1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: Guess what will? What's that mango? So I love invented games, 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: like the idea of things like Worlie ball, which is 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: just like lacrosse played from bumper cars, or elephant polo. 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: But my new obsession is Hoover Ball, like President Hoover. Yeah, 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: apparently Hoover's physician told him he needed to lose weight 6 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: and be more fit, so they designed this game that's 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: like tennis meets volleyball, but is played with a medicine ball. 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: It actually sounds really fun. You can only do certain 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: types of throws from certain places on the court, and 10 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: players actually get sent out of the game for making 11 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: errors and how they catch the ball. But as I 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: was reading up on Hoover and how addicted he was 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 1: to the sport, like he played every single morning with 14 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: his medicine ball cabinet and he only canceled the game once, 15 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: well it made me wonder about American presidents and what 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,240 Speaker 1: their weird hobbies are. I mean, none of my American 17 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: history textbooks had any mention of Hoover Ball. But what 18 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: else don't we know about presidents and what juicy, ridiculous 19 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: secrets are they hiding? And that's what today's show is 20 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: all about, right, say their podcast listeners. Welcome to Part 21 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,119 Speaker 1: Time Genius. I'm Will Pearson and as always I'm joined 22 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: by my good friend man guest, have ticket here, and 23 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: today we're talking about President because the President isn't someone 24 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: we talk about enough these days, right. You know, I 25 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: feel like i've seen him in the news recently, like 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: he said a few things and done a few things 27 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: recently a couple and a few of those things have 28 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,559 Speaker 1: been a little strange, don't you think, I mean, maybe 29 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: just a little. But here's the thing. I think the 30 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 1: number of odd things we're hearing and seeing these days 31 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: are making us forget just how weird many of our 32 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: past presidents were, and we should appreciate them for it. 33 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: So that's what I want to talk about. I think 34 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: we should give people a little break from hearing about 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 1: our current leader of the free world and talk about 36 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: the weird personalities who have occupied this office in the past. 37 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: You know, you and I have been revisiting one of 38 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: our favorite books about the president's Cormack O'Brien's Secret Lives 39 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: of the US Presidents, and I know there's a ton 40 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: of fascinating stuff in there too. So let's talk history. 41 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: That's a great idea, and I think we should tell 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: our listeners about our big plan. Uh are you sure? 43 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: I mean, why not? Okay, So listeners, A few months back, 44 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: Will and I discovered a piece of property located on 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: the mountain side. And on that mountain side we noticed 46 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: a rock that looked so much like our eighth President, 47 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: Martin Van Buren. And side note, he was the only U. 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: S President who learned English as a second language. That's right, 49 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: his first language was Dutch. And that's crazy how much 50 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: this rock looked like him though, you know, with the 51 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: eyes and the nose and the hair. It was just striking, 52 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: almost scary. So we thought, it's been ninety years since 53 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: construction on Mount Rushmore started, and Mount Rushmore is so 54 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: far from where we are in Atlanta, we really need 55 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: another mountain with the faces of former presidents carved into it. 56 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: So let's figure this out. And wouldn't you know it 57 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: that properties for sale. Now. We can't tell you guys 58 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: where it is because we don't want anyone else to 59 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: beat us to this idea. How no one else has 60 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: noticed the face of old Marty v b and that mountain? 61 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: I have no idea, Yeah, we really need to act quickly, 62 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: but first we've got to decide whose faces are going 63 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: to be in this mountain. I feel like it shouldn't 64 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: be as generic as great presidents. Speaking of which, while 65 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: I was doing a little research on our competition, I 66 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: learned that Mount Rushmore was originally supposed to be just 67 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: Washington and Lincoln. It was only once they started working 68 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: on it that they decided to add Thomas Jefferson and 69 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: Teddy Roosevelt because they wanted to create a manifest destiny theme. 70 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: You know. It's that idea that the US and it's 71 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: settlers were destined to expand across the continent, which I 72 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: guess plays well into the fact that Rushmore was basically 73 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: built to lure a new breed of car bound tourists totally. 74 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: By the way, did you know in seven Congress briefly 75 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: toyed with adding Susan B. Anthony into the mix? Didn't anyway, 76 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: I think our monument needs to be something much more 77 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: specific and weird, especially if we're gonna work Old M. 78 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 1: Van B's face on there. Now. While I agree, I 79 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: don't want to commit to having the Martin ter in 80 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: this mountain just yet, but I definitely think we should 81 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: have a strange and memorable theme to it. Okay, I 82 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: think we can agree. We're on the same page. Let's 83 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: talk themes. What are you thinking? Well, I have a 84 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: few ideas, and I know you do too. But if 85 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: we're considering including Vanny be, is it okay to call 86 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: Martin Van Buren Vanny b Definitely? But if we're considering 87 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: Vanny b I think we should have a wall of 88 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: presidents who believed in the weirdest health remedies. I'd say 89 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: that's pretty specific, but I can already see the sponsorship 90 