Carol Fisher-Linn
When I was a child in school, we celebrated both George Washington’s Birthday (February 22, 1732) and Abraham Lincoln’s (February 12, 1809). Washington’s Birthday was celebrated on February 22 from 1879 until 1970 as an official Federal holiday, giving Americans the day off. Presidents Day is now celebrated on the third Monday in February, thanks to the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Washington’s day wore powdered wigs, so one would think he did as well.
Most pictures show our fi rst President as a white-haired gent. On the contrary,
his hair was reddish brown. He powdered his hair (all of which was his,
ponytail and all). If you are at all interested in how these gentlemen powdered
their hair in those days, look up an amusing National Geographic article June
9, 2015 by Robert Krulwich – George Washington’s Oh-So-Mysterious Hair. Illustrations
by Wendy MacNaughton.
Here are something interesting facts about President George Washington’s birthday. Our very first president was actually born on February 11. At the time of his birth (1732), we were still using the Julian calendar which was 11 days behind the modern Gregorian calendar we now use. Wikipedia states that “Since February 11, 1732 on the Julian calendar was February 22, 1732 on the Gregorian, and he {Washington} was alive at the time the change was made, Washington changed his birth date to February 22, 1732, to match the new calendar.”
Can you guess what food is traditionally associated with the holiday? Let me give you a hint … “I cannot tell a lie…” (cherry pie). The quote is, of course, attributed to young George Washington, but, as with many tall tales, this story was created by a bookseller who wrote what might have been the first biography about Washington – after he died in 1799. Anything to sell a book…..
All the men of stature in Washington’s day wore powdered wigs, so one would think he did as well. Most pictures show our first President as a white-haired gent. On the contrary, his hair was reddish brown. He powdered his hair (all of which was his, ponytail and all). If you are at all interested in how these gentlemen powdered their hair in those days, look up an amusing National Geographic article June 9, 2015 by Robert Krulwich – George Washington’s Oh-So-Mysterious Hair.
President Lincoln, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care a bit if he was tousled looking, even intentionally running his fingers through his hair when a photographer kept trying to preen him at a photo shoot.
While Washington was a striking figure and an excellent dancer, poor Lincoln was anything but. Judith St. George in her book, So You want to be President says this of poor Lincoln: “Abraham Lincoln wasn’t much of a dancer. ‘Miss Todd, I should like to dance with you in the worst way,’ he told his future wife. Miss Todd later said to a friend, “He certainly did.”
These two Presidents come together in a dramatic way at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. Washington (#1) and Lincoln (#16) join Thomas Jefferson (#3) and Theodore Roosevelt (#26) on the mountain. Sculptor, Gutzon Borglum selected these four presidents because, from his perspective they represented the most important events in the history of the United States. Washington “was the father of the new country and laid the foundation of American democracy.” Because of his importance, Borglum chose Washington to be the most prominent figure on the mountain and represent the birth of the United States. Lincoln was chosen to represent the preservation of the United States. Borglum believed that it was Lincoln’s firm conviction that slavery must be abolished. He chose Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, because it inspires democracies around the world. He also recognized that Jefferson’s Louisiana purchase doubled the size of our country, adding all or part of fifteen present-day states. Borglum chose Jefferson to represent the growth of the United States. Theodore Roosevelt was chosen for the leadership he provided in America’s rapid growth going into the 20th Century. He was the president who was instrumental in building the Panama Canal linking east to west. He also was a “trust buster” working to end large corporate monopolies and ensuring the rights of the common working man. To Borglum, Theodore Roosevelt represented the development of the United States.
Presidents are known for many things: laying the foundation of American democracy, preserving the United States, growing America or ensuring the rights of the common working man. We had a president for 31 days (WHH), one called the man who could have been on Rushmore (WMcK), The Really BIG President (WHT), The Great Communicator (RR), One known for dropping the Bomb (HST), War Hero to President (DDE), and now we have the 47th. In four years, we will know how he will be remembered. Happy President’s Day!