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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Gallery Video Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview November 8, 2006 Presidential nicknames Jeff Cheek Archives Wednesday September 27th Wednesday October 4th Wednesday October 11th Wednesday October 18th Wednesday October 25th Wednesday November 1st Wednesday November 8th Wednesday November 15th Wednesday November 22nd By Jeff Cheek Tidings Correspondent You can not give yourself a nickname. These are bestowed upon you by others, usually highlighting some physical or personal characteristic. An amazing number of presidents have earned nicknames. Grover Cleveland is The Perpetual Candidate because he was the Democratic nominee for president three times: 1884, 1888, and 1892. He won two non-consecutive terms and is counted twice, as the 22nd and 24th Chief Executive. Some of the other 41 men who were elected have descriptive nicknames. HIS ACCIDENTCY: John Tyler, number 10, was the first VP to move into the White House when President William Henry Harrison died. He was an accidental president. GRANDPA'S GRANDSON: Republican Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd Chief Executive. He was the grandson of the ninth. In 1888, his campaign song was "Grandfather's Hat Fits Ben." OLD HICKORY: Andrew Jackson, a Democrat, served two terms, 1829-37. His nickname was earned during the War of 1812, when General Jackson led his men through 500 miles of unmapped wilderness. His men said their commander was "tough as old hickory." MARTIN VAN RUIN: Democrat Martin van Buren , the eighth, served only one term, 1837-41. He replaced a strong, popular president, Andrew Jackson so negative comparisons were inevitable. The economic panic of 1837 led to a depression. He was blamed and his political enemies created a nickname: Martin Van Ruin. HIS FRAUDULENCY: Rutherford B. Hayes became our 19th president by one vote. His Democratic opponent, Samuel Tilden, had 184 Electoral College ballots. Hayes had 166. Nineteen votes from Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida were in dispute. The Republican dominated Congress gave all three states to Hayes, giving him 185 and the White House. The Democrats responded by calling him Your Fraudulency and claiming his real name was Rutherfraud B. Hayes. THE COMEBACK KID: Democrat Bill Clinton served two terms, 1993-2001. The nickname The Comeback Kid was actually coined by his campaign manager, Paul Begala but the media picked it up. Clinton demonstrates amazing resiliency. His political career has been endangered many times, but the 42nd president always picked himself up, learned from his mistakes, and went back into battle. GIVE 'UM HELL HARRY: In 1948, every pollster predicted Republican Tom Dewey would defeat the 33rd president, Harry Truman, by a landslide. Vice President Truman took over when the four term Democrat, Franklin Roosevelt, died in office. Many people felt the folksy, homespun Truman was a poor substitute for the patrician Roosevelt. Truman crisscrossed the nation by rail, making 10 to 15 speeches per day. "Just talkin' to the people," in his words.When he lambasted the "do-nothin' Republican 80th Cingress," a man at the rally yelled "Give' Um Hell, Harry," and the nickname stuck. President Truman pulled the political upset of the century by defeating Governor Dewey 303 to l89 Electoral College votes. Grouch Marx commented," The only way a Republican will get into the White House is to marry Margaret Truman." THE GIPPER: As a young actor, the Republican 40th president, Ronald Reagan, played the part of George Gip in the movie, "Knute Rockne, All American." As Gip lay dieing of pneumonia, he told Coach Rockne:" Someday, when things look real tough for Notre Dame, ask the boys to go out there and win one for the Gipper." Reagan used the quote repeatedly to rally his supporters and was twice elected to the highest office in our land. Instead of a recipe, here is a household hint. If you shower head is clogged, boil it for 15 minutes in a mixture of half cup vinegar and a quart of water. Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.