Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

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@qualitygal wrote:

Got to thinking about the history and stories of our past presidents.  In school we never did much on the presidents.  So while my husband was up here I drilled him.  He did better than I would have.  Didn't go back past the 30th on.

As you were growing up, although you were younger, who was the first president you recall being aware of.  My husband remembered Eisenhower he's older than I am, I was more aware around the time of the Kennedy's.  

How's your history memory?

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@qualitygal 

IMO, having a good memory and being smart is comparing apples to oranges.  

I recall studying the theory of multiple intelligences .... back when it was still a "theory".    

Example .... a person can be a math whiz or have great musical talent, but struggle to write complete sentences.

What I like best is an old quote from Dear Abby:

"We're ALL ignorant ... only on different subjects."  

[icezeus]

The first president that I personally remember would be Ronald Reagan. I was in Elementary school when he was shot, and I remember we collected jelly beans to send to him.

I was always aware of John F. Kennedy, because I grew up in a household with my grandmother. On one of her Walls there were three pictures. Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King jr. and John F. Kennedy. We were also Roman Catholic. So he had high standing in our household. Hence the picture placement on the wall. 

[SloopJohnB]

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@qualitygal wrote:

Got to thinking about the history and stories of our past presidents.  In school we never did much on the presidents.  So while my husband was up here I drilled him.  He did better than I would have.  Didn't go back past the 30th on.

As you were growing up, although you were younger, who was the first president you recall being aware of.  My husband remembered Eisenhower he's older than I am, I was more aware around the time of the Kennedy's.  

How's your history memory?

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@qualitygal   Well, I would like to think that I am smarter than a 5th grader.  LOL  But who knows?  I'm probably not going to be on Jeopardy but I would like to think I can hold my own in an intelligent conversation.  As far as presidents, I was 3 when JFK was killed so don't remember much from that.  But still get misty-eyed when I see the pic of John John saluting as his father's hearse went by.  

[Oznell]

My parents were Canadians, proud ones, but we were sort of "trans-border",  b/c we adored the U.S. also,  we lived on both sides of the border, and had both current family and also ancestors who were American, etc.

My mother was fairly apolitical, but my Dad's biggest avocational interests were theology and politics.   So we talked endlessly about that.  Having been born in Arizona, I was always hyper interested in that state.  For that reason, I wanted to know all about Cochise.  I also remember one of my first question to my Dad about American history was about presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, another of the most famous Arizonans.

The presidents I was most interested in were Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt.  Now, I'd add William McKinley and  Calvin Coolidge.  

We never tired of both American and Canadian current events, maybe from the time I was about 11 or 12 onwards...     

[skatting44]

Remember hearing of President  "  Ike " Eisenhower  as a kid , all the todo abt  camp Shangri-La  being renamed to Camp David.  Also remember hearing my Grand parents/ parents talking abt the  new Interstate highway system that was signed into law by Eisenhower . It made driving  from state to state easier .

 Yes, I do remember watching   John  F Kennedy's inauguration speech .

[shoesnbags]

I'm 74 and it seemed as if Eisenhower was president for most of my childhood.  I don't remember the politics, but remember his wife Mamie and that awful hairdo with the short bangs.  I also remember his daughters Julie and Tricia.  (Was there a son??)

Kennedy was the first president I was aware of politically. And of course, his assasination and everything surrounding it is imprinted forever on my brain.  I was a young teenager by then, so very aware of what was happening.

[Zaimee]

@shoesnbags  Julie and Tricia were Nixon's daughters. Julie did marry Eisenhower's grandson, David.

I remember Kennedy/Nixon campaign. And, years later, being in a sixth grade class and hearing "the president has been shot in Dallas".

[DREAMON]

I remember Kennedy.

As far as intelligence go I think I am of average intelligence unless I am really interested in the subject...then  I would say a bit higher.

[shoesnbags]

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@Zaimee wrote:

@shoesnbags  Julie and Tricia were Nixon's daughters. Julie did marry Eisenhower's grandson, David.

I remember Kennedy/Nixon campaign. And, years later, being in a sixth grade class and hearing "the president has been shot in Dallas".

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Thank you @Zaimee.  Of course!  I don't know how I mixed that up.  If asked, I would have said "Julie Nixon" and "Tricia Nixon" but somehow my brain pulled them up as Eisenhower's kids.  Probably because as you said, Julie married David Eisenhower.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

JFK for me,