General Davie Chapter DAR

Presidential trivia:


(1) QUESTION: Which President had a “sleeping porch” built on the roof of the White House? He slept there when the D.C. heat got too oppressive.

ANSWER: William Taft. The cool breezes washing over the White House roof helped him sleep.


(2) QUESTION: Which President kept the AC blasting so he could enjoy a burning fireplace, even in summer?

ANSWER: Richard Nixon. An energy crisis in 1973 meant that he faced criticism for this habit.


(3) QUESTION: The first attempt at air conditioning in the White House was “an electric blower [that] pushed air through a screened box with ice and ice water inside,” as the White House Historical Association explains. Who was then President?

ANSWER: James Garfield. Tragically, they were trying to get the temperature down in the room where he lay mortally wounded. The attempt didn’t work too well, and the temperature was still 80 degrees in that room.

Military Women's Memorial Launches its Celebration of America's 250th by Honoring 250 Years of Women's Service to the Nation on Women Veterans Recognition Day, June 12, 2026 - Military Women's Memorial FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Presidential trivia:


(1) QUESTION: One President made an interesting choice for press secretary: the valedictorian of his high school’s graduating class. Which President?

ANSWER: Harry S Truman. The valedictorian, Charlie Ross, also happened to be a lifelong friend of Truman’s.



(2) QUESTION: Which sitting U.S. President has given the most commencement speeches at university graduations? Bonus points if you know how many speeches he gave.

ANSWER: Barack Obama (26). Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are tied for second place (25).



(3) QUESTION: Which military academy has hosted the most commencement addresses by a sitting U.S. President?

ANSWER: United States Naval Academy. According to the American Presidency Project, about 30% of all presidential commencement addresses are given at military academies. The totals are below:

United States Naval Academy (20)

United States Military Academy (14)

United States Air Force Academy (12)

United States Coast Guard Academy (12)

As America prepares to mark our 250th anniversary of independence, we reflect on the generations of men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their sacrifice helped preserve the freedoms and opportunities that have shaped our country's story for 250 years.

This Memorial Day, we honor their courage, remember their service, and express our deepest gratitude. May we never forget those who gave everything for our nation.

Presidential trivia:


(1) QUESTION: Which President, excluding FDR, issued the most executive orders? I am excluding FDR because he served so much longer than any other President.

ANSWER: Woodrow Wilson. He issued a stunning 1,803 executive orders!



(2) QUESTION: Which President(s), excluding William Henry Harrison, issued the fewest executive orders? I am excluding Harrison because he served only one month as President.

ANSWER: It’s a tie among John Adams (2nd President), James Madison (4th President), and James Monroe (5th President). These men each issued 1 executive order, although Madison and Monroe showed this restraint during two terms as President. John Adams served one term. In general, our first five Presidents didn’t issue that many executive orders, which is interesting, given how intimately involved they were in our founding and the writing of our Constitution. George Washington issued 8 executive orders, but remember that he was organizing the executive branch for the first time. Thomas Jefferson issued 4 executive orders.


(3) QUESTION: Which President issued executive orders at the fastest clip? In other words, his average number of executive orders, per year, is the highest?

ANSWER: FDR. He issued an average of 307 executive orders per year during his 12+ years in office. His total number of executive orders was 3,721.

Presidential trivia:


(1) QUESTION: Which President(s) did not attend their successor’s inauguration? I am not counting those Presidents who passed away or left office mid-term.

ANSWER: According to the White House Historical Association, the Presidents who skipped their successor’s inauguration are John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, and Donald Trump.



(2) QUESTION: One or more Presidents offered to leave the White House early so his successor could move in. Which President(s)?

ANSWER: John Quincy Adams and Martin Van Buren.



(3) QUESTION: One President remarked that his successor “was as tickled with the presidency as a woman with a new bonnet.” Which President?

ANSWER: Martin Van Buren. His successor was William Henry Harrison, who famously gave the longest inauguration speech in history. Not long after his nearly two-hour speech (without a coat in cold and blustery weather), he fell ill and passed away a mere month into his term.

For those who saw the presidential trivia questions earlier:



(1) QUESTION: Who was President when the Statue of Liberty arrived in America?

ANSWER: Grover Cleveland. The Statue of Liberty was shipped across the Atlantic in 214 crates, arriving in New York in June 1885. She was reassembled and dedicated in 1886.



(2) QUESTION: Which President dedicated the Lincoln Memorial?

ANSWER: William H. Taft. In an interesting twist, he was not a sitting President at the time. He was then Chief Justice of the United States, but he’d presided over the Lincoln Memorial Commission and was chosen to make the dedication.



(3) QUESTION: Which President dedicated the Washington Monument?

ANSWER: Chester Arthur. The dedication occurred in February 1885, a few weeks before Grover Cleveland was inaugurated.