Who was the 'twelfth president of the United States'?
Bonus: How long was his term?
Extra Points Given by:
evolution (10)
Comments
not quite... (the '' were a hint)
3:54 am 24/06/2012
evolution
Does this have to do with John Hanson? If we count Hanson as 1, John Quincy Adams would be 12.
Or am I overthinking this?
2:53 am 25/06/2012
evolution
Yeah, I can't figure it out. Was there some kind of Lady Jane Grey equivalent of American Presidents in the post-Washington roster - someone who served a such a short term that he is omitted from the list?
What's the answer?
3:04 am 25/06/2012
Quaektem
David Rice Atchison
David Rice Atchison (August 11, 1807 – January 26, 1886) was a mid-19th century Democratic[1] United States Senator from Missouri.[1] He served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate for six years.[2] He is best known for the claim that for one day (March 4, 1849) he may have been Acting President of the United States.[3]
Atchison himself never claimed that he was technically President of the United States for one day—Sunday, March 4, 1849. Outgoing President James Polk's term ended at noon on March 4, which was a Sunday. His successor, Zachary Taylor, refused to be sworn in to office on Sunday. Taylor's Vice Presidential running mate, Millard Fillmore, likewise was not inaugurated.[18] As President pro tempore, and therefore Acting Vice President, under the presidential succession law in place at the time, Atchison was believed by some to be Acting President.[19]
Atchison discussed the claim in a September 1872 issue of the Plattsburg Lever:
It was in this way: Polk went out of office on the 3rd of March 1849, on Saturday at 12 noon. The next day, the 4th, occurring on Sunday, Gen. Taylor was not inaugurated. He was not inaugurated till Monday, the 5th, at 12 noon. It was then canvassed among Senators whether there was an interregnum (a time during which a country lacks a government). It was plain that there was either an interregnum or I was the President of the United States being chairman of the Senate, having succeeded Judge Mangum of North Carolina. The judge waked me up at 3 o'clock in the morning and said jocularly that as I was President of the United States he wanted me to appoint him as secretary of state. I made no pretense to the office, but if I was entitled in it I had one boast to make, that not a woman or a child shed a tear on account of my removing any one from office during my incumbency of the place. A great many such questions are liable to arise under our form of government.[21]
3:07 am 25/06/2012
evolution
Interesting. This is the first I've ever heard about this one-day president. You'd think this fact would be more well known.
Thanks for the share!