Easy Presidents Day Trivia: Fun Facts and Games for All Ages
Presidents Day originated as a day to recognize George Washington’s birthday. It later expanded to include Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday was also in February. Now, Presidents Day is viewed as a celebration of all U.S. presidents past and present.
This lighthearted trivia will uncover surprising presidential facts that are fun for all ages. Get ready for some easy Presidents Day trivia!
Contents
Presidential Nicknames Revealed
Uncovering presidential nicknames and the stories behind them makes for some fascinating easy Presidents Day trivia.
- George Washington had the venerable nickname “The Father of His Country,” representing his central role in leading the Continental Army during the American Revolution and then becoming the first president of the newly formed United States.
- The well-known moniker “Honest Abe” suited Abraham Lincoln perfectly thanks to his legendary integrity, honesty and commitment to abolishing slavery. Throughout his life, Lincoln was known as an earnest, trustworthy man who stuck firmly to his morals. People truly felt they could trust him to speak plainly and truthfully.
- Theodore Roosevelt went by the affectionate nickname “Teddy” thanks to his warm, lively spirit and boundless energy reminiscent of a cuddly teddy bear. His enduring motto to “speak softly and carry a big stick” succinctly captured his ethos blending thoughtful diplomacy with mighty power.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt’s iconic line “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” in his first inaugural address in 1933 inspired the intrepid nickname “Fearless Franklin.” The bold phrase steadied the American people throughout the crises of the Great Depression and World War II.
- Harry S. Truman’s Give ’em hell spirit first took root during his feisty 1948 “whistlestop campaign” for president when promoters used “Give ’em Hell Harry” on souvenirs and signs to showcase Truman’s fighting spirit. The spirited slogan captured Truman’s tenacity which led to his unexpected victory.
Related: President’s Day Writing Activities That Foster Leadership and Citizenship
Beyond Politics: Presidents’ Unexpected Passions
Presidents are multi-dimensional people with eclectic hobbies that offer amusing easy Presidents Day trivia. These non-political pastimes gave them balance from the pressures of the Oval Office.
- As a young man, Abraham Lincoln was an accomplished wrestler who earned local renown for his impressive skills on the mat. Lincoln utilized his sturdy 6’4 frame and leveraged his long limbs to grapple dozens of competitors. His grappling exploits helped shake his reputation as a clumsy buffoon by showcasing his strength and dexterity.
- A dedicated outdoorsman and naturalist, Theodore Roosevelt loved exploring the wilderness and embarking on camping expeditions where he could hike for miles observing plants and wildlife. Roosevelt’s zeal for nature was born in his youth when a doctor prescribed “the strenuous life” outdoors to combat his childhood asthma. Roosevelt took the advice deeply to heart. His expeditions inspired him to establish many new breathtaking national parks and protected lands across the country during his presidency so all Americans could access pristine wilderness.
- A favorite fact in easy Presidents Day trivia is that when time permitted on the putting green at the White House, the accomplished golfer Dwight D. Eisenhower could sink putt after putt while dreaming up new NATO military strategies against the Soviet Union threat. Ike first took up golf as an Army officer and played hundreds of quick 9-hole rounds at Augusta National during WWII to relax his always active mind.
- Beyond his presidency, Jimmy Carter revealed artistic talents picked up as an adult when he produced impressive landscape paintings centered around serene country settings and quaint towns reminiscent of his beloved Georgia upbringing. After leaving the White House, Carter even had a creative exhibit of his work in the Smithsonian Museum.
- To unwind from war machinations, Franklin D. Roosevelt enthusiastically collected stamps from around the world which reminded him of lands abroad still at peace. Beginning at age 8, the hobby offered comforting stress relief from the demands of the Great Depression at home and from orchestrating battles raging overseas in World War II. FDR assembled one of the world’s most complete stamp collections during his lifetime.
From Coffee to Cornmeal: Beloved Presidential Fare
Examining presidential food preferences makes for delicious easy Presidents Day trivia tidbits.
- George Washington enjoyed hearty Virginian comfort cuisine, feasting on favorites like Virginia ham glazed with honey, braised cabbage cooked low and slow, mashed potatoes, and chestnut rice. No wonder chestnut trees still dot the capital’s landscape today! Washington also loved to fish and would request fresh river trout or rockfish straight from the Potomac to be cooked over an open fire.
