The U.S. Presidents – Facts You Might Not Know

Published on 01/16/2019
ADVERTISEMENT

Rutherford B. Hayes – 133.9

Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, was a Republican politician who served from 1877 to 1881. After several months of dispute, he ended up winning the electoral vote but not the popular vote just like the aforementioned George W. Bush during the 2000 elections. Interestingly, the author Mark Twain expressed his support for Hayes. Before assuming the presidency, he was the Ohio governor for three terms and he was affiliated with the now-defunct Whig party. Hayes supported the expansion of the civil rights of the black community but the Democratic majority in Congress interfered with his efforts. Rutherford B. Hayes had a lower IQ compared to the other presidents seeing as it was 133.9. Hayes was another famous supporter of the civil service exams as he believed it was important and just for government employees to earn the jobs through merit over political ties. This was later enacted in the Pendleton Act. His wife was the first FLOTUS to have received a college education and she vouched for the first alcohol-free term in the White House.

Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes

ADVERTISEMENT

William Henry Harrison – 146.3

William Henry Harrison holds the record for the shortest term in the office. Most people remember him for his tragic death, which happened while he was still in service. He spent a total of 31 days in the office from March 4, 1841, to April 4, 1841. The 9th president succumbed to pneumonia after a rainy inauguration day. Apparently, the president refused to put on a warm jacket and rode a horse to give his speech. Another average president, William Henry Harrison had an IQ of 146.3.  Holding the record for the shortest term in office, William Henry Harrison was remembered mainly for tragedy, having died during his time in office. He was the last president who lived through the American Revolution and he even earned some fame for leading the military to victory during the Battle of Tippecanoe back in 1811. He earned the nickname “Old Tippecanoe” and he was the first US head of state to be photographed. Unfortunately, the photo had not been recovered. He is the child of founding father Benjamin Harrison and the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison who ended up becoming the 23rd President of the United States.

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison

ADVERTISEMENT