President's Day

History of the Holiday

The original version of the holiday was in commemoration of George Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency).

Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since at least the mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732.

According to the old style calendar in use back then, however, he was born on February 11. At least in 1796, many Americans celebrated his birthday on the 22nd while others marked the occasion on the 11th instead.

By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken firm root in the American experience as a bona fide national holiday. Its traditions included Birthnight Balls in various regions, speeches and receptions given by prominent public figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the land.

Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered president and fellow February baby (born on the 12th of the month).

The first formal observance of his birthday took place in 1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's, it did become a legal holiday in several states.

In 1968, legislation (HR 15951) was enacted that affected several federal holidays. One of these was Washington's Birthday, the observation of which was shifted to the third Monday in February each year whether or not it fell on the 22nd.

This act, which took effect in 1971, was designed to simplify the yearly calendar of holidays and give federal employees some standard three-day weekends in the process.

Apparently, while the holiday in February is still officially known as Washington's Birthday (at least according to the Office of Personnel Management), it has become popularly (and, perhaps in some cases at the state level, legally) known as "President's Day

This has made the third Monday in February a day for honoring both Washington and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served as president.

(http://www.patriotism.org/presidents_day/)

Presidential Credentials

Of the 42 Presidents that we have had (President Grover Cleveland served two separate terms as #22 & 24), 29 of them had served their country in uniform before becoming president.

Of the remaining thirteen who did not technically "serve" prior to their presidency, #3 Thomas Jefferson was a commander of a Virginia militia regiment, and-- after his presidency-- #13 Millard Fillmore commanded the Home Guard during the Civil War.

With the exception of the Vietnam War, every other major war was both won and produced a veteran that rose to the presidency.

That means that there is a very high probability that a future President of the United States may very well have been or still be in Afghanistan and/or Iraq right now (if not the Balkans from previous conflicts).

[Like the apparent Vietnam Jynx, however (ask John McCain or John Kerry), his or her presidential prospects may be kiboshed should the war, like the one in Vietnam, also be lost and stigmatized.]

Did You Know?

Current President #43 (R) George W. Bush served as an F-102 pilot in the Texas Air National Guard and attained the rank of first lieutenant.

#42 (D) Bill Clinton "loathed the military" and dodged the Vietnam War draft (his number actually came up), went to Europe, and helped organize antiwar demonstrations.

#41 George H. W. Bush attained the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). He was the youngest pilot in the navy during World War II at just 19 years old. His plane was shot down over the ocean and he was rescued by a surfacing submarine.

He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In his second term as Ronald Reagan's Vice President, the left-wing media (the dominant messengers in that pre-cable and Internet time) lambasted him as a "Wimp" (*Doonesbury* cartoonist Gary Trudeau depicted him as a disembodied feather).

He won his first term, but the outrageous attacks on his character were relentless, and wanly answered, and he lost his re-election bid to the anomalous draft-dodger Bill Clinton.

#40 Ronald Reagan served in the United States Army during World War II, attaining the rank of major. He was barred from combat because of poor eyesight, but narrated pre-flight training films for the Army Air Force Motion Picture Unit.

#39 Jimmy Carter served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1953, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

#38 Gerald Ford served in the United States Navy during World War II, and attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

He earned 10 battle stars.

#37 Richard Nixon also served in the United States Navy during World War II, and also attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

#36 Lyndon B. Johnson served in the United States Navy during World War II as well, and also attained the rank of lieutenant commander.

He earned a Silver Star.

#35 John F. Kennedy served in the United States Navy during World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant.

He earned a Purple Heart after being injured in the PT-109 incident.

#34 Dwight D. Eisenhower was Supreme Allied Commander in World War II.

#33 Harry S. Truman served with the 129th Field Artillery in WWI, attaining the rank of major.

He is the only president who was a veteran of a major war who did not achieve the presidency on the heels of that war (i.e. before the next major one).

