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Rummaging Through America's Political History
(and Sometimes T-Shirts)

They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the religious right. It’s not a conservative issue at all.

—Barry Goldwater (via thegopleftme)

(Source: Washington Post, via thegopleftme)

John Quincy Adams, the First President to be Photographed The earliest known photos of an American president are daguerreotypes of John Quincy Adams taken in 1843, after Adams’ failed re-election bid in 1828 to Andrew Jackson, during his subsequent 17-year-career as a Massachusetts Congressman. According to The White House Historical Association (PDF): This likeness of the former President Adams was taken at the gallery of Bishop and Gray in early August 1843 in Utica, New York. President Adams, then 76 years old, was returning from a visit to Niagara Falls and stopped at Utica to see an old friend, Judge Ezeikiel Bacon. In his diary for August 1, 1843, Adams remarked, “Four daguerreotype likenesses of my head were taken, two of them jointly with the head of Mr. Bacon. All hideous.” Adams continued his diary entry the following day, “At seven this morning Mr. Bacon came and I went with him to the Shadow Shop, where three more Daguerreotype likeness were taken of me, no better than those of yesterday. They are all too true to the original.”

John Quincy Adams, the First President to be Photographed

The earliest known photos of an American president are daguerreotypes of John Quincy Adams taken in 1843, after Adams’ failed re-election bid in 1828 to Andrew Jackson, during his subsequent 17-year-career as a Massachusetts Congressman.

According to The White House Historical Association (PDF):

This likeness of the former President Adams was taken at the gallery of Bishop and Gray in early August 1843 in Utica, New York. President Adams, then 76 years old, was returning from a visit to Niagara Falls and stopped at Utica to see an old friend, Judge Ezeikiel Bacon. In his diary for August 1, 1843, Adams remarked, “Four daguerreotype likenesses of my head were taken, two of them jointly with the head of Mr. Bacon. All hideous.” Adams continued his diary entry the following day, “At seven this morning Mr. Bacon came and I went with him to the Shadow Shop, where three more Daguerreotype likeness were taken of me, no better than those of yesterday. They are all too true to the original.”

jackandjackie:

President Truman pretending to take President Kennedy’s order at the inaugural luncheon that followed the swearing-in ~ January 20, 1961

Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.

—Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to John Taylor, May 28, 1816

historyisinteresting: This day in history: The first assassination attempt on a sitting US President takes place as a Richard Lawrence tries unsuccessfully to kill Andrew Jackson. After encountering Jackson outside of the Capitol building, the would-be assassin fired a pistol in his direction but the gun misfired.  He then  pulled out another one, which suffered the same fate. Lawrence was quickly subdued by men standing nearby and while on the ground he was struck repeatedly by Jackson’s cane.  Also present at the scene was Davy Crockett. Strangely enough, the guns were later tested multiple times and each one fired perfectly. January 30, 1835 - 177 years ago today.

historyisinteresting:

This day in history:

The first assassination attempt on a sitting US President takes place as a Richard Lawrence tries unsuccessfully to kill Andrew Jackson.

After encountering Jackson outside of the Capitol building, the would-be assassin fired a pistol in his direction but the gun misfired.  He then  pulled out another one, which suffered the same fate.

Lawrence was quickly subdued by men standing nearby and while on the ground he was struck repeatedly by Jackson’s cane.  Also present at the scene was Davy Crockett.

Strangely enough, the guns were later tested multiple times and each one fired perfectly.

January 30, 1835 - 177 years ago today.

lsquare28: “Nor am I less persuaded that you will agree with me in opinion that there is nothing which can better deserve your patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.” “The welfare of our country is the great object to which our cares and efforts ought to be directed.— And I shall derive great satisfaction from a cooperation with you, in the pleasing though arduous task of ensuring to our fellow citizens the blessings which they have a right to expect, from a free and equal government.” From George Washington’s first State Of The Union Address, delivered in New York City on January 8, 1790.

lsquare28:

“Nor am I less persuaded that you will agree with me in opinion that there is nothing which can better deserve your patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.”

“The welfare of our country is the great object to which our cares and efforts ought to be directed.— And I shall derive great satisfaction from a cooperation with you, in the pleasing though arduous task of ensuring to our fellow citizens the blessings which they have a right to expect, from a free and equal government.”

