The NEWPROSE WRITERS' FORUM

iluvbonanza · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: Presidents

I watched a documentary about the early presidents and I learned that the only two presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

This is no big deal. However, what I was really surprised that i didn't know was:

Both Adams and Jefferson died exactly 50 years (to the day) of the signing on July 4, 1826. Wow!

Carol · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:51 pm Post subject:

Yes, this is true and most people thought they were bitter enemies but in truth, they were dear friends who bore a wee bit of animosity towards one another based upon political rivalries. they stayed in touch and wrote to one another regularly until that fatal day of their deaths - many many miles apart.

Carol
PS: Just for fun, check this out: http://www.near-death.com/experiences/reincarnation08.html

iluvbonanza · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:27 am Post subject:

Thanks Carol.

I had heard several of those, but certainly not all!

Judegirl · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:57 pm Post subject:

Hey ilb, thanks for that reminder! I knew that two of our Founding Fathers died on the same 4th of July. But I couldn't remember which two. I like to keep those interesting factoids in my head to tell my students. (Remember I got the sub teaching job?).

I watched part of that documentary and I am always impressed and amazed at the degree of statemanship that our Founders demonstrated. Sure they were human with flaws and weaknesses. But when it came to the nation they always seemed to have ITS best interests in mind and not their own.

We really were so lucky to have had such men in comparison to some of our modern day politicians who would make better used car salesmen ( no insult intended to used car salesmen

)

iluvbonanza · Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2006 5:01 pm Post subject:

Exactly PJudith!

Or as Sting would call them, "Game Show Hosts"

(edited to add)

except the guy in the picture to your left (IMO)

Judegirl · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:

Ditto to your IMO!! There really are so few politicians who have earned my respect and admiration. Just one example- last week I had fourth graders and they were teasing one boy about his name, Ronald, by calling him 'Ronald MacDonald.' He told me that he didn't like it and he asked me to tell them to stop. I told him that the next time he gets teased to tell everyone that he shares a first name with one of our greatest presidents.

IMHO