#32 Franklin D. Roosevelt, who presided over WWII, had no military experience.

#31 Herbert Hoover never wore the uniform.

#30 Calvin Coolidge never put on the boots.

#29 Warren G. Harding never dropped and gave a drill sergeant 20 push-ups.

#28 Woodrow Wilson, who presided over WWI, never had to wake up to the sound of a bugle.

#27 William Howard Taft finally joined the army when he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

#26 Theodore Roosevelt led the famous charge of the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and attained the rank of colonel.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001.

#25 William McKinley was the last Civil War veteran to become president.

He had attained the rank of brevet major.

#24 Grover Cleveland was drafted during the Civil War, but paid $150 for a substitute-- a legal option under the terms of the Conscription Act of 1863.

#23 Benjamin Harrison attained the rank of brigadier general in the Civil War.

#22 Grover Cleveland: See above.

#21 (SR) Chester A. Arthur served in the New York State Militia (1858-1862) and fought in the Civil War, attaining the rank of captain.

#20 James A. Garfield attained the rank of major general in the Civil War.

#19 Rutherford B. Hayes also attained the rank of major general in the Civil War.

#18 U.S. Grant--a.k.a. "Unconditional Surrender" Grant-- attained the rank of General of the Army during the Civil War, the first (president or otherwise) since Washington to hold that rank (the latter earning it posthumously).

#17 (NU) Andrew Johnson attained the rank of brigadier general in the Civil War.

#16 Abraham Lincoln, who presided over the bloodiest conflict in American history, served in the Black Hawk War--a genocidal war against hostile American Indians-- attaining the rank of captain.

He never saw action and was reprimanded twice, re-enlisting as a private.

#15 James Buchanan served in the War of 1812.

#14 Franklin Pierce served in the Mexican-American War and attained the rank of colonel.

#13 (W) Millard Fillmore commanded the Home Guard during the Civil War, after his presidency.

#12 Zachary Taylor served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War, attaining the rank of major general.

He became a national hero because of his achievements in the Mexican-American War.

He was U.S. Grant's personal role-model.

#11 James K. Polk served in a militia cavalry regiment, attaining the rank of colonel.

#10 John Tyler served in the War of 1812, attaining the rank of captain.

By the time the Civil War rolled around, you could find him in the Confederate Senate.

#9 William Henry Harrison attained the rank of major general in the War of 1812 and became a national hero after his successes at the battles of Tippecanoe and the Thames (against American Indians).

His presidency lasted a month before he died.

#8 Martin Van Buren never wore fatigues, but was otherwise a snappy dresser.

#7 Andrew Jackson served at the age of 13 with the Continental Army during the American Revolution as a messenger, and was held as a prisoner of war (the only U.S. president to be so).

He attained the rank of general in the War of 1812 and became a national hero after his success at the Battle of New Orleans.

#6 (DR) John Quincy Adams had no military experience (but he skinny-dipped in the Potomac River every morning as president).

#5 James Monroe served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, attaining the rank of major.

He was with George Washington in the boat that crossed the Delaware and wished the drunk and sleeping Hessians a Merry Christmas up close and personal.

He was wounded in the process, and needed two months to heal sufficiently before returning to service and spending the next winter with Washington in Valley Forge.

#4 James Madison attained the rank of colonel in the Orange County, Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War.

He was president when the British came back in the War of 1812, marched through the capital, and burned down the first White House.

#3 Thomas Jefferson is--for the record-- counted as a no-show for military service, but he did command the Virginia Milita Regiment in 1789.

#2 (F) John Adams did not serve in the military, either.

It should be added that both he and Jefferson were nevertheless crucial players in the Revolutionary War because of their diplomatic prowess and finesse vis-a-vis shmoozing the French for recognition and assistance.

#1 George Washington served in the Virginia militia and attained the rank of colonel, then served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War with the rank of general.

He was "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen. " :)

He was promoted posthumously to General of the Armies.