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George Washington
We all know Washington as "The Father of his Country," but few have heard that he was called "The American Fabius" for his Fabian military strategy of forgoing frontal attacks in favor of wearing down an enemy through a war of attrition. Washington avoided decisive battles preferring small skirmishes which exacted a toll on the morale of the enemy. The term comes from Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus who defeated Hannibal in the Second Punic War.
His last words were "Tis well."
John Adams
Adams was apparently fat which is reflected in the girth of a bust sculpted by Daniel Chester. Long before anyone was canceled for body shaming, Adams was dubbed "His Rotundity."
His last words were "Thomas Jefferson still survives" although Jefferson died several hours earlier.
Thomas Jefferson
"The Sage of Monticello" was derived from his beloved house on the back of the nickel.
His last words were "No, doctor, nothing more."
James Madison
His political enemies called him "Little Jemmy," "His Little Majesty" and "Withered Little Apple-John," but he's more known as "The Father of the Constitution" for being instrumental in the drafting and ratification of the seminal document.
His niece asked him, "What is the matter, Uncle James?" Just before he passed Madison answered, "Nothing more than a change of mind, my dear. I always talk better lying down."
James Monroe
Being the last president to wear the tricorne we typically associate with American colonists, Monroe was known as "The Last Cocked Hat."
His final words were in reference to James Madison, "I regret that I should leave this world without again beholding him."
John Quincy Adams
Known for his antislavery stance and as an attorney for the enslaved Africans in the Amistad Case, Adams nickname was "The Abolitionist."
His last words were "This is the last of Earth! I am content!"
A guy who spent his life trying to purge slavery from this country would certainly die a content man.
Andrew Jackson
The soldiers serving under Jackson called him "Old Hickory" for being tough as the tree of the same name.
His last words were "I hope I will meet you all in heaven. Be good children, all of you, and strive to be ready when the change comes."
Martin Van Buren
Van Buren's first language was Dutch. He was known for picking his words carefully leading to "The Careful Dutchman." He was also called "Martin Van Ruin" by his political enemies. Van Buren was short and considered a smooth politician leading to the nickname "The Little Magician."
His last words were "There is but one reliance..."
I guess we'll never know.
William Henry Harrison
Harrison avoided speaking out on controversial issues during the election campaign which led to the name "General Mum." Harrison was the first president to die in office and served the shortest term, 31 days. He passed away after contracting pneumonia.
His last words were to Vice President Tyler "Sir, I wish you to understand the true principles of government. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more."
President to the very end.
John Tyler
"His Accidency" was given to Tyler by his political opponents after Harrison's death in office.
His last words were "Doctor, I am going. Perhaps it is best."
James K. Polk
Polk was a gifted orator which led to the nickname "Napoleon of the Stump." Polk led the nation into the Mexican-American War which resulted in the acquisition of California.
His last words to his wife were "I love you, Sarah. For all eternity, I love you."
Zachary Taylor
Taylor was called "Old Rough and Ready" due to his involvement in the Second Seminole War. He died in office from acute gastroenteritis.
His last words were "I regret nothing, but I am sorry I am about to leave my friends."
Millard Fillmore
Fillmore was called "The American Louis Philippe" after the King of France for his exquisite tastes and love of reading. He was the second person to take office after the death of a president.
His last words were after taking a spoonful of soup "The nourishment is palatable."
Franklin Pierce
Due to his deeds in the Mexican-American War, Pierce being from New Hampshire was compared to Andrew Jackson when he was called "The Young Hickory of the Granite Hills." He was also called "Handsome Frank."
His last words were unknown.
James Buchanan
Buchanan called himself in his 1859 State of the Union address "Old Public Functionary" for being a career politician.
His last words were "Whatever the result may be, I shall carry to my grave the consciousness that at least I meant well for my country. Oh Lord God Almighty, as thou wilt."
