Grover Cleveland, Again! Author Ken Burns Shares His 10 Favorite Presidential Facts
Children have an endless appetite for fun facts and unforgettable stories, and our nation’s history—particularly when it comes to our presidents—offers an abundance of both. In Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents, accomplished documentarian Ken Burns presents a fascinating overview of our presidents, with a vibrant, richly illustrated, and comprehensive spread dedicated to teaching kids about each one (save Grover Cleveland, the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms—who has two spreads!). A book sure to appeal to young history buffs, the ceaselessly curious, and everyone in between, Grover Cleveland, Again! hits shelves on July 12. We asked Mr. Burns to share his ten favorite presidential facts—and spoiler alert: this top ten list goes to eleven.
- GEORGE WASHINGTON—President Washington was taphophobic: he feared being buried alive. After falling ill, and shortly before dying, he wrote a note asking that his burial be delayed until three days after doctors had pronounced him dead.
- JAMES K. POLK—Polk didn’t take a single vacation while president, and, in fact, he only left the White House for a total of six weeks during his entire four-year term; and even that was on business. First lady Sarah Polk served as her husband’s personal secretary, and together they regularly worked 12-16 hour days. Polk’s last words were to his wife: “I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you.”
- MARTIN VAN BUREN—When he was a young man, Martin Van Buren worked in his father’s tavern in Old Kinderhook, NY. Located between the state capital, Albany, and New York City, the tavern was a frequent stop for politicians and statesmen like Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Listening to the discussions and conversations happening around him while he worked was Van Buren’s introduction to politics.
- GEORGE WASHINGTON—President Washington was taphophobic: he feared being buried alive. After falling ill, and shortly before dying, he wrote a note asking that his burial be delayed until three days after doctors had pronounced him dead.
- JAMES K. POLK—Polk didn’t take a single vacation while president, and, in fact, he only left the White House for a total of six weeks during his entire four-year term; and even that was on business. First lady Sarah Polk served as her husband’s personal secretary, and together they regularly worked 12-16 hour days. Polk’s last words were to his wife: “I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you.”
- MARTIN VAN BUREN—When he was a young man, Martin Van Buren worked in his father’s tavern in Old Kinderhook, NY. Located between the state capital, Albany, and New York City, the tavern was a frequent stop for politicians and statesmen like Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Listening to the discussions and conversations happening around him while he worked was Van Buren’s introduction to politics.
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN—President Lincoln received next to no formal schooling, but he loved to read and would walk miles to find books he might borrow. An autodidact, he began borrowing law books from people, studying them, and, after a few years, was able to pass the bar and became a lawyer.
- JAMES A. GARFIELD—When President Garfield was 16 years old he went to work on a canal boat, but he fell overboard fourteen times in just six weeks. Though he didn’t have sea legs, Garfield was able to write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other…at the same time.
- CHESTER A. ARTHUR—President Arthur, a widower, was devoted to the memory of his lost wife. He commissioned a stained glass window in her memory at St. John’s Episcopal Church that he was able to see from his office as president. The church would keep the window lit so he might view it at night. Arthur also made sure to have fresh flowers placed in front of her portrait in the White House each day.
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN—President Lincoln received next to no formal schooling, but he loved to read and would walk miles to find books he might borrow. An autodidact, he began borrowing law books from people, studying them, and, after a few years, was able to pass the bar and became a lawyer.
- JAMES A. GARFIELD—When President Garfield was 16 years old he went to work on a canal boat, but he fell overboard fourteen times in just six weeks. Though he didn’t have sea legs, Garfield was able to write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other…at the same time.
- CHESTER A. ARTHUR—President Arthur, a widower, was devoted to the memory of his lost wife. He commissioned a stained glass window in her memory at St. John’s Episcopal Church that he was able to see from his office as president. The church would keep the window lit so he might view it at night. Arthur also made sure to have fresh flowers placed in front of her portrait in the White House each day.
- BENJAMIN HARRISON—President Harrison kept a pet goat called Whiskers at the White House. The goat could be attached to a small cart and would tow Harrison’s grandchildren around the White House lawn. On one notable occasion, however, Whiskers broke free, and President Harrison was seen running through the streets of Washington, D.C., chasing after him.
- WILLIAM McKINLEY—President McKinley’s wife, Ida, hated the color yellow and had all yellow items removed from the White House, including digging up the yellow flowers in the garden. Ida had poor health and President McKinley worried about her frequently, even breaking tradition by having her seated beside him at state functions. After he was shot, McKinley first cried out that his assassin not be harmed, but his next worry was for his wife. While riding to the hospital he fretted over how she should be told.
- BENJAMIN HARRISON—President Harrison kept a pet goat called Whiskers at the White House. The goat could be attached to a small cart and would tow Harrison’s grandchildren around the White House lawn. On one notable occasion, however, Whiskers broke free, and President Harrison was seen running through the streets of Washington, D.C., chasing after him.
- WILLIAM McKINLEY—President McKinley’s wife, Ida, hated the color yellow and had all yellow items removed from the White House, including digging up the yellow flowers in the garden. Ida had poor health and President McKinley worried about her frequently, even breaking tradition by having her seated beside him at state functions. After he was shot, McKinley first cried out that his assassin not be harmed, but his next worry was for his wife. While riding to the hospital he fretted over how she should be told.
- THEODORE ROOSEVELT—The presidential manse officially became “The White House” when President Roosevelt had the name emblazoned on his stationery.
- WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT—President Taft loved to drink milk. He had his own pet dairy cow named Pauline Wayne who grazed on the White House lawn. “Miss Wayne” was a Holstein cow from Wisconsin, and the milk she produced fed the first family for almost three years. She was the last White House presidential cow.
- RICHARD M. NIXON—When President Nixon was in high school, he had to wake up at 4:00 am daily and drive a truck to Los Angeles to buy vegetables for his family’s grocery store. Then he’d drive back, wash them, and put them out for sale, all before school.
- THEODORE ROOSEVELT—The presidential manse officially became “The White House” when President Roosevelt had the name emblazoned on his stationery.
- WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT—President Taft loved to drink milk. He had his own pet dairy cow named Pauline Wayne who grazed on the White House lawn. “Miss Wayne” was a Holstein cow from Wisconsin, and the milk she produced fed the first family for almost three years. She was the last White House presidential cow.
- RICHARD M. NIXON—When President Nixon was in high school, he had to wake up at 4:00 am daily and drive a truck to Los Angeles to buy vegetables for his family’s grocery store. Then he’d drive back, wash them, and put them out for sale, all before school.
Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents
Hardcover $25.00
Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents
By
Ken Burns
Illustrator
Gerald Kelley
Hardcover $25.00
Thomas Jefferson
DVD $24.99
Thomas Jefferson
Cast
Ossie Davis
Director
Ken Burns
DVD $24.99
George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides
Paperback $6.95
George vs. George: The American Revolution As Seen from Both Sides
Paperback $6.95
President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath
Paperback $7.99
President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath
By
Mac Barnett
Illustrator
Chris Van Dusen
Paperback $7.99
Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents is in stores on July 12th.
Author photo credit: Cable Risdon.
Grover Cleveland, Again!: A Treasury of American Presidents is in stores on July 12th.
Author photo credit: Cable Risdon.