46 Fascinating Facts About Our 46 Presidents-- Part 8: Johnson to Reagan

36.  LYNDON B. JOHNSON (1963-1969)

His first career was as a teacher.  He worked at a school near the U.S.-Mexican border for four years before  launching a career in politics.

37.  RICHARD M. NIXON  (1969-1974)

He became such a skillful poker player while stationed in the Solomon Islands during World War II that his winnings helped launch his political career upon his return to the United States.

38.  GERALD FORD (1974-1977)

A star football player at the University of Michigan, Ford turned down offers from both the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers.

39.  JIMMY CARTER (1977-1981)

When his father died in 1953, Carter gave up his successful military career to move back to Georgia to run the family's peanut farm.

40.  RONALD REAGAN (1981-1989)

He worked as a life guard and sportscaster before becoming an actor and later a politician.

--CootPres

U.S. Presidents Who Served Less Than Four Years-- Part 4: Ford and Fillmore

4.  GERALD R. FORD  (  August 1974-January 1977)

In 1974, President Nixon resigned because of the Watergate Scandal.  This paved the way for his vice president, Ford, to become the 38th president.  He lost a lot of support when he pardoned Nixon. he also faced an energy crisis, high unemployment and a weak economy.

There were a few assassination attempts, but he survived and served a partial term of over two years before losing the election to Jimmy Carter.

3.  MILLARD FILLMORE (July 1850-March 1853)

Vice president in Zachary Taylor's presidency.  When Taylor died, sworn into office and became the 13th U.S. president.  He only served the rest of the term.  Perhaps best known for his support of the Compromise of 1850. a package of five bills that led to a temporary standstill in the slavery debate.

He openly opposed the practice of owning another human, but was unwilling to do anything in states where it already existed.  he died of a stroke in 1874.

--Cooter

America's Long Line of Presidential Military Heroes-- Part 4: More World War II Presidents

World War II presidents, continued.

Richard Nixon, Navy,  began the war in Iowa, despite its lack of a coast, then was transferred to the Pacific where he never saw action either.  Gerald Ford was on an aircraft carrier and won ten battle stars.  Jimmy Carter was still a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy during WW II and served on submarines and battleships in the late 1940s and 1950s and never saw action.

Ronald Reagan , who many thing never served, enlisted in the Army in 1942 but was classified 4F due to bad eyesight and remained stateside.

Of course, there was also George H.W. Bush, who flew planes off the USS San Jacinto aircraft carrier during the war and almost lost his life when he was shot down.  The other man in his plane did die.  Bush was rescued by a submarine.

--GreGen