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

Longest Living Presidents

From the May 2, 2019, Kenosha (Wis.) News

10.  Richard Nixon   81 years

9.  Thomas Jefferson  83 years

8.  James Madison  85 years

7.  Harry S. Truman  88 years

6.  Herbert Hoover  90 years, 71 days

5.  John Adams  90 years, 248 days

4.  Ronald Reagan  93 years, 119 days

3.  Gerald Ford  93 years, 165 days

2.  George H.W. Bush  94 years, 171 days

1.  Jimmy Carter  94 years and counting

This past summer, Jimmy and Rosalyn celebrated their 73rd year of marriage.  No trophy wife for him.  Probably the most sincere and honorable president we've had since Harry S. Truman.

And, I Met Him When he Was Governor.  --Cooter

Man on the Moon, 11 Things-- Part 4: Flag From Sears

10.  President Nixon had a speech prepared in case of mission failure.  Nixon speechwriter William Safire had written a failure speech two days before the landing in case of the deaths of Aldrin and Armstrong.

The speech focused on their being marooned on the Moon.  Part of it went like this:   "Those courageous men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know there's no hope for his survival.  However, they know there's hope for mankind in their sacrifice."

This speech is in the National Archives.

11.  The flag planted by Aldrin and Armstrong is the only one planted by all the missions which is not standing.

They had had trouble planting the flag in the hard lunar soil.  Aldrin said that he had seen the flag topple from the lunar module's exhaust.

All of the Apollo flags were purchased at Sears by NASA secretaries on their lunch hour.

So, Now You Know.  --CootFlag

10 Bizarre Cold War Tales-- Part 3: "Uncle Wiggly Wing"

3.  Joseph McCarthy's campaign against gays.  The Lavendar Scare.  Claimed there were gay government workers he gave away state secrets.  He forced the gay community underground.

2.  The United States dropped tons of candy on Berlin after the Berlin Blockade began which could have started World War III.  Pilots dropping the candy were called "The Candy Bomber" or "Uncle Wiggly Wing."

1.  Nikita Khruschev and Richard Nixon squared off inside an American kitchen in what is called "The Kitchen Debate.  Vice President Nixon was in Moscow on July 24, 1959 for the opening of the America Nation Exhibition.

Pas the Coffee.  --Cooter

What's in the News February 20, 1972: Why, the Vietnam War and Nixon's Visit to China

A reprint in the February 19, 2017, Panama City (Florida) News-Herald of their front page from 1972.

FIVE AMERICAN PILOTS ON DISPLAY IN HANOI

They had been shot down during bombing raids over North Vietnam.  The Pentagon had reported the five men as missing.  These five men were of the six who had shot down during 29-hours of raids last Wednesday and Thursday.

U.S. COMMAND:  NO COMMENT

The command had no comment on this story

CHINESE DENOUNCE BOMBING RAIDS

The Chinese foreign ministry denounced American bombing raids, just one day before President Nixon's arrival in Peking.

NIXONS ON GUAM

President Nixon landed on Guam for his final rest stop before becoming the first U.S. president to visit China.

Aren't We Glad These Days Are Over.  --Cooter