U.S. Presidents

I wander the corridors during intermissions at Buffalo Sabres home games and ask fans questions about whatever comes to my mind. We call it Intermussen. Usually there's a theme, and this time since it was just before Presidents Day I thought I'd test people's knowledge of U.S. history.

It was just 8 days after he was inaugurated that President Franklin Roosevelt gave his first national radio address, speaking directly from the White House. The U.S. was at the lowest point of the Great Depression with between 25 and 33 percent of Americans unemployed. The country was worried and Roosevelt went on the radio to assure them he was prepared to lead the country back to prosperity. Rea

George Washington was the first President to be on a postage stamp. His face is also on the $1 bill and the quarter. John Adams was the first President to live in the White House. Mrs. Adams hung her wash in the East Room.

It was the idea of a South Dakota historian who wanted to attract tourists to the state. His plan was to sculpt the images of four of the country’s favorite presidents into the side of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills National Forest.

Who is your favorite president?  It seems that over time, long deceased presidents gain more popularity with Americans.  My favorite of all time was Ronald Reagan, but he only came in number two in a new poll just released.  Top honors went to John F. Kennedy.