*Presidential Fun Fact of the Day

Tidbits from Zachary Taylor's inauguration:

1. Taylor traveled to D.C. separate from his wife, who took a different route. Margaret had been opposed to her husband's presidential campaign, and he wanted to spare her the fanfare surrounding his trip.

2. The president-elect's journey encountered several mishaps--his boat was stuck in ice, a trunk fell down a gangway and hit him, and a crowd of people excited to see him pushed him into a guardrail and injured his right hand.

3. When Taylor arrived in D.C., there was a throng of admirers waiting for him at the depot. It took over an hour for him to make it through the crowd.

4. At the inaugural party there was a stampede once the food was served. Men and women fainted and had to be carried outside.

5. The party continued until 4 a.m.--the servants had left and put all the hats and coats in a big pile in the lobby of City Hall. Young congressman Abraham Lincoln never did find his hat.

Posted by Jennifer at March 9, 2004 01:43 AM

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