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: angles from kombucha companies and big Ginka. Okay, hit me 91 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: with it. What's Van buren'sinfa Well, it turns out Old 92 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: Marty was dealing with some pretty chronic stomach issues, and 93 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: many scholars think his health declined because of the Panic 94 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: of eighteen thirty seven, which was the economic recession that 95 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: lasted the better part of a decade or so. So 96 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: in order to give his stomach some relief, he decided, 97 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: for some reason, to mix up a soothing elixir of soot, charcoal, 98 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: and water. Your mom never gave you chimney water to 99 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: settle your tongue tongue. I mean, if you had an 100 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: irritable stomach to begin with, I can't imagine what this 101 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: mixture would do. It's hard to imagine it helped at all. Yeah, 102 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: it does not sound tasty, But I like this unusual 103 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: health remedies idea. I've got one to add to it, 104 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 1: old vasoline head himself, Calvin Coolidge vasolene head. I always 105 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 1: thought Calvin Coolidge was so boring, and that the most 106 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: interesting part about him was his pranks, which were also boring. 107 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 1: Like in the White House he used to ring the 108 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: buzzer for the maids and ushers to come and then 109 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 1: runaway or gleefully hide for them, which just kind of 110 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: makes him sound like an idiot. But Coolidge was so 111 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: much weirder than that. Apparently he enjoyed having petroleum jelly 112 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 1: rubbed all over his head every morning while he enjoyed 113 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: his breakfast in bed. I don't know exactly why he 114 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: thought this was a good idea for his health, but 115 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: he did. Lord, that's weird. It's it's it's an excellent addition, 116 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: all right. So let's stick with that one. And then 117 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: I think we should include John Quincy Adams for his 118 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: love of ice baths and skinny dipping. So he would 119 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: apparently take these five am naked swims as a way 120 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: to relieve stress. And this wasn't exactly secret journalist and 121 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: Royal reportedly ended a big interview with John Quincy Adams 122 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: by hiding his clothes after he got in the water. 123 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: She then refused to give them back until he answered 124 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: her questions, which, of course he did. That's brilliant. I 125 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: know you can't imagine a reporter getting that sort of 126 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: access to a president these days. Of course, he wasn't 127 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: our only president who liked ice baths. Thomas Jefferson did too, 128 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 1: at least for his feet, and he claimed these daily 129 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: cold footpaths, which he did for six decades, were the 130 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: main reason he lived into his eighties. And I know 131 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: he's already on Rushmore, but that's pretty good, right, Definitely 132 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: let's keep him in the mix. I think that's a 133 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: solid foresome Van Buren, Coolidge, John Quincy Adams and Jefferson. 134 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: I'd put my kids in a station wagon and drive 135 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: them to see those weirdos, all right, So that's one option. Now, 136 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: what were you thinking we should do with this mountain? Well? 137 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: Sticking with this idea of shaky or non existent science. 138 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: Let's jump to twentieth century presidents and a slightly different category, 139 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: presidents with superstitious or supernatural beliefs. All right, okay, so 140 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 1: who do you have in mind for me? The most 141 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,559 Speaker 1: surprising superstitious president was f d R. I'm not sure why, 142 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: but I think of him as a dealmaker and a 143 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: pretty reasonable president. But he had some big quirks. He 144 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: wouldn't sit at a table set for thirteen, he refused 145 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: to begin to trip on a Friday, and he wouldn't 146 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: light three cigarettes off the same match. But as Cormac 147 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: O'Brien points out, after FDR died, the funeral train that 148 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: carried his body from Georgia it started its journey on Friday. Well, 149 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: he was pretty superstitious. So as a side note, I 150 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: was thinking about how much things have changed in terms 151 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: of interaction between the president and the press since FDR's 152 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: time in office. It's just so strange to think that 153 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: he had this gentleman's agreement with the press that they 154 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: wouldn't photograph him in his wheelchair and they were okay 155 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: with it. It's funny I had read that a lot 156 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: as well. This kind of romanticized view of the press. 157 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: But Matthew Pressman, a professor and journalist, studied this and 158 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: found the FDR's disabilities were actually written about quite a lot. 159 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: There were New York Times mentions of the ramps he'd 160 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: put up for access at the White House, or how 161 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: Roosevelt would tool around Hyde Park in his chair. But 162 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: most of the narrative, and this is something that FDR 163 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: and the press seemed to sell to the public, was 164 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: that he was on his way to defeating his disability 165 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: through vigorous swims and forcing himself to walk with braces. 