Listens: Kool and the Gang-"Celebration"

Happy Presidents Day

Happy Presidents Day, also called Presidents' Day, or depending on where you are, happy Washington's birthday. The third Monday in February is a federal holiday which commemorates George Washington's birthday. Although Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, many state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or by other names. For example:

-In Massachusetts, the state officially celebrates "Washington's Birthday" on the same day as the Federal holiday. State law also directs the governor to issue an annual "Presidents Day" proclamation on May 29 honoring the presidents with Massachusetts roots: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy.

-Alabama uniquely observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day", even though Thomas Jefferson's birthday is in April.

-In Connecticut, Missouri and Illinois, Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday and Abraham Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week.

-In Virginia, the holiday is legally known as "George Washington Day."

-In Arkansas the third Monday in February is "George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day," an official state holiday.
-In New Mexico Presidents Day, at least as a state government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving.



I noticed that the Washington Post had a President's Day Quiz, so I thought I'd do one of my own. The last question isn't part of the quiz and there's no wrong answer for it, it's more for my own curiosity. I'll post the answers in a comment later in the day (or if you can't wait, you can cheat and see which answers I selected). There is an elaborate scoring system that goes like this:

0-12 correct: you are a potus_geeks geek. Enjoy.




Poll #1820320 President's Day Quiz

Presidents' Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February. It is meant to approximate George Washington's birthday. What is Washington's actual birthday?

February 14th
0(0.0%)
February 21st
0(0.0%)
February 22nd
9(90.0%)
February 23rd
1(10.0%)

Which one of the following did not sign the Declaration of Independence?

George Washington
5(50.0%)
John Adams
0(0.0%)
Thomas Jefferson
1(10.0%)
Benjamin Harrison
4(40.0%)

Who was the only President to affirm (as opposed to swear an oath) when inaugurated as President?

Thomas Jefferson
4(40.0%)
Franklin Pierce
4(40.0%)
Herbert Hoover
0(0.0%)
Gerald Ford
2(20.0%)

Who is the only President to be a player in a World Series game? (It was a College World Series)

Grover Cleveland
1(10.0%)
Woodrow Wilson
2(20.0%)
Dwight Eisenhower
3(30.0%)
George H. W. Bush
4(40.0%)

Which President had a Vice-President who was of Native-American ancestry?

Rutherford Hayes
1(10.0%)
Calvin Coolidge
8(80.0%)
Herbert Hoover
1(10.0%)
Harry Truman
0(0.0%)

Which President fathered the most "legitimate" children (15)?

James Madison
1(11.1%)
John Tyler
5(55.6%)
Millard Fillmore
2(22.2%)
Theodore Roosevelt
1(11.1%)

While campaigning for re-election, this President's wife passed away. Both he and his leading opponent ceased campaigning as a gesture of respect.

Ulysses Grant
0(0.0%)
Chester Alan Arthur
2(20.0%)
Grover Cleveland
4(40.0%)
Benjamin Harrison
4(40.0%)

At 5'4", he was the shortest president.

James Madison
8(80.0%)
Martin Van Buren
2(20.0%)
Benjamin Harrison
0(0.0%)
Calvin Coolidge
0(0.0%)

Which President once served as Director of the C.I.A.?

Theodore Roosevelt
0(0.0%)
Dwight Eisenhower
0(0.0%)
Gerald Ford
3(30.0%)
George H. W. Bush
7(70.0%)

Which President could simultaneously write Latin with his right hand and Greek with his left?

John Quincy Adams
5(50.0%)
James Garfield
5(50.0%)
Woodrow Wilson
0(0.0%)
Herbert Hoover
0(0.0%)

Three of the following Presidents are Nobel Prize winners. Which one is not?

Theodore Roosevelt
3(30.0%)
Jimmy Carter
0(0.0%)
Bill Clinton
7(70.0%)
Barack Obama
0(0.0%)

In many polls ranking the Presidents, including those performed by C-Span, ABC News and Washington College, which President was ranked the greatest most often?

George Washington
1(10.0%)
Abraham Lincoln
9(90.0%)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
0(0.0%)
John F. Kennedy
0(0.0%)

Do you have today off of work because of Presidents Day (or what ever it's called where you are)?

Yes
2(20.0%)
No
8(80.0%)
I don't work outside my home, so this doesn't apply to me
0(0.0%)


Have a Happy Presidents Day everyone!