Presidents' Day Poll

innerSpaceman · 02-16-2007, 08:42 AM

Apparently, it's not really "Presidents Day" at all.

When Congress moved the celebration of Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in February, they specifically rejected making it "Presidents Day." But, perhaps because the holiday always falls between Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's, it became Presidents Day in the public consciousness. It certainly didn't help that most states subsequently dropped Lincoln's Birthday, fostering the impression of a merger.

It's used as Presidents Day on calendars, in advertising, and by many government agencies. Richard Nixon "proclaimed" it Presidents Day in 1971, but that did not make it so. It's still officially "Washington's Birthday."

* * * *

That said ... hmmmm, my fave? I'm awful tempted to go with JFK, the president I remember the least of (certainly an advantage considering the scurvy list of presidents in my lifetime). There's the sheer swankiness and overwhemling mythos ... plus that martyrdom thing that forms one of my earliest memories.

But I guess it's not fair to go with a President who's actual term in office is not remembered by me. So I'm gonna have to go with Clinton. Blcch, I liked the guy, but that choice leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Insert Oval Office Pun Here.

I guess my point is ... even with a fairly decent sampling of 9 Pressies over the past four-plus decades .... the POTUSes (Potusi??) have pretty much sucked.

And I wonder if it's always been so.

View Poll Results: Who's Your Favorite President?
John F. Kennedy	4	13.33%
Lyndon B. Johnson	0	0%
Richard M. Nixon	0	0%
Gerald Ford	1	3.33%
Jimmy Carter	3	10.00%
Ronald Reagan	10	33.33%
George H.W. Bush	0	0%
Bill Clinton	12	40.00%
George W. Bush	0	0%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll

02-16-2007, 08:42 AM	#11
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Apparently, it's not really "Presidents Day" at all. When Congress moved the celebration of Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in February, they specifically rejected making it "Presidents Day." But, perhaps because the holiday always falls between Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's, it became Presidents Day in the public consciousness. It certainly didn't help that most states subsequently dropped Lincoln's Birthday, fostering the impression of a merger. It's used as Presidents Day on calendars, in advertising, and by many government agencies. Richard Nixon "proclaimed" it Presidents Day in 1971, but that did not make it so. It's still officially "Washington's Birthday." * * * * That said ... hmmmm, my fave? I'm awful tempted to go with JFK, the president I remember the least of (certainly an advantage considering the scurvy list of presidents in my lifetime). There's the sheer swankiness and overwhemling mythos ... plus that martyrdom thing that forms one of my earliest memories. But I guess it's not fair to go with a President who's actual term in office is not remembered by me. So I'm gonna have to go with Clinton. Blcch, I liked the guy, but that choice leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Insert Oval Office Pun Here. I guess my point is ... even with a fairly decent sampling of 9 Pressies over the past four-plus decades .... the POTUSes (Potusi??) have pretty much sucked. And I wonder if it's always been so.
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