From George Washington’s first State Of The Union Address, delivered in New York City on January 8, 1790.

dcdecoder: On this day in 1968, Robert F. Kennedy sat down with the Monitor Breakfast. Less than five months before his assassination in Los Angeles, the then-Democratic Senator from New York and presidential candidate was the 12th guest at what was then known as the Sperling Breakfast, a series that now counts over 3,700 events - and four sitting American presidents - in its history. RFK followed Michigan Governor George Romney (father of current GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney); Arlen Specter, a future Senator from Pennsylvania who was then a district attorney in Philadelphia and vice president Hubert Humphrey, among others, in the breakfast’s early days. In attendance at RFK’s breakfast were Washington journalism greats Bob Novak and David Broder along with the breakfast’s founding host, Monitor staffer Godfrey “Budge” Sperling, from whom the breakfast got its name. For more history on the Monitor Breakfast, see this background. — David Grant

dcdecoder:

On this day in 1968, Robert F. Kennedy sat down with the Monitor Breakfast.

Less than five months before his assassination in Los Angeles, the then-Democratic Senator from New York and presidential candidate was the 12th guest at what was then known as the Sperling Breakfast, a series that now counts over 3,700 events - and four sitting American presidents - in its history.

RFK followed Michigan Governor George Romney (father of current GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney); Arlen Specter, a future Senator from Pennsylvania who was then a district attorney in Philadelphia and vice president Hubert Humphrey, among others, in the breakfast’s early days.

In attendance at RFK’s breakfast were Washington journalism greats Bob Novak and David Broder along with the breakfast’s founding host, Monitor staffer Godfrey “Budge” Sperling, from whom the breakfast got its name.

For more history on the Monitor Breakfast, see this background.

— David Grant

(via csmonitor)

ourpresidents: Toga Birthday for FDR! Franklin Roosevelt’s harsher critics sometimes compared him to a dictator. In 1934, the President and his staff turned this into a lighthearted joke at FDR’s 52nd birthday party. The party was held on January 30, 1934 at the White House by members of the Cuff Links Gang, a group of longtime political advisers and friends who joined Roosevelt every year for his birthday. The 1934 party had a “Caesarian” theme, with guests wearing togas and centurion costumes.  Suffragette Marion Dickerman, a friend of the Roosevelts, wore a muslin toga costume that’s now at the FDR Library. In the photo, FDR, as “Caesar,” is surrounded by friends, family members, and close advisers, including Eleanor Roosevelt (as the “Delphic Oracle”). Dickerman is standing at the far right. Just below her is Louis Howe, FDR’s longtime political adviser, dressed as a member of the Praetorian Guard. This photo will be in exhibit opening this Spring: The Roosevelts: Public Figures, Private Lives. Happy Birthday Franklin D. Roosevelt January 30, 1882 - April 12, 1945

ourpresidents:

Toga Birthday for FDR!

Franklin Roosevelt’s harsher critics sometimes compared him to a dictator. In 1934, the President and his staff turned this into a lighthearted joke at FDR’s 52nd birthday party.

The party was held on January 30, 1934 at the White House by members of the Cuff Links Gang, a group of longtime political advisers and friends who joined Roosevelt every year for his birthday. The 1934 party had a “Caesarian” theme, with guests wearing togas and centurion costumes.  Suffragette Marion Dickerman, a friend of the Roosevelts, wore a muslin toga costume that’s now at the FDR Library.

In the photo, FDR, as “Caesar,” is surrounded by friends, family members, and close advisers, including Eleanor Roosevelt (as the “Delphic Oracle”). Dickerman is standing at the far right. Just below her is Louis Howe, FDR’s longtime political adviser, dressed as a member of the Praetorian Guard.

This photo will be in exhibit opening this Spring: The Roosevelts: Public Figures, Private Lives.

Happy Birthday Franklin D. Roosevelt

January 30, 1882 - April 12, 1945

Lyndon Baines Johnson’s 1968 Presidential campaign put a twist on a classic slogan with “LBJ All The Way,” originally seen on buttons, with a graphic of the famous Texan’s cowboy hat. We print this design on a thin, 100% cotton ash-gray t-shirt, available in unisex and a woman’s style.

Lyndon Baines Johnson’s 1968 Presidential campaign put a twist on a classic slogan with “LBJ All The Way,” originally seen on buttons, with a graphic of the famous Texan’s cowboy hat. We print this design on a thin, 100% cotton ash-gray t-shirt, available in unisex and a woman’s style.