- While Abraham Lincoln had simple, Midwestern tastes preferring unpretentious homemade-style meals of chicken fricassee or corncakes with bacon, he made sure coffee flowed freely at breakfast every morning to energize his long workdays. Lincoln practically survived on coffee and apples when political crises kept him burning the midnight oil.
- In the realm of easy Presidents Day trivia, it’s interesting to note that known for robust appetites fueling their endless energy, Theodore Roosevelt and his large family regularly dined on hearty fare like venison chili, cornmeal cakes with syrup, thick cuts of steak, and even exotic game from hunting expeditions like roasted boar and bison.
- As a military man, Dwight D. Eisenhower often opted for simple fare like vegetable soup, pot roast, and applesauce cake that reminded him of beloved mess hall meals feeding Allied forces during the war. Ike favored hearty, uncomplicated cuisine.
- Harry S. Truman started most days with a brisk morning constitutional around Washington, followed by a large breakfast centered around eggs, porridge oats, toast and bacon or sausage to provide old-fashioned stick-to-your-ribs fuel for his nonstop schedule.
Milestones in the Oval Office: Firsts, Lasts and Barrier Breakers
Examining presidential firsts, lasts and barrier breakers presents enlightening easy Presidents Day trivia vignettes about political milestones.
- At age 42 in 1901, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest U.S. president ever after President William McKinley’s assassination unexpectedly elevated him to America’s highest office. Roosevelt served until 1909.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt holds several records – longest serving president for 12 years leading America through two of its greatest crises, the Great Depression and World War II. FDR won four consecutive presidential elections between 1932 and 1945, proving wildly popular.
- An intriguing piece of easy Presidents Day trivia: Ronald Reagan still holds the record as the oldest president to serve. He took office at age 69 until leaving at age 77, meaning he governed America well into his seventies.
- John F. Kennedy was the youngest elected president, taking his oath at age 43 after his slender victory over Richard Nixon in 1960. Tragically his 1000 days in office were cut short by an assassin’s bullet in 1963.
- In 2008 Barack Obama made history as America’s first African American president breaking the presidential color barrier. Obama offered a message filled with hope and change to unite a nation with his historic win.
- In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to ever secure a major political party’s presidential nomination when she clinched the Democratic ticket. While Clinton came up short in the general election, her achievement marked a major milestone for women rising to new heights in politics.
Behind the Myths: Surprising Truths about the Presidents
Lesser known secrets about presidents provide amusing easy Presidents Day trivia beyond the history textbook summaries while humanizing these towering figures.
- Football star Gerald Ford played center, linebacker and long snapper for the University of Michigan’s national championship teams in 1932 and 1933. Later some fans falsely remember Ford as a star NFL player rather than a college standout.
- Contrary to legend, George Washington never had wooden teeth. Aware that ivory dentures were notoriously uncomfortable, Washington had several sets of false teeth crafted from materials like gold, hippopotamus tusk, lead plates and even donated human teeth to aid his lifelong dental woes.
- Dispelling myths is a part of easy Presidents Day trivia, such as the fact that William Howard Taft never actually got stuck inside a White House bathtub as legend claims. In fact, the 300-pound president specifically had an oversized tub installed to accommodate his substantial stature. While a snug squeeze, the tub could fit Taft just fine.
- Barack Obama caused a minor scandal in 2014 when he was photographed wearing a tan summer suit in the Oval Office instead of the traditional navy, gray or black shade. Some considered Obama’s choice surprisingly casual and unorthodox for formal occasions.
- While most assume Abraham Lincoln wore his trademark stovepipe silk hat daily outdoors, he actually preferred a snug fitting felt hat when commuting so he avoid losing it in gusty winds. Lincoln only donned the unstable but imposing stovepipe hat for important occasions.
Easy Presidents Day Trivia Wrap Up
From nickname origins to unexpected hobbies, food favorites, barrier breakers, and myth debunkings, readers now have entertaining presidential tidbits to share thanks to this glimpse at easy Presidents Day trivia.
Have a memorable Presidents Day!
