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The Long and Short of It: Does Size Matter in a President?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:15:22 -0700

Do looks matter in a president? Perhaps, though, you can ask the infamous JFK/Nixon debate match up on that one — but how about sheer size? With Obama's workout regiment closely watched earlier this campaign, in the face-off between 6'1.5", 180 lbs. Obama, and 5'7", 165 lbs. McCain, will the top dog be the biggest in the pack?

The New York Times took the weights and measurements of the men running for president back to the turn of the century to see if there's any truth to the rumor that tall men rule.

The results? Not always. Perhaps presidential shorter/heavier loser Ford is a little resentful that he lost his match up on the scale with Jimmy Carter, while Nixon was similarly shorter and heavier than both McGovern and Humphrey and won both match-ups.

To see some of the other stand out numbers,

Lighten Up: Kids Draw Presidents Set to Tunes!

CitizenSugar — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:00:24 -0700

This is near and dear to my heart since the whole reason I got interested in politics to begin with was our unit on the presidents in fifth grade — this video brings it all back.

With fast-forward animation and cheerful music accompanying the kids' drawings, well, it's not controversial at all. But with the convention starting tomorrow (!), I'm liking the priceless drawing of number five, James Monroe, and his drawings of balloons and the "Era of Good Feelings" written on his shoulder. Plus! For extra credit you can use it as a little quiz — see if you can name the president before the picture and name gets filled in. Quick, who's number 34?

What's in a Name? Eight People Named After US Presidents

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:15 -0700

If you thought the name of the president doesn’t have much effect in the day-to-day lives of citizens, just ask — not Barack Hussein Obama — but John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch his opinion on that matter. One of eight people known to have been named after presidents, he took his #6 namesake and became the commander for the Berkeley Border Guards at Harper’s Ferry before eventually serving under Stonewall Jackson.

Then there's Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Stode or “Woody” as he was called. No, he didn’t create the League of Nations, but he was a decathlete, a football star and a Golden Globe nominated actor who appeared in Once Upon A Time In The West, Spartacus, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Not a Democrat? No problem. There was also Theodore Roosevelt Radcliffe, AKA “Double Duty.” Mr. Radcliffe was a professional baseball player who lived to be 103 years-old. He earned his name when he played both pitcher and catcher in a double header at Yankee Stadium in 1932. The rest include: Martin Van Buren Bates, Abraham Lincoln Erlanger (who directed theatre. . . creepy?) William McKinley Randle, Jr., Monty Franklin Pierce Stratton, and George Washington Trendle.

Speaking of odd presidential trivia, are you a lonely south-paw? In November Americans will select, for the fifth time in the last 35 years, a left-handed president. This isn’t an endorsement, it’s inevitable. To see the scoop,