Presidents and First Ladies Trivia

[RJNorton]

Correct, Anita and Michael! Indeed it was George Washington!

[Anita]

Correct, Anita and Michael! Indeed it was George Washington!

Roger, I've been reading about Washington's last days and found an another explanation given for his request to "not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand me?"

"Washington’s request was to be buried no sooner than three days after his passing in order to allow time to notify friends and family.  Both of Washington’s attending physicians, Dr. D ick, and Dr. Craig, not certain as to the cause of Washington’s death were concerned that it could be communicable, and insisted that the funeral not be delayed, due to weather or otherwise, past the fourth day. 

All other work in the shop was put aside, in order to tackle the demanding deadline and unprecedented request. Washington’s body was not embalmed, but pleased in a room just off the rear porch at Mt. Vernon with the windows open, allowing the December chill to preserve his body until burial.  Time was needed for Gen. Washington’s brother, Beauregard Washington, among others, to be informed and to ride from Philadelphia for the service.  The Rev. Thomas David, rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Alexandria, where Washington attended, was asked to perform the religious portion of the funeral.   Historical information provided by the Demaine Funeral Home, compiled by Diane Downey. https://www.annandalechamber.com/thedeat...gton.rhtml

[RJNorton]

Thank you, Anita! Very interesting.

Here is what it says in Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. (p. 808)

"Washington had a horror of being buried alive, and around ten o’clock he conveyed this to Lear: “Have me decently buried and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead.” Lear promised to honor his wish, which consoled Washington, making his breathing a trifle easier. This fear of premature burial was common at the time..."

Who knows!

[Anita]

Thank you, Anita! Very interesting.

Here is what it says in Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. (p. 808)

"Washington had a horror of being buried alive, and around ten o’clock he conveyed this to Lear: “Have me decently buried and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead.” Lear promised to honor his wish, which consoled Washington, making his breathing a trifle easier. This fear of premature burial was common at the time..."

Who knows!

Fear of being buried alive was a common belief of the the time so it's not surprising that Washington wasn't taking any chances when he made his request. It worked out that it also gave family and friends time to gather before he was placed in the vault.

This is from the Mt. Vernon website. " George Washington wasn't the only member of the family to worry about being buried too soon. His nephew, United States Supreme Court Justice Bushrod Washington, who inherited Mount Vernon from his uncle, was even more explicit about what he wanted done after his death and took the step of confiding them to his doctor:

My desire is that when the event happens, the sheet on which I am then laying may be employed as a Winding Sheet and at once thrown round my Person and tied about my middle with a Pocket [sic] Handkerchief--the common Practice of washing the Body is to be avoided- my thumbs are not to be tied together--nor anything put on my face or any restraint upon my Person by Bandages, &c. My Body is to be placed in an entirely plain coffin with a flat Top and a sufficient number of holes bored through the lid and sides--particularly about the face and head to allow Respiration if Resuscitation should take place and having been kept so long as to ascertain whether decay may have occurred or not, the coffin is to be closed up.5"

Also from the Mt. Vernon site is the incredible story of "At least one friend wanted to help the process of “resuscitation” along after George Washington’s death in 1799. William Thornton was a physician, trained in the best medical schools in Europe, who also designed the Library Company of Philadelphia (1789), the United States Capitol (1792), and a number of important homes in the DC area, including the Octagon, Woodlawn, and Tudor Place. He was appointed one of three commissioners for the new federal city (1793-1828) and was named first superintendent of the U.S. Patent Office in 1802. Twenty years after Washington’s death, Thornton wrote that when the former president was suffering through his final illness, a family member invited Thornton to Mount Vernon to see if he could help. Thornton left for the estate, in the “fullest confidence of being able to relieve him by tracheotomy.” He was shocked to discover that Washington had died before his arrival and was now “laid out a stiffened Corpse. My feelings at that moment I cannot express! I was overwhelmed with the loss of the best friend I had on Earth.” But Thornton had a backup plan:

Go here to read his plan! https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washi...ck-to-life

[RJNorton]

Here is a photo of a First Lady and her pet raccoon. Who is she?

[Anita]

This one I know. It's Grace Coolidge with Rebecca. We have a raccoon that visits our yard every night! Definitely not a pet.

[RJNorton]

Correct, Anita! Good job!

[Gene C]

That reminds me of a song.
Who can remember this classic by the Beatles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDcDCZGcZj8

[RJNorton]

No googling please.

The following quote comes from a letter that a future First Lady wrote to the man she would marry. She married him about 5 1/2 months afterwards. This was many years before he became president. She was 19 years old when she wrote the letter.

"I think that a gentleman has no business to concern himself about the legs of a lady."

Who wrote this to her future husband?

[Rob Wick]

This is a total guess, but it really sounds like something Abigail Adams would write.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Brilliant, Rob! The reference to legs comes fairly close to the end.

------------------------------------------------------------

Abigail Smith to John Adams

Date: 1764-05-09

Weymouth May. th 9 1764

Welcome, Welcome thrice welcome is Lysander to Braintree, but ten times more so would he be at Weymouth, whither you are afraid to come.—Once it was not so. May not I come and see you, at least look thro a window at you? Should you not be glad to see your Diana? I flatter myself you would.

Your Brother brought your Letter, tho he did not let me see him, deliverd it the Doctor from whom received it safe. I thank you for {p. 47} your Catalogue, but must confess I was so hardned as to read over most of my Faults with as much pleasure, as an other person would have read their perfections. And Lysander must excuse me if I still persist in some of them, at least till I am convinced that an alteration would contribute to his happiness. Especially may I avoid that Freedom of Behaviour which according to the plan given, consists in Voilations of Decency, and which would render me unfit to Herd even with the Brutes. And permit me to tell you Sir, nor disdain to be a learner, that there is such a thing as Modesty without either Hypocricy or Formality.

As to a neglect of Singing, that I acknowledg to be a Fault which if posible shall not be complaind of a second time, nor should you have had occasion for it now, if I had not a voice harsh as the screech of a peacock.

The Capotal fault shall be rectified, tho not with any hopes of being lookd upon as a Beauty, to appear agreeable in the Eyes of Lysander, has been for Years past, and still is the height of my ambition.

The 5th fault, will endeavour to amend of it, but you know I think that a gentleman has no business to concern himself about the Leggs of a Lady, for my part I do not apprehend any bad effects from the practise, yet since you desire it, and that you may not for the future trouble Yourself so much about it, will reform.

The sixth and last can be cured only by a Dancing School.

But I must not write more. I borrow a hint from you, therefore will not add to my faults that of a tedious Letter—a fault I never yet had reason to complain of in you, for however long, they never were otherways than agreeable to your own


A Smith

[Rob Wick]

I think I need to play the lottery. I remembered her comment to not forget the ladies when the framers were putting the government together, and it just sounded the same.

Best
Rob

[Anita]

No Googling please.

Who wrote this, who was the author writing about and what were the circumstances.

"...I retired before 11 thinking that he would have a quiet night, I awoke between 1 & 2 oclock [sic] and went to his bed side.  (There was a light in my room & a door between it and that of ___, which was left open [,] our beds were near each other)  He had again changed his position but was laying naturally upon his side with his face toward me and I supposed was in quiet repose.  I returned to my bed, but waking between 3 & 4 oclock [sic] I was surprized [sic] to observe that his position was unchanged[,] and placing my hand upon his temple found that life was extinct...

[RJNorton]

Could it be Edith Wilson writing about Woodrow's death?

[Anita]

That's a logical guess Roger, but it's not Edith Wilson.