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was known by a lot of nicknames including "Honest Abe" and "The Great Emancipator," but I never knew that one of his nicknames was "The Rail-Splitter" for building fences on the frontier in his youth. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated.
His last words were answering his wife who asked what he thought a woman seated near them in the theatre would think if she saw them holding hands. Lincoln said, "She won't think anything about it."
Andrew Johnson
Johnson worked as a tailor before he entered politics giving him the nickname "The Tennessee Tailor."
His last words were "I need no doctor. I can overcome my own troubles."
Ulysses S. Grant
"Unconditional Surrender Grant" reflects what he demanded in 1862 at the Civil War Battle of Fort Donelson in Tennessee.
His last word was "water."
Rutherford B. Hayes
Hayes was called by his political enemies "Rutherfraud" because of the disputed outcome of the 1876 election in which both sides accused the other of voter intimidation and stuffing ballot boxes. Additionally, many newspapers reported election results before voting was completed.
His last words were "I know that I am going where Lucy (his wife) is."
History is on a continuous loop when it comes to elections.
James Garfield
Having worked on canals during his youth, Garfield's nickname was "Boatman Jim." He was the second president to be assassinated.
His last words to his Chief of Staff, David G. Swaim, were "Oh Swaim, there is pain here. Swaim can't you stop this? Oh, oh, Swaim!"
Chester A. Arthur
Arthur had mutton sideburns and a mustache. This led to children calling him "Walrus." He liked fine clothes and lived in indulgent luxury which got him the nickname "The Dude President."
His last words were unknown.
Grover Cleveland
Cleveland was a big man earning the moniker "Uncle Jumbo."
His last words were "I have tried so hard to do right."
Benjamin Harrison
Harrison didn't like to engage people one on one which led to the nickname "The Human Iceberg."
His last words were "Are the doctors here? Doctor, my lungs."
William McKinley
The last president to have served in the Civil War, McKinley was fond of imposing tariffs to protect American interest which resulted in the name "The Napoleon of Protection." McKinley was the third president to be killed in office.
His last words were "We are all going. Oh dear."
Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt was known as the "The Trust Buster" for breaking up large companies like the railroads and monopolies controlling sugar and fertilizer.
His last words were "Please put out the light."
William Howard Taft
Another physically big president, Taft's boyhood nickname was "Big Lub."
His last words were unknown.
Woodrow Wilson
Known as "The Phrasemaker" Wilson penned his own speeches. He wrote, "If you want to make enemies, try to change something." His image appeared on the $100,000 bill which was never publically circulated.
His last words were "I am a broken piece of machinery. When the machine is broken...I am ready."
Warren G. Harding
"Wobbly Warren" described Harding's knack for never taking a stance on an issue. Harding suffered a heart attack while in office.
As his wife, Florence, read favorable newspaper articles to him, Harding said just before he died, "That's good. Go on, read some more."
Calvin Coolidge
Coolidge took control after the death of Harding. He was known as "Cautious Cal" for believing that the best government was the least government.
His last words spoken to a carpenter working in his home were, "Good morning, Robert."
Herbert Hoover
As a geologist and surveyor in Australia, Hoover earned the nickname "The Chief" when he was 23. The name stuck with him for the rest of his life.
When Hoover was told that Admiral Strauss came to visit, his last words in the past tense were, "Levi Strauss was one of my best friends."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Known by his initials, FDR was often referred to as "That Man in the White House" by his enemies who hated to say his name. Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms. He died in office during his fourth term from a cerebral hemorrhage.
His last words were "I have a terrific pain in the back of my head."
Harry S. Truman
"Give 'Em Hell Harry" was his campaign slogan. Being unable to afford college tuition, Truman was the last president without a college degree.
His last words were unknown.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
"Ike" employed the popular campaign slogan "I like Ike." He was the third of seven boys. His first born with wife, Mamie, died of scarlet fever at the age of three. His son, John, had a boy named David who Camp David is named after. David married Richard Nixon's daughter, Julie.
