Benjamin Harrison: Grandfather's Hat Fits! Quiz

Answer: William Henry Harrison, 9th U.S. president

Grandpa William built his reputation as a military figure in the Indian wars in the Northwest Territory, holding the line at the battle of Fallen Timbers, and in the War of 1812, and subsequent Indian wars. He was also governor of the Indiana Territory.

Answer: Indianapolis, Indiana

From Grandpa to the grave! Up to this point, Little Ben is the only native son of Indiana to have his mail delivered to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I understand Dan Quayle's still keeping his fingers crossed, which perhaps explains the spelling errors!

Answer: Levi P. Morton

Morton, a successful banker from New York, also served as governor of that state following his time as Harrison's V.P. Blaine served Harrison as secretary of state, the same post he held in the Garfield and Arthur administrations. Windom was also a returning cabinet member, being Treasury Secretary in the Garfield and Arthur administrations, as well as in Harrison's. Thurman was Grover Cleveland's running mate in the 1888 election.

Answer: Joseph Hooker

Harrison was part of Sherman's infamous "March to the Sea," and served as a brigade commander under "Fightin' Joe" Hooker. It was his performance at the Battle of Peachtree Creek, where Colonel Harrison and his men held the line that they had taken, that led to Hooker's recommendation. Hooker, in his recommendation for Harrison's promotion, cited Little Ben's fighting spirit and discipline. Harrison, however, saw himself as not quite the heroic type, writing in his diary, "I am not a Julius Caesar, nor a Napoleon, but a plain Hoosier colonel, with no more relish for a fight than for a good breakfast and hardly so much."

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt, who was appointed a civil service commissioner by Little Ben, had campaigned for Harrison in the Midwest because he thought Harrison was a proponent of merit-based government service and not the "spoils system" that had dominated politics for decades. Apparently, TR didn't think Harrison went far enough, or gave enough respect to his ideas. One must also consider that Roosevelt's ego was as healthy as William Howard Taft's appetite.

Answer: True

Harrison had just over 1 million fewer votes than Cleveland, 5,540,329 to 5,439,853. HOWEVER, he did manage to win the electoral votes of 20 states to Cleveland's 18, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The electoral votes of these states gave him a 233-168 victory.

Answer: The resolution of the Venezula-British Guiana border dispute

Harrison served as Venezuela's council in its border dispute with the British colony of Guiana. Great Britain didn't want to arbitrate the dispute, but gave in to international pressure. In spite of Harrison's efforts, which included an 800-page brief, the international arbitration panel awarded Great Britain 90% of the disputed territory.

Answer: False

The website for Harrison's home in Indianapolis, now a museum dedicated to Little Ben, has a link that will allow you to hear a short message from our 23rd president. His speeches were difficult to hear in the days before amplifiers, as he spoke in a soft and high voice. Go to www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org and click on "Hear President Benjamin Harrison Speak" near the bottom of the page.

The recording is very scratchy, but they tell you beforehand what he is going to say to help you understand him.

Answer: James Whitcomb Riley

A native of Indiana, Riley eulogized Harrison as a man of integrity, one who always did what "he believed to be right and just."

Answer: Pat Robertson

Founder of CBN University and the CBN Television Network (The 700 Club), Robertson is also a great-grandson of President Harrison. This information is available on Pat Robertson's website, www.patrobertson.com, as well as in the book, 'Which President Killed a Man?', by James Humes.