166 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: Also that whole gentleman's agreement thing. He'd often send his 167 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: secret servicemen after anyone taking a photo of him to 168 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: basically break their cameras. He was a little more thuggish 169 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: about protecting his image than people think. I'd say, Well, 170 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: there's no denying he was superstitious, though, So back to 171 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: our monument. Do you think we should add Reagan to 172 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: the list of presidents who had unusual beliefs? You mean 173 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: because of his astrologer? Well, exactly. So It's fair to 174 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: say that Ronald and Nancy were pretty superstitious to begin with. 175 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: But after the attempted assassination on Reagan when he was 176 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: shot back in nine that superstition got cranked up a 177 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: few notches for Nancy. The astrologer Joan quickly entered the 178 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: picture and began advising Nancy on how they could avoid tragedy, 179 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: and after quickly looked at the president's star charts, they 180 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: developed his entire schedule around them. Everything he did was 181 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: affected by his chart. It's including the takeoff and landing 182 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: times of Air Force fun. Let me repeat that in 183 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: the nineteen eighties an astrologer was helping to determine the 184 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: takeoff and landing times of Air Force one. That's so, 185 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: I wonder if this even affected the timing of their 186 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: movie watching. I'd forgotten until reading O'Brien's book that Nancy 187 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: had also been an actor, and that the two of 188 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: them found time almost every day to watch movies. And actually, 189 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: there's this great story where Reagan's chief of staff, Jim Baker, 190 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: questioned the president on why he hadn't opened a briefing 191 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: that he dropped off the night before, and Reagan just 192 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,480 Speaker 1: calmly explained, well, Jim, the sound of music was on 193 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,599 Speaker 1: last night. I really like your Reagan impression. That's impressive, 194 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: and the sound of music is a great movie, so 195 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: I kind of get it, all right. So here's another one. 196 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: You were just telling me the other day about Jimmy 197 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: Carter and the old UFO signing, so we should probably 198 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: add that to the list. Definitely. So this happened before 199 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: his time as president. This was back in nineteen sixty 200 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: nine at a Lions Club meeting in Georgia. He and 201 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: some friends reported an object as bright as the moon 202 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: to the International UFOB euro and to this day, Carter 203 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: is the only president to have reported seeing a UFO, 204 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: and he stood by his account, saying it was the 205 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: darnest thing I've ever seen. All right. So if we 206 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: go with this theme, we have Fdr for his superstition, 207 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: Reagan for his astrologer, Carter for his UFOs citing, and 208 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: maybe one more. So while we think on that, what 209 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: do you say we play a game? Sounds great? So 210 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: our guest today is the author of one of our 211 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: favorite books about the history of the presidency. It's called 212 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: Secret Lives of the U S Presidents, and it's recently 213 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: been updated and rereleased with new information on our most 214 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: recent presidents. Cormac O'Brien. Welcome to Part time Genius. Thanks 215 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: for having me so so, Cormac, have you always been 216 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: a huge history of buff Yes, good answer. Yeah. I 217 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: knew that I was going to be into history from 218 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: a pretty early age, Cormac. Today's episode is about some 219 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 1: of them are bizarre behaviors of our past presidents, and Uh, 220 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: when you're doing your sarch for this book, I was wondering, 221 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: if you're surprised just how weird some presidents could be. Well, 222 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: yes and no, You're right, so many of them are 223 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: have been really strange. But on the other hand, I've 224 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: often wondered why someone would want to be president in 225 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,960 Speaker 1: the first place, given how you know, the rigors of 226 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 1: the office, demands of the office, and it seems like 227 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: a losing proposition. Uh. You know, no, no matter what 228 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: you achieve, people are going to remember you for your faults, 229 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: for your flaws, for your failures, as well as whatever 230 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: you achieve, And it almost seems impossible, especially uh, in 231 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: modern times when you're under such intense scrutiny. So yes, 232 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,680 Speaker 1: on the one hand, Um, a lot of these guys 233 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: have been strange or unusual, quirky, bizarre, But on the 234 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,439 Speaker 1: other hand, should we be surprised because they're drawn to 235 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: the office in the first place, I guess to that end, 236 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: I mean, is there anyone that you feel gets a 237 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: particularly bad rap end, is there's a little more sympathy. Um, 238 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: that's a good question. I think A great example of 239 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: what we're talking about is Harry Truman. Because Truman when 240 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: he left office had the lowest approval rating in modern times. UM. 241 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: Up until that time, no one had ever had such 242 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: low approval ratings. And now he's a hero. And it 243 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: took decades for his reputation historically to bounce back, which 244 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 1: is interesting. And and historians and journalists started looking, you know, 245 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: once they had that, you know, enough years away from 246 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: his actual administration, they were able to look with a 247 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: clearer eye at what he had achieved. And now he's 248 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: he's regarded as, uh, you know, pretty much a total success. 249 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: And I've often looked at that as really instructive. We're 250 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 1: you know, when you're living in the times, it's very 251 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: different from when you're looking back at it, um. And uh. 252 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: And so you know, I mean I've often thought that 253 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: the worst president we ever had was Andrew Johnson, uh, 254 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: mainly because he was an unabashed bigot at a time 255 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:18,520 Speaker 1: when we were trying to reconstruct the South. Uh, African 256 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:22,080 Speaker 1: Americans needed someone on their side in the White House, 257 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: and that was not Andrew John Um And he was impeached, 258 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: he was not convicted. But there's a man whose reputation 259 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: has never bounced back. Uh, perhaps justifiably. Yeah, well what 260 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: about do you have a favorite president to read or 261 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: write about? It doesn't matter whether they were a good 262 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: president or an effective president in any favorites. Yeah, Theodore Roosevelt, 263 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 1: uh is talk about quirky. Uh, this was this was this. 264 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: This is an extraordinary man by any measure, probably the 265 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: first Polly Maath to be in the White House since Jefferson. 