Today is President’s Day in the U.S. Originally established in 1885 as a recognition of George Washington’s birthday (February 22), it was later expanded to include Abraham Lincoln and all other U.S. presidents.
Some of the words of these leaders have stood the test of time. For example, from Abraham Lincoln:
- “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
- “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
- “My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.”
and these from George Washington:
- “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
- “99% of failures come from people who make excuses.”
- “In politics as in philosophy, my tenets are few and simple. The leading one of which, and indeed that which embraces most others, is to be honest and just ourselves and to exact it from others, meddling as little as possible in their affairs where our own are not involved. If this maxim was generally adopted, wars would cease and our swords would soon be converted into reap hooks and our harvests be more peaceful, abundant, and happy.”
And others:
- “On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.” ―Thomas Jefferson
- “It’s easier to do a job right, than to explain why you didn’t.” ― Martin Van Buren
- “There are men and women who make the world better just by being the kind of people they are. They have the gift of kindness or courage or loyalty or integrity. It really matters very little whether they are behind the wheel of a truck or running a business or bringing up a family. They teach the truth by living it.”―James Garfield
- “Never waste a minute thinking about people you don’t like.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower
- “Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” ― Ronald Reagan
There have been some incredible orators who held the office of president. Some of the above phrases have a brilliant cadence to them. Others are simple and yet still poignant. As you think about these words, think about your own writing. Is there a better turn of the phrase you can use? Is there a way to smooth your prose so it isn’t clunky? Can you wait a few moments before you spill your thoughts on the screen so they may be seasoned with grace? Who knows, maybe your words will touch someone’s heart today and bring light into our dark world.
Presidential trivia: Did you know that Ulysses S. Grant’s autobiography had a rather famous publisher? Published shortly after his death in 1885 (he finished the work days before he passed away), the two-volume work sold 350,000 copies. His publisher? Mark Twain. Many feel it is the greatest presidential memoir ever written.
[By the way, this is not a post about politics, nor is this blog a place to voice political opinions. Please keep to the topic of writing and not the politics of your country of residence or elsewhere. Thanks!]
Fun Fridays – February 16, 2024
Nora,
That is a good point. A little “presidential history.”
Judson Welliver is understood to be the first official presidential speechwriter. He wrote for Warren Harding in 1921.
However there are some scholars who believe that Alexander Hamilton helped George Washington with some of his speeches.
While modern era presidents utilize speech writers it is well known that every one of them edits, changes, and has their speeches re-written.
One of the more famous phrases from Franklin Roosevelt made was referring to the attack on Pearl Harbor. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy…” The original typewritten speech read “a date which will live in world history.”
Roosevelt made hand-written changes to the speech before he gave it. The difference is that in this case he had dictated the speech to his secretary first, he didn’t use writer for that particular radio address. However it is well known that Harry Hopkins wrote Roosevelt’s third inaugural address.
You can see a picture of his edits of the “date of infamy” speech here:
https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/prologue/images/day-of-infamy-draft1-page1.jpg
This brings up a question that I’ve always had in the back of my mind, and sometimes in the forefront.
While I have no doubt that our earlier presidents did write and speak profound words, I sometimes wonder about the presidents that have served during my lifetime. How many speech writers have written great thoughts without credit?
Nora, what grace, to remind us of this! Thank you!
The presidential speech writers are public record. They have been used by every president since the Harding administration.
A quick search will reveal who they are. There is even a book written about them – https://amzn.to/3T3Kghe (published in 2008 so ends with the Bush administration).
I’m afraid now I might be remembered
for some things that I have written,
and wish that I might have tempered
my being rather harder-bitten
than the messages deserve,
for there is a part of me
that has a wistful, gentle verve
that I’d prefer as legacy.
Yes, there was a lot of beer
and pubs in need of renovation,
but other things that I hold dear
were left standing at the station
when ego’s train rumbled away
to make me what I seem today.
“Seasoned with grace.” I love that phrase — thank you, Steve.
Lord, may the words of my mouth and of my hands be seasoned with grace — today and always!
Thank you, Steve.
In the land of quotes, it is sometimes questionable as to whom said what. I find it interesting that I have from a magazine a printed quote accredited to Abraham Lincoln. I have read that Abe gets credit for many nice quotes he may never have uttered, but if it sounds like Lincoln, it is Lincoln to some.
Now, two presidents may have made similar quotes. Nothing to taint the greatness of either. My quote notebook credits Abe with “All I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother.”
Can this be cleared up by a quote hound?
This is not a quote, but Presidents’ Day brought it to mind.
Today, February 19th, we celebrate Washington’s birthday, and with our thirst for 3-day weekends, that date will vary from year to year. But what is the real date of Washington’s birthday?
Ahh, history! The dating of George Washington’s birth is interesting and a bit confusing. According to the Julian calendar in use at the time of his birth, his birthday was February 11, 1731. However, in 1750, an act of Parliament officially replaced the Julian calendar for England and its colonies with the Gregorian calendar. This change came in 1752. The legal new year was changed from March 25 to January 1, the formula for calculating leap years was changed, and 11 days were dropped from the month of September 1752. The end effect was that Washington’s birthday was moved 1 year and 11 days; his new birthday became February 22, 1732.
Bill,
Well done. I too came across this tidbit of history and our calendar.
There is a fascinating book about the history of the calendar.
https://amzn.to/49Apc7o
Calendar: Humanity’s Epic Struggle to Determine a True and Accurate Year by David Duncan.
This post reminds me of how very fortunate we are in this country to have had presidents like Washington and Lincoln.
“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, leave the rest to God.” ― Ronald Reagan
This quote relates to my Memoir from an Honest Caregiver.
Thank you for sharing!
How good that we have these honorable men to remember on this special day.
America has been so blessed and we need to be in prayer for her!!!
Thank you for your Presidential Quotes on President’s Day. I had no idea that Mark Twain published Ulysses S. Grant’s autobiography. It was great how you weaved the quotes without showing political bias. Each quote was both meaningful and well thought out.
Thanks, Steve! The quote about “99% of failures come from people who make excuses” — I’ve seen it attributed to George Washington Carver (the scientist of course, not the president). I didn’t investigate further, but quotes from famous folks tend to arouse my suspicion. In manuscripts I’ve edited, I’ve so often seen otherwise quite trustworthy authors include quotes found on the internet, but they turn out to be bogus (especially quotes attributed to presidents, famous scientists, or literary celebrities). I’ve taken to giving them this counsel: Never use a celebrity quotation unless you’ve seen it with your own eyes in the original source document (or reasonable facsimile or print-published representation thereof).
I stand corrected.
I sifted from various Internet sources. For example, (https://www.azquotes.com/quote/369270).
Lovely post!
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings.