President Facts | Facts about Presidents

What's different about the penny?

The portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the penny shows him facing to the right while all other portraits of presidents on U.S. circulating coins face left.

As of 2007 it now costs more than 1 cent to produce 1 cent.

Interesting fact about U.S. presidents

No president of the United States was an only child.

When was Ronald Reagan elected?

Ronald Reagan was elected President in 1980

Lots of conspiracy theories, lots of weird facts

The story of 9/11 is a confusing one. One clear fact that officials continue to deny is the president's plane, also known as the doomsday plane because it is a flying command center in case of a nuclear event, was the mystery plane in the air on 9/11/2001.

Who is the highest ranking military official?

The president is the highest ranking official in the government including the military.

Who can run for president?

Requirements needed to apply for president are must be at least 35 years old, a native born citizen, and be at least a 14 year resident of the united states.

What was the best political joke of 2006?

According to about.com and their top 25 funny jokes "I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers, and rubble, and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo-ops in the world." --Comedian Stephen Colbert, roasting Bush at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Our favorite: “To the vice president's credit, he did own up to it (shooting hunting partner in the face). On FOX News he said the fault was his, he can't blame anybody else. Boy, it's amazing, the only time you get accountability out of this administration is when they are actually holding a smoking gun." --Bill Maher

Who was president

In 1816 James Monroe won the presidency of the United States, winning the electoral college by the wide margin of 183 to 34. He took over the spot vacated by James Madison.

What kind of dog did President Bill Clinton own?

President Bill Clinton owned a chocolate Labrador Retriever named Buddy, who lived in the White House alongside the family's famously independent cat, Socks.

Which US president had a Golden Retriever named Liberty?

President Gerald Ford had a Golden Retriever named Liberty, who even had a litter of puppies while living in the White House.

Which US president got in trouble for lifting his Beagle by the ears?

In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson caused a public uproar when he was photographed lifting one of his Beagles, named Him, by the ears. Johnson also owned a second Beagle named Her.

What was the first Siamese cat in the US?

The first known Siamese cat in the US was a gift to First Lady Lucy Hayes in 1878 from the US consul in Bangkok. The cat was named Siam.

What is panda diplomacy?

China has long loaned giant pandas to other countries as a diplomatic gesture. After President Nixon's 1972 visit to China, the pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing were sent to the National Zoo in Washington, DC.

How did the teddy bear get its name?

The teddy bear is named after President Theodore Roosevelt, who refused to shoot a tied-up bear on a 1902 hunting trip, which inspired a cartoon and then a stuffed toy.

What message did Apollo 11 leave on the Moon?

Apollo 11 left a plaque on the Moon stating that the astronauts "came in peace for all mankind," signed by the three astronauts and President Richard Nixon.

What speech did Nixon have ready in case Apollo 11 failed?

President Nixon had a speech ready called "In Event of Moon Disaster," written by speechwriter William Safire in case the Apollo 11 astronauts got stranded on the Moon.

Who said "Tear down this wall"?

President Ronald Reagan challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in a speech in West Berlin on June 12, 1987.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon Johnson, outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and ended legal segregation in public places.

Which Founding Father helped popularize pasta in the US?

Thomas Jefferson fell in love with macaroni in Europe and had pasta shipped to the US, helping make it popular in America.

Did Thomas Jefferson serve French fries?

Thomas Jefferson served "potatoes served in the French manner" at the White House.

When is National Ice Cream Month?

President Ronald Reagan declared July National Ice Cream Month in 1984.

How much ice cream did George Washington buy?

George Washington spent about $200 on ice cream in the summer of 1790, a huge sum at the time.

What were FDR's fireside chats?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt used radio broadcasts called fireside chats to speak directly to Americans during the Great Depression and WWII.

When was the first televised presidential debate?

The first televised US presidential debate was between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960.

When did the forward pass become legal?

The forward pass became legal in 1906 as part of rule changes meant to make football safer, after President Theodore Roosevelt pushed for reform.

Why was Nelson Mandela's 1995 rugby moment important?

South African President Nelson Mandela wore a Springboks jersey at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, a symbol of national unity.

Which state is named after a president?

Washington is the only US state named after a president.

Why is Illinois called the Land of Lincoln?

Illinois is called the "Land of Lincoln" even though Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky.

Can Washington, DC residents vote for president?

Washington, DC isn't a state, and its residents couldn't vote for president until the 23rd Amendment was ratified in 1961.

How many people watched Lucy give birth on TV?

About 44 million people watched the 1953 "I Love Lucy" episode in which Little Ricky is born, more than watched President Eisenhower's inauguration the next day.