Man I Don't Know My Presidents - William Henry Harrison #9

Ladies and Gentlemen…Let’s Welcome…

• Old Tippacanoe (Commemorates his 2 victories over Tecumsah)
• Granny Harrison (At 68 he was then the oldest president to be elected)
• General Mum (Denotes his avoidance to speak on controversial issues)
• Log Cabin Candidate (positioning him as a man of the people, even though he did come from a privileged background)
• Cinncanatus of the West (Comparing him to both the original and Goerge Washington)

William Henry Harrison delivered the longest Inaugural Address, coming in at over two hours (even after Daniel Webster edited it). There were so many appointed positions at the presidents’ disposal at this time that thousands lined up at the White House doors to lay claim. The only thing accomplished during Harrison’s presidency was to call a special session of Congress in the interests of “the condition of the revenue and finance of the country.”

On March 26, Harrison became ill with cold. He sought to rest in the White House but because of all the office seekers flooding the house and grounds, he could not find a quiet room. Harrison’s doctors tried to treat him using opium, castor oil, Virginia snakeweed and even actual snakes. Nine days after becoming ill, Harrison died of pneumonia, jaundice and overwhelming septicemia.

• First President to die in office
• Shortest Presidency in history (Passing away 31 days after being sworn in).
• Only President to be born in the same county as his vice-president (Charles City County, VA).
• Kept a pet goat named, “His Whiskers.”
• First President to receive over one million popular votes.
• Grandson, Benjamin Harrison later elected to the Oval Office (becoming the first grandparent/grandchild relation to both reach the most high office).

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