Herbert Hoover and his wife spent many years living in China long before he became the 31st president of the United States.
While there, they both learned to speak Chinese Mandarin, which they talked to each other in the White House when they didn’t wish to be understood.
John Tyler
John Tyler became America’s 10th president, following the death of former President William Henry Harrison. He was the first person to hold office after replacing a president who had died in office and was therefor the first president who was not elected by the people. Tyler served from 1841 to 1845. He weighed in on the issue of slavery, proclaiming that each state should make its own decision on the matter, similarly to other local issues. Tyler made himself some enemies in Congress because he refused to be a “passive” alternate president and earned the nickname “His Accidency.”
He was also the first president in American history whose detractors tried to have impeached, although they failed. As part of his foreign policy agenda, Tyler negotiated treaties with China and Britain. In his private life, he holds another record as the president with the largest number of children with a whopping 15.
Herbert Hoover
America’s 31st president, Herbert Hoover, was in office during an extremely difficult time in US history. Hoover was born in Iowa, but later moved to Oregon and attended Stanford University when it first opened its doors in 1891. He went on to marry Lou Henry, his college sweetheart. Although Hoover often worked in China before he went into politics, he happened to be in Europe at the beginning of World War I and gained fame for helping to evacuate approximately 120,000 American tourists who were abroad in Germany and France.
His presidency took place between the years 1929 and 1933, which included the stock market crash and the Great Depression. Although times were tough, Hoover came up with a variety of strategies to improve the lives of the American people like lowering taxes and convincing businesses to keep on their employees. He had to put on a brave face and stay strong while waiting for the economy to recover from its terrible crisis.
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor, or as he was more famously known “Old Rough and Ready” was America’s 12th president and is mostly known for his brief stint in the White House, but before he became a politician Taylor was a famous war hero. He showed a talent for leadership during his military service in the Mexican-American War, which earned him his boisterous nickname. Taylor was the last leader of the Whig Party to become president and started his term in March of 1849. He was committed to a public debate about slavery, and although he himself was a slave owner at the time, was leaning towards abolishing the practice.
During his term as president, Taylor encouraged California and New Mexico to become states but sadly passed away while in office on July 9th, 1850. His death was caused by cholera, which he had contracted only days earlier. People speculated that his sudden demise was caused by his consumption of contaminated ice water and milk or due to the enormous amount of cherries he devoured on July 4th.
Taylor Takes On 600 Men
During his time as commander of Fort Harrison in the War of 1812, Taylor and his garrison of about 50 men were attacked by 600 rifle-toting Native Americans.
Although most of the men under his command were sick and weak, they actually succeeded in fighting off and killing the massive enemy force. It is a testament to Taylor’s strength and leadership that he survived that battle.