Mike Purdy's Presidential History Blog
President Obama Reflects on the History of the Moment
After taking the ceremonial oath of office for his second term on January 21, 2013, President Obama left the inaugural stage on the west front of the U.S. Capitol to re-enter the building. One more time: But as he got to the top of the stairs and...
Both Lincoln and Kennedy Had Premonitions of Their Assassinations
Both Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy had premonitions prior to their deaths of dying by an assassin's bullet.Lincoln: According to an account published by Lincoln's former law partner, Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln apparently told the following story:"About ten...
James Madison Died 6 Days Too Early!
James Madison died on June 28, 1836. Had he lived for six more days, he would have died on July 4th. An Independence Day death for Madison would have meant that four out of the first five presidents would have died on July 4th. George Washington died on December 14,...
Only 30% of U.S. Presidents Served 2 Full Terms
Of the 44 men who have served as President, less than a third, or only 31% of them have served a full two terms. Here's a list of the 14 Presidents who have served two terms: George Washington Thomas Jefferson James Madison James Monroe Andrew Jackson Ulysses Grant...
Presidential Secret Service Protection and Code Names
President Obama signed legislation on January 10, 2013 that will provide him, former President George W. Bush and future presidents and their spouses with lifetime Secret Service protection.Changes 10 year protection plan: In the mid-1990s, Congress passed a law...
Outstanding Book: FDR’s Funeral Train
I recently finished reading Robert Klara's 2010 book entitled FDR's Funeral Train, the story of FDR's death and the long train ride with his body that captivated the nation. Klara writes like a novelist, but packed with historical detail so you feel like you...
The Old Lion is Dead
Theodore Roosevelt's death came quickly and suddenly in the early morning hours of January 6, 1919 at his beloved Sagamore Hill estate on Long Island. He was just 60 years old, but his health had never been the same after his almost fatal trip to South...
Why Most History Books Have an Incorrect Birthday for Woodrow Wilson
Someone's birthday - especially for someone as famous as our 28th President, Woodrow Wilson, who was born in the waning days of 1856 in Staunton, Virginia, should be an elementary fact, not subject to any dispute. December 28 or 29? And yet most biographies of...
Monroe Almost Receives All Electoral College Votes
James MonroeIn the presidential election of 1820, James Monroe found himself riding a wave of popularity, what was known as the "era of good feeling." He was so popular, in fact, that he almost unanimously swept the Electoral College. Faithless...
Truman and Ford both Died on December 26th – 34 Years Apart
Harry S Truman and Gerald R. Ford both died on December 26th, but 34 years apart. Harry Truman and Gerald FordTruman passed away on December 26, 1972 in Independence, Missouri at the age of 88. Ford, who lived to be the oldest ex-president, passed...
Subscribe to the Blog
Enter your email address to receive new blog posts in your inbox (free!)
About Mike
Mike Purdy is a presidential historian and author living in Seattle, Washington. As an expert in presidential history, Mike runs PresidentialHistory.com as a public resource.