KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2011 / NEWS
3A
PRESIDENTS DAY
There's more to this holiday than a day off of work
BY MIKE MONTANO
mmontano@kansan.com
The fourth Thursday of November is Thanksgiving. The third Monday of January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But what is celebrated on the third Monday of every February? Presidents Day. To date, there have been 44 presidents and our country has gone through many changes under different leadership from the Declaration of Independence, to getting us out of the Great Depression in the early 1900s, to improving U.S. policy on climate change. Why is it that this national holiday does not receive much recognition?
"To me, Presidents Day is just another day and a day people get off work," said Aaron Neis, a senior from Eudora.
It is not just another federal holiday, but a day to recognize our presidents. Namely the president this holiday was originally named for — George Washington. He was our first president and this day was used to celebrate his birthday, Feb. 22, 1732. In Kansas, we still call it Presidents Day, but in states such as Alabama it's known as Washington's Birthday.
No matter where you live or what your state calls it, Presidents Day is a day set aside to honor the leaders, past and present, of our country. If you want to read up on your presidents and sound smart among your friends, read these interesting facts about our forefathers.
1. Grover Cleveland was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
lawn. The wool was used to raise money for the Red Cross during World War I.
that he got stuck in the White House bathtub.
10. John Tyler had 15 children, the most of any president.
11. Chester A. Arthur was nicknamed "Elegant Arthur" because of his fashion sense.
2. John F. Kennedy won a Pulitzer Prize in 1957 for "Profiles in Courage", a collection of essays.
Sources: Whitchouse.gov, nps.gov, little-knownfactsshow.com/presidents.html
3. Grace Coolidge, wife of Calvin Coolidge, often kept a perfect scorecard while watching baseball in the presidential box.
12. During Woodrow Wilson's presidency, a flock of sheep was raised on the White House
7. Martin Van Buren was nicknamed "Old Kinderhook" which was shortened to O.K. This began the use of the word okay.
13. William Howard Taft was the last president to sport facial hair with his bushy mustache. He was also the largest president in history at over 300 pounds, and legend has it
5. Harry S. Truman was the first president to travel in a submarine.
4. William McKinley was the first president to ride in an automobile and campaign by telephone.
8. Before his presidency, Jimmy Carter ran his family's peanut farm in Plains, Ga.
6. John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, entering in Nov. 1800 while the paint was still wet.
9. Andrew Johnson was buried under a willow tree that he planted. His head lies on a copy of the Constitution.
- Max Rothman
It's Our Annual Winter Sale!
Starts Friday
February 18th
@ 10:00AM!
Save Big On Great Fall & Winter Gear From:
THE
NORTH
FACE
804 Massachusetts St.·Downtown Lawrence (785) 843-5000·www.sunfloweroutdoorandbike.com
MOUNTAIN
HARD
WEAR
Columbia
Sportwear Company.
Online Courses with KU Independent Study
- Enroll and start anytime
- Take six months to complete
- Self-paced for flexibility
- General Ed requirements
- Alternative to closed classes
We offer more than 120 courses delivered online, keeping you on track to graduate in four years.
enroll@ku.edu
785-864-5823
online.ku.edu/udk
Talk to Your Advisor www.advising.ku.edu