Presidents and First Ladies Trivia

[L Verge]

Mrs. Harding was obviously afraid of the Curse of Tippecanoe (sometimes called Tecumseh's Curse), the superstition that every President elected in a year evenly divisible by twenty would die in office. This held true from 1840 (William Henry Harrison - Old Tippecanoe who ticked off Tecumseh and died in office in 1841) through John F. Kennedy, elected in 1960.

Reagan was elected in 1980 and barely survived an assassination attempt by John Hinckley, and George W. Bush, elected in 2000, escaped assassination during a little-known incident while traveling in the former USSR State of Georgia. A grenade was thrown at him and the Prime Minister of Georgia, but failed to detonate. Bush did not learn of it until after the political rally was over.

Mrs. Harding's premonitions proved true. President Harding was elected in 1920 and died in 1923 of heart problems that brought on a stroke.

[RJNorton]

Laurie, I had a college professor who told the class that Harding died under "suspicious circumstances." I am not sure where that came from.

[L Verge]

Laurie, I had a college professor who told the class that Harding died under "suspicious circumstances." I am not sure where that came from.

I know that there was a rumor that he had been poisoned, but no proof. It may have stemmed from the fact that he had complained of abdominal problems first. That turned out to be a heart problem - probably something to do with the abdominal aorta (at least I think there is such a thing?). Let me google that. I know in the past three months, I have had more doctors listening to my stomach than I ever did during pregnancy!

[Eva Elisabeth]

One president's china. Whose?
   

[L Verge]

One president's china. Whose?

I don't see the seal at the top, but it looks like Teddy Roosevelt's.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good guess, Laurie, but, sorry, not correct.

[RJNorton]

George H. W. Bush?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good idea, Roger, and if I hadn't known this would have been my first guess, too. I'm sorry, not correct either.

I absolutely love this one - simple, classic Greek meander and pink...

[Gene C]

simple, classic Greek meander and pink...

That seems so obvious (especially the pink), so it can't be the person who first comes to mind.

I'll guess James Buchanan

[Eva Elisabeth]

Another good guess, Gene, but not Buchanan's either. Who comes first to your mind, Gene?

[Houmes]

One president's china. Whose?

This plate is not listed in Official White House China, 2nd edition, 1999. The book is the definitive record of presidential china, and this edition only goes up the Clinton administration. It should be noted that only china used in state functions is depicted. It's a large book with splendid photographs and detailed research. The Lincoln china usually shown was purchased in 1861 in the Solferino pattern with purple border and an eagle in the center. A second pattern was bought in 1861, with a simple pattern of buff border edged in gilt lines. It's called the Buff pattern, and was not shown in the White House china book.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kudos, Dr. Houmes. Please allow me to point out that I purposely didn't call it "presidential china" or "White House china"! Since Abraham Lincoln was a president and this china ordered by his better half I thought this a legitimate wording.

I once posted the link to it. It's probably better to quote the info:

"The third, 'pink' Lincoln china service, which arrived after President Lincoln's death and which was never used in the White House.
   
In early 1865, Mrs. Lincoln ordered yet a third set of china. Records regarding this set are minimal, and it is unclear if it was purchased or was a gift from the manufacturer The set was clearly ordered by Mrs. Lincoln before May 26, 1865, but did not arrive until after July 26, 1865 (once she had left Washington, D.C., and settled at the Hyde Park Hotel in Hyde Park, Illinois). It was delivered to her private home.

The 'pink set' was provided by James K. Kerr of Philadelphia. Kerr most likely decorated the piece, or at least provided the gilding and monogram."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_se...nistration

Dr. Houmes, you (as everyone) win my best wishes for a happy and healthy 2017!

[RJNorton]

Which First Lady said the following:

"A lady's name should appear in print only three times, at her birth, marriage, and death."

[Eva Elisabeth]

This would mean the Queen and any women who accomplished something ladies???of importance to the world (scientists etc.) are no ladies???

Lucy Hayes?

[RJNorton]

Good try, Eva, but it's not Lucy Hayes.

I am not sure what she meant, but her husband's interpretation of it was: "this was her philosophy for refusing to allow any pictures of herself and the children to be published." Her comment was made several years before her husband became President.