His last words were "I want to go. I'm ready to go. God, take me."
John F. Kennedy
Another president known by his initials, JFK was often called "Jack." He was the last president to be killed in office.
Jacqueline Kennedy stated that the wife of the governor of Texas said, "You certainly can't say that the people of Dallas haven't given you a nice welcome." Just before he was shot, Kennedy replied, "No, you certainly can't."
Lyndon B. Johnson
Johnson liked to boast granting him the nickname "Bullshit Johnson." He also insisted on saving electricity by turning off the lights in the White House which resulted in the moniker "Light-Bulb Johnson." LBJ was also known by his initials and probably channeled Teddy Roosevelt with his obsession with extinguishing lights.
His last words to a Secret Service agent on the phone were, "Send in Mike immediately."
Richard Nixon
"Tricky Dick" was given the name in a 1950 ad by his opponent for the senate in California. Often the label is erroneously attributed to the Watergate Scandal that led to his to resignation. He actually earned the despised nickname for the earlier smear campaign he ran against his rival.
His last word was "help."
Gerald Ford
Ford was the House Minority Leader when he assumed the role of Vice President following the resignation of Spiro T. Agnew who plead no contest to tax evasion. When Nixon resigned, Ford took over. He was known as "Mr. Nice Guy" for his non-partisan stances on issues. He was the only president no one ever actually voted for.
Ford's last words are unknown, but I would guess they would be something like, "I hope there isn't a lot of stairs."
Jimmy Carter
During the 1976 presidential campaign, Carter enjoyed fostering the image as "The Peanut Farmer." He and his wife, Rosalynn, along with their three boys lived in public housing for a year, making Carter the only US president to once reside in subsidized housing. For many years after leaving the White House, Carter swung a hammer for Habitat for Humanity.
His last words will be "I've really had it with kudzu."
Ronald Reagan
Costarring in the film Knute Rockne, All American, as George Gipp, a popular college football player for Notre Dame, Reagan adopted "The Gipper" as a nickname. Gipp died of a throat infection saying on his deathbed to Coach Rockne, "...win just one for the Gipper."
Reagan's last words were unknown.
George H. W. Bush
Bush was called "Poppy" from childhood. He barfed on the Japanese Prime Minister in 1992. He also was a lousy bowler.
His last words to his namesake son, the 43rd president, spoken on the phone were, "I love you, too."
William Jefferson Clinton
Like Nixon, Clinton has a nickname that he is not fond of, "Slick Willy."
His last words will be "I never even liked spinach dip."
George W. Bush
Bush is known by his middle initial, "Dubya." In Yale he played rugby and was a cheerleader. He is the only US president with an MBA which he earned from Harvard.
His last words will be "Bring 'em on."
Barack Obama
Obama was a laid back president who was cautious but relaxed. He was affectionately called "No Drama Obama."
His last words will be "I wish I smoked more."
Donald J. Trump
Like Buchanan, Trump chose his own nickname, "The Donald."
His last words will be "I'm a little low energy right now."
On the Fourth of July I usually find myself swatting mosquitos while waiting for fireworks even though firework displays are like a movie we've already seen. This year there won't be any public Independence Day celebrations in most towns due to the pandemic. That's okay with me. I would like to celebrate, though, when our elected officials restore our rights they suspended for our collective safety. The last time I was told I had to socially distance myself I was eight years old and was sent to my room for refusing to eat lima beans.
God Bless America!
Sources
List of nicknames of Presidents of the United States, Wikipedia
Famous Last Words: U.S. Presidents by Chris Raymond
What Were The Dead Presidents' Last Words?
List of nicknames of Presidents of the United States, Wikipedia
Famous Last Words: U.S. Presidents by Chris Raymond
What Were The Dead Presidents' Last Words?
Editor's Note: Originally posted on July 4, 2017.
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