There are various presidents in US history who were not as famous as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Within their short and sometimes long tenure as President they left one or two important historical marks which should be noted. Here are the top 10 forgotten but yet important US presidents.
1. John Hanson:
Many believe George Washington was the first President of the United States. They are wrong in this fact as Washington was the first president of the independent country. The title belongs to John Hanson, whom many US History books forget to mention. He was elected as the first Presiding Officer to the Continental Congress during the revolutionary wars in 1781. He was also the one to order all foreign flags to be banned from US property.
2. William Henry Harrison:
He was the 9th President of the United States and the first President to die in office 32 days after his inauguration. Wearing no overcoat and no hat on a wet and cold day, Harrison spoke the longest speech in US history which was timed at 2 hours. This caused Harrison to catch pneumonia and septicaemia, which began to affect Harrison 3 weeks after. He made history with his precedent to elect the Vice-President as President when the current elected President cannot do his job. The 25th commandment was finally enacted after the Kennedy Assassination.
3. John Tyler:
Not many would know a John Tyler or would ever think he was President of the United States once. His term was short and brief as he replaced President Harrison after the latter’s death. He took office during a constitutional crisis which discussed the succession to Presidency by the Vice-President. He also was the President who annexed Texas into the United States. He however caused and stimulated the Mexican American war.
4. William Taft:
This 300lb President was the 27th to be elected. He was the fattest and tallest President to take office. He is most famous for his 16th Amendment which allowed the Congress to Levy Taxes. He was also famous for being the only handpicked President of the United States. Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Secretary of States in the hopes of making him a President one day.
5. Warren G. Harding:
This president did everything in his power to undo the dreams and peacekeeping and making work his predecessor Woodrow Wilson achieved. With disdain, he rejected the idea of League of Nations which held peace around the world for 21 years. Although quoted as being sensitive to minorities and women by Carl S. Anthony, 1998 polls rate him as the worst president. The unemployment rate staggered during his presidency.
6. Herbert Hoover:
When the name Hoover comes to mind, many people think of J. Edgar Hoover from the Cold War and the Hoover dam. Many do not realize that Hoover was a President of the United States when the Great Depression hit. He is the President who refused to provide aid to people who had no home, no money and no food. Many associate the Great Depression with FDR and the New Deal but fail to look at the initial causes and responses.
7. Chester Arthur:
This 21st President is also forgotten by many American citizens. He took office after James Garfield was shot and killed in office. He was one of not many Presidents to give his oath twice. He was also the only President to refuse to move into the White House. He remodelled his home to his liking before deciding to move in. Although an anti-bigamist, he refused to uphold the 15th commandment. He also refused to take action against states that enforced the Jim Crow laws.
8. Zachary Taylor:
Although President for just 1.5 years, he was still able to leave a tremendous mark. He supported liberal revolutions in England. He argued with France and Portugal over reparation payments. He also was the President who proposed and initiated the Compromise of 1850. He however died before he could negotiate it. Many thus do not give credit to Taylor or try to understand his policies. He was in power for just 1.5 years.
9. James Polk:
Although the high school named after him was made popularized in the show Married with Children, no one ever knew who he was or what he did. He led the United States into a victorious war with Mexico over the annexation of Texas. Furthermore, he continued the Western expansion policies of past Presidents, which doubled Presidents’ potentials. He planned to serve only one term in office, without any possible re-elections.
10. Millard Fillmore:
This President is also forgotten. When studying the Compromise of 1850, Fillmore’s name mostly never comes up. Many textbooks rarely and seldom mention his name when examining the event. During his presidency, he tried to appease the South with the advocacy of slavery in newly annexed Mexican territories.
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