266 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: I mean, he did everything. He was. He was a scientist, 267 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: a naturalist, a hunter, He was a scholar. His you know, 268 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:14,599 Speaker 1: his work on the naval aspect of the War of 269 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,439 Speaker 1: eighteen twelve is still standard reading for that war. I 270 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: mean he just he just dove into that as a 271 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: as a young scholar. And uh, he was a cowboy. 272 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: He was. He would go on what he called his 273 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: point to point sojourns, where he would pick a point 274 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: in the wilderness and take his guests on a hike 275 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: to that point, and they would have to overcome whatever 276 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: obstacles they came across, no matter how arduous that would be. 277 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: What do you say, you know he was? He was 278 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: kind of like a larger than like personality. Yeah. Yeah. 279 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: And your your your entry or your chapter on Teddy 280 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 1: Roosevelt and your book was was terrific. Well, thank you 281 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: all right, So, speaking of leaders, we're gonna play a 282 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: play a quiz with you today, Cormack. What are we 283 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: playing today? Mango? We're playing a game called Not My President. 284 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: Because Cormack knows way too much about US presidents, we 285 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: thought it'd be fun to test him on other world leaders. 286 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: That's right. So this this game is pretty easy. All 287 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: you have to do is determine who or where this 288 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: leader is from based on the nickname and question. And 289 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: I have a feeling you're going to do pretty well 290 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: at it. So you're ready to play? I'm ready? Is 291 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: ready alight? Here we go question number one. Although nicknames 292 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: for this world leader include Botox and the Pale Moth 293 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: for his smooth skin, George W. Bush just called him 294 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: Pootie poot You got it? He paused for a second, 295 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: he's like, wait a minute, it actually this easy, so 296 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: it is alright. Question number two. This Prime Minister has 297 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: the nickname of a lesser Margaret Thatcher, the steel Lady. 298 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: That's right. Question number three. This Chancellor was originally called 299 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: mother as an insult, but she and her followers have 300 00:15:55,680 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: embraced the term. Oh, that's right, good job, alright. Question 301 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: number four. In China, this Canadian dream boat is called 302 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: little Potato, which sounds like his last name in Mandarin. 303 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: Uh Trudeau. That's right, alright, to last Yeah, I thought 304 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: that was fun, alright. Question number five, This one's a toughie. 305 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: President Muhammad Bahari of this large African nation has the 306 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: nickname Baba go Slow for his reluctance to appoint a cabinet, 307 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: though was The Atlantic points out, he was quick to 308 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: name himself oil minister. Can you name the country that 309 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: is one? Um, Nigeria. That's right, absolutely right, alright. Last 310 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: question here, he's he's five for five so far right, Okay, 311 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: let's see if we can get Officially, he's the Supreme 312 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, but in 313 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: neighboring countries he's simply known as King Fatty the third 314 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: a six or six. Well, alright, so what is Cormack 315 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: one today, Mango? Well, Cormack's astounding job at at our 316 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: quiz and titles them to our grand prize, which is 317 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: our hard earned admiration. Cormack, thanks so much for joining 318 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: us on Part Time Genius. Thanks for having me. It 319 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: was fun. Welcome back to Part Time Genius. As you know, 320 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: we're talking about this mountain side where we're going to 321 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: develop a competitor to Mount Rushmore, but it's going to 322 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: have a much weirder and more specific thing. We're probably 323 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: gonna need to find some investors for this, but it 324 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 1: seems like such a no brainer that I'm sure that 325 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 1: won't be a problem anyway, give me another idea for 326 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 1: our weird president's mountain side. Well, what if we had 327 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: one for weird presidential records? People do love records, So 328 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: what do you have in mind? All right, So John 329 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: Tyler had fifteen kids, which is a record among presidents, 330 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: so that that one seems obvious. But it's not even 331 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 1: the most impressive thing about Tyler's offspring. No, it's not. 332 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: I assume you're talking about the fact that two of 333 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: John Tyler's grandsons are still a lot. One of Tyler's 334 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: sons had two sons of his own very late in life, 335 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: and so Tyler was around when George Washington was in office, 336 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: and yet he still has two living grandsons. How crazy 337 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: is that? It feels unbelievable. So what other records should 338 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: we consider? How about the fewest votes for someone who 339 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: has served as vice president and president, and that would 340 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: be zero votes. That's Gerald Ford because he became president 341 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: in ninety four after Nixon resigned, and before that he'd 342 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,239 Speaker 1: only been Vice president for eight months, a role that 343 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 1: he stepped into when Spiro Agnew resigned. It is pretty 344 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: crazy to imagine serving in both of those roles without 345 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: ever having received a single vote for the position. Now. 346 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 1: Ford will also add some athleticism to our mountains, since 347 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: he was a linebacker at Michigan and College. Actually, did 348 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 1: you know that he started on the team that won 349 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: two national titles and he was a model. Yeah. It's 350 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: so bizarre that for all his grace and athleticism, he's 351 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: mostly known as a Klotz. After his fall on the 352 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: stairs of air was one of course, uh Chevy Chase 353 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: helped to cement that reputation. I'd so, but yeah, I 354 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 1: think gerald Ford's record earns him a spot on the mountain. 