Many people like President Donald Trump, but some think he is the most ecccentric president we ever had. Actually he’s not. Compared to other past presidents he’s calm and cool.
From George Washington to George W. Bush, our presidents have done a few outrageous things that would surprise you.
For a kick, do a search and type in “Strange things presidents have done.” You will be amazed.
Let’s start with Jimmy Carter. One day while fishing, he said he was attacked by a wild, swimming rabbit. He also saw a UFO. President Ronald Reagan saw one, too. While he was flying he looked out the window and saw a UFO, then told the pilot to chase it.
You want strange? It’s hard to top this one. Every morning at breakfast Calvin Coolidge had someone rub Vaseline on his head. He also had two pet raccoons that ran around the White House. Herbert Hoover, not to be outdone, had a pet alligator that ran around the White House lawn. He didn’t take many walks in the garden.
And talk about pets, President Barack Obama once had a pet ape. Andrew Jackson had a pet parrot and taught it to cuss, squawking out words we can’t print. At Jackson’s funeral the parrot swore so much that they had to grab the bird and carry it away.
You think Trump has critics? Andrew Jackson had a few more. They say in his lifetime he had 100 duels with people who didn’t like his politics.
Trump is resentful about losing the election. He might like to hear about Franklin Pierce. At the convention when his party refused to nominate him, he walked to the podium and announced, “There is nothing left to do but get drunk!”
Talking of strong drink, Washington owned the biggest whiskey distillery in the country and drank a lot of his product. Abraham Lincoln owned a bar and was the bartender. After what they went through, I don’t blame them for having a drink.
The president is disputing the election results? He’d really flip over this one: Rutherford B. Hayes lost the popular vote by 250,000 votes and was elected by one electoral vote.
Aaron Burr, vice president to Thomas Jefferson, was also a strange one. He dreamed of being the king of his own country so he hired his own gang and rode off to conquer northern Mexico and make it his kingdom. It didn’t work out so well.
But President Millard Fillmore surprised people one day. There was a fire down the street from the White House, he ran outside and jumped on the firetruck and helped the firemen. A few senators saw him and joined in to help fight the fire.
But the all-time macho man award goes to President Teddy Roosevelt. Minutes before giving a speech he was shot but went ahead anyway. His first words to the crowd were,“I’ve just been shot and I don’t care a rap about being shot! Not a rap!”He went on to finish the speech. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.
A few presidents did some crazy things, but we overlook them because their greatness outshined their antics, and each one respected our country’s traditions. After their show was over and it was time to leave the stage, they took their bow and left with dignity.
We hope our president continues this tradition. Farewell to the chief, it’s time to say aloha.
Gregory writes a bi-weekly column for West Hawaii Today and welcomes your comments at makewavess@yahoo.com
