Presidential Poesy

First in the hearts of his countrymen
Our nation was led by George Washington

Next in line was a Harvard Grad
John Adams was also John Quincy’s dad

Thomas Jefferson was number three
Independence he declared made our country free

To be the author of the Bill of Rights
It took James Madison many fights

James Monroe and his doctrine
Made foreign interference a has-been

John Quincy Adams, a diplomat of sorts
Also an attorney working the Boston courts

Contracting small pox as a prisoner early in life
Andrew Jackson illegitimately married his wife

Speaking Dutch first was Martin Van Buren
He was also called “Little Magician”

William Henry Harrison’s claim to fame
Longest inaugural address, shortest term…it was a numbers game

“His Accidency” John Tyler then acceded
But his political agenda was quite unheeded

James K. Polk believed in Manifest Destiny
Securing the largest expansion called the Oregon Territory

Zachary Taylor was “Old Rough and Ready”
His sudden death left the administration unsteady

Not much changed with Millard Fillmore
He divided the parties and apart they tore

Franklin Pierce’s reputation was not the best
Permanently discrediting certain manifest

James Buchan was a “dough face”
Directly involved with the Dred Scott Case

Not yet equal rights but at least liberation
Abe Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation

As Vice Pres Andrew Johnson gave a rambling speech
And later as President he was impeached

Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas a holiday
And his face you’ll see if fifty dollars is your pay

A dark horse nominee and a republican
Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill for rights of women

Although James Garfield’s assassination could not be prevented
A metal detector to find the bullet was invented

Was he Canadian or natural born in the states?
Chester A. Arthur’s eligibility was never proven in debates

Serving two non-consecutive terms was Grover Cleveland
Opposing women’s suffrage movement should have got him canned

Centennial president Benjamin Harrison
Was none other than William Henry’s grandson

Grover Cleveland served as president again
This time our nation faced economic depression

William McKinley was shot and got gangrene
Couldn’t find the bullet without the new x-ray machine

Theodore Roosevelt took the stand
Speaking softly with a big stick in hand

Jurist William Howard Taft known for trust-busting
Breaking up 90 trusts, no monopolizing

Known for keeping us out of war
Woodrow Wilson served two terms of four

The Ohio Gang had their hands in the cash drawer
Kept Warren G. Harding walking the floor

Calvin Coolidge’s style was laissez-faire
Some called him “Silent Cal” for no hot air

Herbert Hoover was a Quaker
During his term he was a dam maker

FDR his terms were four
Rocked the White House with Eleanor

Dropping atomic bombs was Harry S. Truman
He said, “If you can't stand the heat, you better get out of the kitchen”

Dwight D. Eisenhower supported Brown v. Board of Ed.
No way our schools should be segregated!

John F. Kennedy his whole life cool
Even voted “most likely to be President” by his high school

After Kennedy was assassinated came LBJ
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson led the way

Faced with being impeached Richard Nixon had to resign
He’s remembered for Watergate, wiretapping and crime

With two assassination attempts but still alive
Gerald R. Ford was the butt of jokes on Saturday Night Live

Jimmy Carter opposed the death penalty
One of the first to address the rights regarding homosexuality

The Iran-Contra Affair was publicized
Ronald Regan the movie star was criticized

George H. W. Bush we knew might fail
But making it worse was his mate Dan Quayle

William Clinton was one of those guys
We loved him dearly despite his lies

George W. Bush came from Texas
Soon his term will come to pass

Michelle Hix
2007

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