355 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 1: And I've got another one. How about the least married president, 356 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: James Buchan. Yep, he's still the only president never to 357 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: have married. But he was a partier. Some have described 358 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: his time in office as one long party. Even on Sundays, 359 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: when he was taking his carriage ride to church, Buchanan 360 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: would have them stop at the local distillery to pick 361 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: up a ten gallon cask. Nice. All right. So that's 362 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: Tyler for having the most children, Forward for fewest votes 363 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: for someone who served as VP and president with zero, 364 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: and Buchanan for least married. I think we need one more, 365 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 1: really dumb one. What do you got? Oh, I've got one? Uh? 366 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: How about most brothers named Ike? Dwight Eisenhower, also known 367 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: as Ike, didn't exactly have a unique nickname, at least 368 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: within his own family. It turns out all six of 369 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: the Eisenhower brothers were nicknamed Ike at some point. I 370 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: guess they like Dike. But I like this group for 371 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: the possible mountain wall. So let's keep it in the mix. 372 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: All right, what's next? I've been thinking about one that 373 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 1: could be weird but fun. And that's a collection of 374 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: presidents tied to amusing writing. All right, so where are 375 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: you going with this one? Well, it's such a fun 376 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 1: way to get a better sense of the real personalities 377 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: the past presidents like. Take Nixon for example, he had 378 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: a reputation for being aloof even with his wife Pat 379 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: and their daughters. In fact, do you know how he 380 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: communicated with them much of the time through memos, And 381 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: not only that, he often signed them the president. Wow? Wow, 382 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: how warm and fuzzy. I still think one of my 383 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: favorite stories about Nixon was about how he asked his 384 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: future wife Pat to marry him on one of their 385 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:39,399 Speaker 1: first dates, and when she said no, you know what 386 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:41,960 Speaker 1: he did? What's up? He agreed to drive her around 387 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: out on dates with other guys for two years. That's 388 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: so bizarre. I guess that's as close as Nixon got 389 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: too romantic. Well, sticking with the romance theme and another 390 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 1: president's writings, it's nice to see how sweet Woodrow Wilson 391 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 1: was on his wife Woodrow Wilson. Really, Yeah, they're literally 392 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: thousands of letters Wilson wrote to his wife. We think 393 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: of Wilson as this somewhat stoic and often reserved guy. 394 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: But these love letters drip with passion and desire. I 395 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: do know that Wilson is connected with one of the 396 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 1: more embarrassing typos related to the president's activities. Oh the 397 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: Washington Post one. Yep. So, not long after Wilson's first wife, 398 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: Ellen passed away, he met Edith Bowling Galt, and the 399 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: two of them began spending more time together and went 400 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: out on a date to the theater. The Washington Post 401 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: reported on this date and intended to say that Wilson 402 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:34,119 Speaker 1: was entertaining Miss Galt, but instead just said the president 403 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: spent most of his time entering miss calls. Wow, that 404 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 1: would be a pretty bold thing to do right there 405 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: in the middle of the What a silly typhoon. But 406 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: I think he earns a spot arm Mountain if we 407 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: decided to go with this theme. You know who was 408 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: not a romantic and his writing James K. Polk. He 409 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 1: was maybe the work a holly as president of all time. 410 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: So he worked these crazy hours and thought that public 411 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: servants really shouldn't be wasting time with any leisure act 412 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 1: at these he and his wife Sarah, they did in vacation. 413 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: They even stayed at the executive mansion throughout the summer. 414 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,640 Speaker 1: Over his first four years in office, Polk was only 415 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: away from home for a total of six weeks. That's insane. 416 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,479 Speaker 1: But back to the writing part. As O'Brien points out 417 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: in the Secrets of the US Presidents, Polk viewed handshaking 418 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: as a labor to be endured, and he once wrote 419 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:24,640 Speaker 1: a lengthy essay in his diary that relegated the act 420 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: to an academic subject. He made a diary entry about this, 421 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:29,360 Speaker 1: and here's part of it. All right, let me look 422 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: at this. It says if a man surrendered his arm 423 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: to be shaken by some horizontally, by others perpendicularly, and 424 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: by others again with a strong grip, he could not 425 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 1: fail to suffer severely from it, But that if he 426 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: would shake and not be shaken, grip and not be gripped, 427 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: taking care always to squeeze the hand of his adversary 428 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: as hard as he squeezed his, that he suffered no 429 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: inconvenience from it. What I was just about to say, what, 430 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: I know, what, it's crazy, So I'd say we're pretty 431 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 1: close to having a good collection. But I have one 432 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: more to add to this. And that's William Henry Harryson. 