U. S. Presidential Firsts Trivia Quiz

Answer: James Buchanan

Buchanan was inaugurated on March 4, 1857. This was just prior to the Civil War and his rather long address touched on the sensitive issues of that time and the country's economic situation. He had previously served as Congressman, Senator and Secretary of State.

His term was fraught with issues such as the Dred Scott case, financial panic in 1857 and what is now termed "The Utah War" involving controversy with the Mormons. Some of Buchanan's other firsts were being the first bachelor in office and the first to be born in Pennsylvania.

Answer: John Tyler

Tyler served just short of one full term (1841-45) as tenth U.S. President, but had been in politics from an early age, serving on a local level, as a Congressman and as a Senator from Virginia. He was tapped to be Vice President for William Henry Harrison who succumbed to pneumonia a month after taking his oath of office. Tyler filled out that term, but was defeated by James K. Polk in the 1844 election. One of his achievements as President was the annexation of Texas.

His other firsts include being the first President to have a veto over-ruled, first to face a vote of impeachment (although unsuccessful), and the first to re-marry while in office.

Answer: John F. Kennedy

Kennedy served in the Navy in WW2 and was had a long political career that was tragically cut short by an assassin on Nov. 22, 1963, an event that is still surrounded by controversy and speculation. His administration was noted for the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the encouragement of the American space program.

He also authored several books. He was out-lived by his maternal grandmother, Josephine Fitzgerald for over 8 months. Kennedy's other firsts were being the first to have been a Boy Scout, first to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the first to receive a Purple Heart.

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Roosevelt was perhaps one of the most adventurous of U.S. Presidents. He believed strongly in physical fitness and environmental conservation and was instrumental in creating the National Park Service. He had a long political career serving as Assemblyman and Governor of New York, NYC Police Commissioner and as assistant Secretary of the Navy before being chosen as William McKinley's running mate in the 1898 election.

He was the youngest President to assume the office without being elected to it when William McKinley succumbed to an assassin's bullet in 1901, then was elected to a full term in 1904.

He was also the first President to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, ride in an airplane, and the first to travel outside the U.S. while in office.

Answer: Herbert Hoover

Hoover started out as an engineer, mainly for gold mining companies. He was noted for his humanitarian work and was Secretary of Commerce under President Harding. Elected in 1928, he had the great misfortune to have the Great Depression occur during his term which likely lead to his being defeated by FDR in the 1932 election.

After his one term, he continued in humanitarian efforts and journalism. Hoover was also the first Quaker President, the first to be born west of the Mississippi River and the first to live more than 30 years after his term.

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt as born into an affluent New York family. His interest in politics started at an early age, much to the displeasure of his mother who would have preferred to see her son as manager the family estate. In 1905, he married his fifth cousin, Eleanor and they had six children, losing one in infancy. FDR served as a senator and governor of New York and also Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

When age 39 in 1921, he was afflicted with polio and was never able to walk again without assistance. This didn't hinder his run for the Presidency in 1932 and was elected to four terms, making him the longest-serving Chief Executive and was President during WW2.

He passed away from a stroke in 1945 before the war ended. He was also the first U.S. President to be named "Time" magazine's "Man of the Year", the first to establish a presidential library and the first to appoint a woman to a cabinet office.

Answer: George H.W. Bush

Bush was born in Massachusetts, but after graduating from Yale, moved to Texas where he worked in the oil business. He served as a fighter pilot in WW2. He entered politics in 1963 and from that time held many offices including senator, ambassador to the U.N., chairman of the Republican National Committee and director of the C.I.A. For the 1980 Presidential election, Ronald Reagan chose Bush for his running mate, then was elected President in 1988 and served one term.

After his presidency, he remained active in politics and humanitarian work.

He was in declining health from 2015 and finally succumbed on Nov. 30, 2018, just over 7 months after his beloved wife, Barbara. Some of his other firsts were: the first to receive a Distinguished Flying Cross, the first to be the topic of a biography written by his son, and the first to have been married over 70 years.

Answer: Harry S Truman

Truman served in WW1, then returned to work at a men's apparel store. He was asked to run for Missouri's Jackson County court judge post by a political boss, Tom Pendergast. He won the election which led him to becoming a senator. He was tapped by FDR to be vice-president in his final term in office.

When FDR died suddenly in 1945, Truman was catapulted into the Presidency - a position for which he felt ill-suited. Truman was noted for having an abrupt and abrasive personality, but was able to quickly end WW2 and was instrumental in getting Israel recognized as a homeland for the Jews.

His other firsts were: the first to have a television installed in the White House, the first to be issued a Medicare card and the first to make pardoning the White House Thanksgiving turkey an annual tradition.

Answer: Calvin Coolidge

After graduating from college, Coolidge moved from Vermont to Massachusetts where he established a law practice in Northampton. Coming to the attention of the Republican party after serving in local and state elected offices, he was chosen as Harding's running mate in the 1920 election. Harding died in 1923, so Coolidge became President and went on to be elected on his own in 1924 and was sworn in by Chief Justice William Taft who had been President from 1909 to 1913.

He had a reputation of being reticent and reserved, and was lampooned for it, but was actually a popular political figure.

After his term, he retired to Northampton to enjoy boating and being a trustee of Amherst College, among may other activities. Some of his other firsts include being the first to be born on July 4th (Independence Day in America), first to give a speech on radio from the White House and the first to be filmed with accompanying sound.

Answer: Benjamin Harrison

Harrison was the grandson of William Henry Harrison, the ninth President. He served in Civil war and rose to the rank of brigadier general. After the war he ran unsuccessfully for governor of Indiana, but followed up with a victory as a senatorial candidate.

He was elected to the Presidency in 1888 and was the "in-between" to Grover Cleveland's two terms. His term was notable for Civil Service reform and the annexation of Hawaii. More of Harrison's firsts were: first President from Indiana, first to have electric lights installed and a lighted Christmas tree in the White House.