Just checked into the forum. Laurie, great post on Abigail Fillmore. I just read that he memorized his 3,319 word inaugural speech.

Poor Abigail. "Two months before his inauguration, the Pierce family was involved in a train wreck and their 11-year-old son, Benjamin, was thrown from the car and crushed to death before their eyes. His wife never recovered from the event. All three of their children died in childhood." http://www.classroomhelp.com/lessons/Pre...ierce.html

Which President purchased 20 spittoons for the White House?

Teddie Roosevelt?

Eva, that probably would have been my first guess, too. But it was not Roosevelt.

Grant ?

That is also a logical guess, Gene, but it was not Grant.

This is a very wild guess. Was it Garfield?

That is yet another logical guess, Roger, but it was not him.

Hint #1: This President served earlier than any of the guesses so far.

Jackson?

Cleveland? (I think I read the spittoons became more en-vogue before/around the turn of the century?)

That is certainly a logical guess, Eva, but Susan got it. Indeed it was President Andrew Jackson who purchased 20 spittoons at a cost of $12.50 each. Kudos, Susan!

The answer is in the article here.

(in the "1829 completion under Jackson" section.)

Jackson sounds like a logical President to want early spittoons, especially with his friendship with Sam Houston of western persuasion. Wonder if his French decorator brought them from the continent?

BTW: Just found reference to a more modern use for spittoons. They are now used in the wine industry. Those who test the wines during the process now spit their samples into spittoons rather than consume so much alcohol.

Name the First Ladies who were pipe smokers.

Rachel Jackson, Sarah Taylor

Bess Truman?