How many presidents? Only 45. Seven not born in the U.S.

“As a student of American history, I have my perspectives on our general lack of truth, misinformation, and ignorance of the basic functions of government. This has been quite evident in recent years. In my experience, the average cab driver in Ireland is much more aware and knowledgeable of our system than the American general population. Unfortunate.”

Ok, I read a lot. American history has been a passion since I was quite young. I was in Joliet when John F. Kennedy (#35) was campaigning as close to me as the computer screen is now as I write. Gerald Ford (#38) also was in Joliet and I saw him from a distance as he stood on the railroad platform. George Bush, Sr. (#41)? He was in the same waiting line with me for the Martin Luther King, Sr. funeral. Never met Jimmy Carter (#39) but did buy a 6-pack at brother Billy’s gas station in Plains, Georgia and met Rosalind Carter’s mother at her flower shop.

Presidential sites? Springfield, JFK library, Truman museum and library, Grant’s home in Galena, Van Buren’s house in Kinderhook, Jefferson’s Monticello, Washington’s Mount Vernon, etc.. Drove past the house of the only president born in Illinois, Ronald Reagan.

Who is my favorite president? Got to go with our own Illinois favorite adopted son, Abraham Lincoln (#16). Maybe have read 15-16 books on Lincoln as well as biographies 33 other presidents. Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham are two of my favorite historians. 

Why talk about presidents at this time? Well, in case you haven’t noticed, we are in the final lap of yet another presidential contest. This post isn’t about the current contest but rather about some of the overlooked facts regarding presidents of the United States. Historians will more objectively look back 50 years from now and judge the merits and demerits of the more recent inhabitants of the White House.

How Many Presidents have There Been?

The answer may surprise you. There have been 45 presidents of the United States, not 47.

Why do we think that there are 45? Only because we have counted Grover Cleveland (#22 & #24) and Donald Trump (#45 & #47) twice. Cleveland ran for president three times and won as #22, lost to Benjamin Harrison (#23), and then won on his 3^rd try to become #24. Same for Trump who won as #45, lost to Joe Biden (#46), and then won on his 3rd try to become #47.

Why do we count them twice? Only because their terms were not consecutive. (No logic here.)

Cleveland did garner more popular votes than his opponents in all three presidential races. His two terms were separated Harrison who had won the electoral college votes.

Who was the first president born in the United States?

It wasn’t George Washington although he was the first president. However, there was no United States until 1776 and George was born in 1732. Martin Van Buren (#8) was born in 1782. Jackson (#7) in 1767, John Q. Adams (#6) in 1767, Monroe (#5) in 1758, Madison (#4) in 1751, Jefferson (#3) in 1743, John Adams (#2) in 1735. Seven of our presidents were not born in the United States.

Fact is that the first president born in the United States was Martin Van Buren.

Who was the Only President for which English was his second language?

Called the “Little Magician” or the “Sly Fox”, Martin Van Buren spoke Dutch in his home, not English. His birthplace, Kinderhook NY, is still dominated by the Dutch culture and language. 

After their presidency, what do they do?

Retire, mostly, but not William Taft (#27). He became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after being president.

Presidents as Slave Owners

Ten of the first twelve presidents were slave owners. Only the two Adams, John and John Quincy, didn’t have slaves.

Presidential Genes?

What presidents have had relatives become presidents? Of course, we all know that George Bush H.B. Bush (#41) and his son George W. (#43) were presidents. Another father son combination was John Adams (#2) and John Quincy Adams (#6). How about William Henry Harrison (#9) and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison (#23)? And distant cousins Teddy Roosevelt (#26) and Franklin D. (#32)? In fact, FDR married Teddy’s niece, Eleanor. 

Sleepless?

When I can’t sleep at night, I count presidents (all 45 of them), their middle initials, years of election, and home states. (By the way, Harry Truman didn’t have a middle name and the S was later added. And Ulysses Grant’s real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant not Ulysses S Grant.)

Counting presidents puts me to sleep and works every time.