While we were recording Barrel Proof last night, Matt Owens caught me off-guard with some presidential history/trivia that I wasn’t well-versed in. I was so ashamed! While we were discussing tomorrow’s ribbon cutting ceremony for Louisville Parks Foundation’s newest small-sided soccer field at William Henry Harrison Park, he mentioned that Harrison had the shortest term as President ever. I had no reason to doubt him, but had to admit I didn’t know that or remember it from middle school! Again, the shame!

This particular Harrison was notable in some other respects, however. He was the last elected President to have been born a subject of Britain. His father, Benjamin Harrison, was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence. He was a Major General during the War of 1812, and he and his running mate, John Tyler, gained fame in the short war against Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe the year prior. Even if you totally forgot Harrison was a President, you probably at least remember the campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too.” Harrison’s nickname was “Old Tippecanoe,” thanks to his performance in that battle, and thus the campaign slogan. 19th century people were pretty bad at nicknames, IMO.

Harrison had served in the House of Representatives and the Senate before becoming president, and, more interestingly, had been the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia in 1828. I have no idea what he did there, but I think that’s really neat. Harrison also was the first of a curiously long line of presidents from Ohio. I don’t know how someone from Ohio, which back then was basically the Wild West, wins a national election when most of the people live on the East Coast, but he and several others managed it.

William Henry Harrison’s most notable legacy, though, was ensconced due to his death, which set off a presidential succession crisis. Harrison was the first president to die in office (31 days after inauguration, due to pneumonia). After his death, John Tyler was constitutionally able to act as President, but the Constitution was unclear about whether that meant he was able to serve out Harrison’s term “as Vice President acting as President”, or if new presidential elections were necessary. In this instance, the Supreme Court ruled that Tyler could serve out the term, but that has only been codified since the 25th Amendment was passed in 1967.

And Louisville has a public park named after the guy for some reason. The more you know!

LINKS:

• It’s looking like North Carolina FC might become FC Cincinnati’s USL affiliate, but the Ohio club is looking closer to home for a “2” team in the near-ish future. I’ll personally be upset if they go to Lexington.
• Bethlehem Chester Steel signed 18 year old Issa Rayyan yesterday.
• Loudoun United is up to three players on its roster now thanks to the signing of Peabo Doue, whose name, I assume, is an homage to Grammy winner Peabo Bryson.