned out to be just about the most popular part of Tyler's presidency. (They had seven kids--the last one when Tyler was 70.)
On June 26,1844, the 54-year-old Tyler sneaked off to New York City with 24-year-old Julia Gardiner to tie the knot. They decided on a secret wedding because supporters were worried about the public's reaction to their 30-year age difference. It didn't matter--the press found out about it almost at once.Ironically, Julia turned out to be just about the most popular part of Tyler's presidency. (They had seven kids--the last one when Tyler was 70.)
Herbert Hoover was the first president to have asteroid named after him.
In 1920,Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa discovered an asteroid and named it Hooveria, to honor Hoover's humanitarian work as chairman of the Interallied Food Council, which was helping to feed starving people in post-World War I Rurope. Said palisa, 'It is a pity we have only a middle-magnitude asteroid to give to this great man. He is worthy of at least a planet.
In 1920,Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa discovered an asteroid and named it Hooveria, to honor Hoover's humanitarian work as chairman of the Interallied Food Council, which was helping to feed starving people in post-World War I Rurope. Said palisa, 'It is a pity we have only a middle-magnitude asteroid to give to this great man. He is worthy of at least a planet.
Jimmy Carter first president to see a UFO.
One evening in 1969, Carter and a few companions saw a "bluish... then reddish" saucer-shaped object moving across the sky. "It seemed tp move toward us from a distance," Carter later told UFO researchers, "then it stopped and moved partially away . It returned and departed. It came close...maybe three hundred to one thousand yards away...moved away, came close, and then moved away." He added: "I don't laugh at people anymore when thay say they've seen UFOs."
One evening in 1969, Carter and a few companions saw a "bluish... then reddish" saucer-shaped object moving across the sky. "It seemed tp move toward us from a distance," Carter later told UFO researchers, "then it stopped and moved partially away . It returned and departed. It came close...maybe three hundred to one thousand yards away...moved away, came close, and then moved away." He added: "I don't laugh at people anymore when thay say they've seen UFOs."
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