433 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:02,680 Speaker 1: This is the same guy who had the shortest term 434 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: in office, and he also happened to have the longest 435 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: inaugural speech. Did he really? Yeah? And it didn't help 436 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 1: that it was crazy cold and windy that day. Harrison 437 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: refused to wear a coat or gloves for the speech, 438 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: and he started feeling ill the next day, and a 439 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 1: month later he was dead. So in other words, he 440 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,880 Speaker 1: delivered about three minutes of speech for every day he's 441 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: been in office exactly. I mean that seems a little excessible. Well, 442 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,679 Speaker 1: it did earn him consideration for our mountain side. So 443 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: if we go with this day, we've got Nixon for 444 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:33,160 Speaker 1: his ridiculously impersonal communication with his family. We've got Wilson 445 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:36,360 Speaker 1: for love letters but also the unfortunate type of describing 446 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: his date, James K. Polk for his weird diary entry, 447 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: and William Henry Harrison for his ridiculously long inaugural address. 448 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: I like it. I bet the tours would just come 449 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: from all over for this too. And while we're daydreaming 450 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: about all that cash money we're gonna make, let's take 451 00:23:51,600 --> 00:24:00,239 Speaker 1: a quick break for this quiz that main know this 452 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: is typically the part of the show where I would 453 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 1: ask you who we have on the line, But today 454 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: is a little bit different. With our theme being presidents, 455 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: we thought it would be fun to have a couple 456 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: of people from the office here at how stuff works, 457 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: because we've got some great leaders here. So who do 458 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: we have playing with us today? So we've got Tracy V. 459 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: Wilson from Stuff You Missed in History Class, The Incredible Podcast, 460 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 1: and she was president of her French club. Wow, president 461 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: of the French Club. Now, Tracy, are you still fluent 462 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: in French? I wasn't even fluent in French at that time, 463 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: and yet you were the president. So as it was 464 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: it a bitter battle to become president of the French Club. No, 465 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 1: I I was just better at French than some other people, 466 00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: but as a general rule, none of us were actually 467 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: any good at it at all. Ringing endorsement. All right, 468 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: we'll welcome to part time genius. And we've also got 469 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: Cherry Larson online from marketing and she was president of 470 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: her sixth grade class, and most impressively, it turns out 471 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: she wasn't even running for the office. I was s 472 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: rise as anybody when they told me that I was 473 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,320 Speaker 1: the president. So how were you elected? Then? Um? It 474 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: was right end vote. But there were people who wanted 475 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: to be president. Um, I think that they they chose 476 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 1: me because I was always the narrator of the school 477 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: plays and my head been all through elementary school, and 478 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: I think they just saw me as a figure of authority. 479 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,399 Speaker 1: I didn't want this job, however. Yeah, well I have 480 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: to say it is uh, it's it's pretty incredible to 481 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:32,120 Speaker 1: have this much power in one room. So so let's 482 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:34,159 Speaker 1: get started, Mango, what are we playing today? This is 483 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: a game called shorter or taller than Abraham Lincoln in 484 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 1: a top hat? All right, I know you guys have 485 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: played this hundreds of times, I'm sure, but I'll go 486 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: ahead and explain very familiar. It's a pretty simple quiz. 487 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 1: We all know, Abe Lincoln was a tall president, six 488 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: ft four to be exact, and he was a foot 489 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 1: taller in his top hat, making him seven foot four. 490 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: So all you have to do is to tell us 491 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,399 Speaker 1: whether each of these clues that we give you, or 492 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: each of these items that we give you, is short 493 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: or taller than Abraham Lincoln. You got it, yep? Alright, 494 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: so we'll go back and forth. I promise it will 495 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:07,919 Speaker 1: be easy. Ohen mango. What are they playing for today? 496 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,119 Speaker 1: As always, our contestants play for a chance to win 497 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: a handredden note from us to their mom or their boss, 498 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: singing their praises. Okay, so a big prize on the line. 499 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: Hope you guys are ready, So let's get started. We're 500 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: gonna start with you, Tracy. Question number one would be 501 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: Andre the Giant in a top hat. Was he shorter 502 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: or taller than Abraham Lincoln while wearing a top hat? 503 00:26:31,119 --> 00:26:35,040 Speaker 1: I think taller? Yeah, that's right. Andrea was built at 504 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: seven four without a top hat, and we'd be a 505 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,480 Speaker 1: whopping eight ft four wearing one. Now, is there is 506 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: there any evidence of him having worn a top hat? Okay? Okay, alright, 507 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: so you're one for one. Let's go to you, Sherry. 508 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 1: Here we go. Question number two. A baby elephant shorter 509 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: or taller than Abraham Lincoln on a top hat? Newborn 510 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 1: baby elephant. I'm gonna say shorter if it's a newborn 511 00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 1: baby elephant, that's correct. Yeah, a baby elephant starts out 512 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: and embarrassing three ft tall. We're tied at one. Okay, 513 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: next one, coming back to you, Tracy, Big birds shorter 514 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: or taller than Abraham Lincoln and the top hat. Oh 515 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: that's tough. I feel like big bird is right around 516 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: that seven foot line, so I'm gonna go taller. Yeah, 517 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 1: that's right. Big bird is taller. He is. He towers 518 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: over the president at eight foot two. Wow, taller than 519 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:33,000 Speaker 1: I realized. Okay, alright, so you're underestimated the height of 520 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: big birds. Did yes? You did? Alright? Question number four 521 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: coming back to you, Sherry, George Washington's nose on Mount 522 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: rushmore shorter or taller than Abraham Lincoln and the top hat. 523 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say taller. That's right. This is so close. 524 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: Washington's nose is approximately twenty ft tall, and it's about 525 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 1: a foot longer than all the other president's noses. Was 526 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,560 Speaker 1: it that much longer? In realize? I don't know, not 527 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:04,719 Speaker 1: a foot, but I mean maybe have to look into that, alright. 528 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 1: Question number five coming back to you, Tracy Alvin and 529 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: the Chipmunks stacked on top of one another according to 530 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: their original nineteen eighties cartoon heights. Oh my goodness, did 531 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:23,719 Speaker 1: they have a trench coat on that would affect shorter? 532 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: They're actually taller. Simon is three five Alvin is three 533 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: ft and Theodore is two ft nine alright, so together 534 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: that would be nine ft two right. Yeah, I love that. 535 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: There's actually a recording of how tall each one of 536 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: them are to the inch, So okay, that opens the 537 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,200 Speaker 1: door up for you here, Sherry. Okay, this is your 538 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: last question. You'll just need to get this one right 539 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,160 Speaker 1: to win. And your clue is the first official White 540 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: House Christmas tree shorter or taller than Abraham Lincoln in 541 00:28:55,720 --> 00:29:02,239 Speaker 1: the top hat? Oh goodness, I'm gonna say shorter. I'm 542 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: gonna think that they weren't as ostentatious back then. That's 543 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 1: what I would have thought. But this was Calvin Coolidge's tree, 544 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 1: and they were very ostentatious, somewhere between thirty five and tall. Okay, 545 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: that's okay. You guys both did great two out of three, 546 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: which means they've both won. So what have they won? Mango? Well, 547 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 1: in addition to pony expressing their moms or bosses, a 548 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 1: handwritten note, will also be sending them the cheapest Richard 549 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,800 Speaker 1: Nixon Spiro agnew political campaign button we could find on eBay, 550 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 1: and you'll be able to wear those around town with pride. Congratulations, guys, 551 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: and thanks so much for playing with us on Part 552 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 1: Time Genius. Thank you, thank thank you. Welcome back to 553 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: Part Time Genius. I think we've had some brilliant ideas 554 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: as to how to transformed the mountainside. We're considering buying 555 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: into a competitive amount rushmore, I mean, a really weird competitor. 556 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: We talked about presidents who had really strange health remedy beliefs, 557 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 1: presidents who believed in really weird things, record breaking presidents, 558 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: and presidents who wrote some really bizarre things. Clearly all 559 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 1: brilliant ideas, but let's rapid fire a few more. What 560 00:30:21,240 --> 00:30:24,080 Speaker 1: do you think, all right? How about presidents with the 561 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: weirdest pets. You've got Calvin Coolidge, you know, old vasiline 562 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: head who owned a raccoon when you'd sometimes see him 563 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: walking around on the White House with a leash. You've 564 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 1: got Thomas Jefferson's mocking bird who reportedly learned to take 565 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: food from his mouth. You've got Herbert Hoover, whose son 566 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: had not one, but two pet alligators that were allowed 567 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 1: to roam the White House. And maybe the strangest and 568 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: these weren't exactly pets, but I still think we should 569 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: count them. You have Andrew Johnson, who was such an 570 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: animal lover. He even tried to leave water and flower 571 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: out for the rats that invested the White House. It's 572 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: that weird. Oh if that's a good list. By the way, well, 573 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: rats certainly had a good run while Johnson was in 574 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 1: office that didn't last long. By the time Benjamin Harrison 575 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:08,560 Speaker 1: was in office, he not only sent exterminators after them, 576 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: but he also had ferrets brought in to run the 577 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: White House and try to catch any rats they could find. 578 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: That good, Well, what if it was just the Mountain 579 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 1: side known as the Presidential rat Battle, just the Andrew 580 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 1: Johnson on the pro rat side and then Benjamin Harrison 581 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,840 Speaker 1: on the anti rats. I like it. That's brilliant. Also, 582 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: I find it hard to talk about presidential pets without 583 00:31:27,280 --> 00:31:32,160 Speaker 1: mentioning Teddy Roosevelt's guinea pigs fighting Bob Evans and Father O'Grady, 584 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: and also his family snake Emily Spinach. Okay, I was 585 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 1: going to suggest a group of presidents who loved to sleep. 586 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 1: I mean, he gives us a chance to once again 587 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: mention old Vassilien head Calvin Coolidge. Not only did he 588 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: make sure to be in bed by ten every night, 589 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: and often he didn't get up until eight. But he 590 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: also took naps pretty much every single day. We're talking 591 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: two to four hour naps. I love to sleep. We'd 592 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: also then add Taft to dozed frequently, and Chester a 593 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: Arthur and his lethargy, which it turned out was the 594 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: result of an illness. But I decided this list wasn't 595 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: quite good enough, and maybe we should just dedicate the 596 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: mountainside to Millard Fillmore. So just Millard Fillmore, Just Millard Fillmore? 597 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: Have you lost your mind? Stay with me here? There's 598 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 1: actually this great story about Fillmore, who's really pretty much 599 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: not remembered for anything. In most rankings of presidents, he's 600 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,520 Speaker 1: almost always near the bottom. But there happens to be 601 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: one really cool story about him that would resonate with 602 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 1: our listeners. He had Filmore loved books. The legend is 603 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 1: his father only owned three, a Bible and almanac and 604 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 1: a hymnal, and Filmore always wanted to have more. In fact, 605 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: he and his wife actually established the first permanent library 606 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: at the White House. But here's the story. On Christmas 607 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: Eve morning back in eighteen fifty one, the Library of 608 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: Congress caught fire. The fire teams rushed to this scene. 609 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: But do you know who jumped on one of those 610 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 1: horse drawn fire engines so that he could help fight 611 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 1: the fire? Millard Fillmore. And while tens of thousands of 612 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 1: books were destroyed, you know who rebuilt the library? Millard Fillmore. Wow, 613 00:33:02,200 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 1: I gotta hand it to you, Mango. That's a great story. 614 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:06,640 Speaker 1: But I'm not sure if we should dedicate a whole 615 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:08,960 Speaker 1: mountain to them, especially since if this is going to 616 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 1: go to only one person, it's probably gonna be Martin 617 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,240 Speaker 1: Van Bieber's. But what do you say we give Millard 618 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 1: Fillmore the Part Time Genius Award today? I think that's 619 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:19,800 Speaker 1: an ext one idea. And as for deciding what to 620 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: do with this mountain, I feel like we need to 621 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: help from our listeners. Listeners, if you have ideas on 622 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: what strange and very specific themes should be celebrated on 623 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 1: this mountaintop, please let us know. You can email us 624 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: at Part Time Genius at how stuff works dot com 625 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: or find us on Twitter or Facebook. We can't wait 626 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: to hear what you guys come up with. But while 627 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:39,280 Speaker 1: we're waiting for those comments to pour in, what do 628 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 1: you say we kill some time with a part time 629 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: Genius fact Off. That's the part of the show where 630 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:45,280 Speaker 1: we get to share some the most interesting facts we 631 00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 1: learned in our research that we didn't use today. So 632 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: this one's particularly fascinating me because I don't love public speaking. 633 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 1: I think of Thomas Jefferson as the super eloquent president, 634 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 1: mostly because we all know his writing. But the truth 635 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:08,879 Speaker 1: is he's only known to have delivered two speeches during 636 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 1: his presidency, his two inaugural addresses, and that's because he 637 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:16,000 Speaker 1: suffered from severe stage fright. Isn't that nuts? It is crazy? 638 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,000 Speaker 1: All right? Did you know Rutherford B. Hayes was the 639 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:20,399 Speaker 1: only president to suffer an injury in the Civil War? 640 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:24,440 Speaker 1: He had four horses. That's right, four horses shot down 641 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: under him. That's horrible. Maybe we should just dedicate our 642 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 1: monument to those four horses. I speaking of rough rides, 643 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: Teddy Roosevelt had one of the strangest breakfast routines of 644 00:34:34,640 --> 00:34:37,320 Speaker 1: any president. He liked to mix coffee and a dozen 645 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 1: eggs in a mug and then drink it down a 646 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: dozen eggs. That's so gross. Also, what's with you in 647 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: these Teddy Roosevelt? I'm obsessed. I mean, any president who 648 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,959 Speaker 1: turns the Oval office into a dojo, but also talks 649 00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:51,440 Speaker 1: in his super high pitched voice. Is my kind of president? 650 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 1: Well here's one about Chester A. Arthur. While he sometimes 651 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 1: went by Chech, the public referred to him often as 652 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: Elegant Arthur, or Prince Arthur or the do would President, 653 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,960 Speaker 1: all because of his fashion sense. The man owned over 654 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 1: eighty pairs of pants. Eighty pants? What do you do 655 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: with eighty pants? I don't know where I'm around. So 656 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 1: Andrew Jackson's parent had to be removed from his funeral 657 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 1: for swearing too much. Why was Andrew Jackson's parrot at 658 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: the funeral? Hall of pay respects? I guess I don't know, 659 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 1: but the minister who officiated was offended. He wrote, people 660 00:35:21,239 --> 00:35:24,480 Speaker 1: who were horrified and odd at the bird's lack of reverence. 661 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 1: You know who? George H. W. Bush briefly considered naming 662 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 1: his running mate Clint Eastwood. You know who was in 663 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 1: the wrestling Hall of Fame? Abe Lincoln Richard Nixon was 664 00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:37,240 Speaker 1: an incredible poker player and used his winnings to finance 665 00:35:37,320 --> 00:35:40,560 Speaker 1: his first political run. Warren Harding was actually the opposite 666 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: of that. He once lost Priceless White House China betting 667 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:47,640 Speaker 1: it in a game. Bill Clinton's cat Socks almost had 668 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:50,719 Speaker 1: his own Nintendo game. It was called Socks the Cat 669 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,399 Speaker 1: Rocks the Hill. Why didn't that come out? It's so 670 00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 1: good idea, I feel like so much. Just started Kickstarter. Um, okay, 671 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 1: you're gonna love this one. Thomas Jefferson invented the swivel chair. 672 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:04,919 Speaker 1: Wait seriously, yeah, I mean if this stupid microphone would 673 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:06,880 Speaker 1: detach from this big rip, I would totally drop a 674 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 1: mic right now. Yeah, and you would deserve it. All right. Well, 675 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: I'm going to feel a little more patriotic every time 676 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: I sit in a swivel chair from now on. And 677 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you this episode's fact office. So 678 00:36:16,400 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 1: for all you genius is out there, don't forget to 679 00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 1: email us your ideas for what to do with our 680 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:22,399 Speaker 1: presidential mountaintop. Just drop us a line at part Time 681 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,480 Speaker 1: Genius at how stuff Works dot com. And that's it 682 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:26,799 Speaker 1: for today's episode of Part Time Genius. Thanks so much 683 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 1: for listening. Hey, well, did you know that James Poke 684 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:31,319 Speaker 1: never got baptized as a baby because his dad on 685 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:47,759 Speaker 1: the fight with the Minister mid ceremony. Thanks again for 686 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:50,200 Speaker 1: listening to Part Time Genius. Be sure to subscribe wherever 687 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 1: you listen to your podcast, and because we're a brand 688 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 1: new show, if you're feeling extra generous, we'd love it 689 00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: if you give us a rating on Apple Podcast. Part 690 00:36:57,120 --> 00:36:59,600 Speaker 1: Time Genius is produced by some of our favorite geniuses. 691 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:02,560 Speaker 1: It's edited by Tristan McNeil, theme song and audio mixing 692 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,880 Speaker 1: by Noel Brown. Our executive producer is Jerry Rowland. Our 693 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,759 Speaker 1: research team is Gabe Loesier, Lucas Adams on a white 694 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:12,400 Speaker 1: Field Metronto, Austin Thompson, and Meg Robbins. Jason Hook is 695 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:13,240 Speaker 1: our chief cheerleader.