HAGERSTOWN, Md. — There is a unique classroom tradition that features a poem written to pay homage to the presidents of the United States. This memory-stimulating idea was created by teachers to help teach students about past leaders. The tradition continues to this day, and here is a rendition that is featured in this year’s Almanack.
First stands the lofty WASHINGTON, that noble, great, immortal one.
The elder ADAMS next we see, and JEFFERSON comes number three.
Then MADISON is fourth you know, the fifth one on the list, MONROE.
The sixth, then ADAMS comes again and JACKSON, seventh, in the train.
VAN BUREN, eighth upon the line and HARRISON counts number nine.
The 10th is TYLER in his turn and POLK, the 11th, as we learn.
The 12th is TAYLOR in rotation, the 13th, FILLMORE, in succession.
The 14th, PIERCE has been selected, BUCHANAN, 15th is elected.
16th LINCOLN rules the nation, JOHNSON, 17th, fills the station.
As the 18th, GRANT two terms serves, 19th, HAYES our honor preserves.
20th, GARFIELD becomes our head, 21st ARTHUR, succeeds the dead.
Then CLEVELAND next was selected, 23rd, HARRISON’s elected.
24th CLEVELAND is recalled, 25th, McKINLEY twice installed.
26th, ROOSEVELT, strenuous, firm, TAFT, 27th serves his term.
28th, WILSON held the place, HARDING yields to death’s embrace.
COOLIDGE follows in his stead, HOOVER’s next as the nation’s head.
ROOSEVELT called in time of need, a second term—defends our creed.
Shattering all precedent preceding—“ROOSEVELT” for third-term country leading.
Fourth term “ROOSEVELT Immortal” not dead, TRUMAN succeeds as our country’s head.
Country hopes to stop inflation, TRUMAN elected by the nation.
U.S.A., world’s greatest power, inaugurates EISENHOWER.
General, President and man of worth, EISENHOWER again comes forth.
JOHN F. KENNEDY wins the election, will lead us in the right direction.
Presidents assassinated now number four when KENNEDY passed through martyr’s door.
JOHNSON takes president’s oath on plane, landslide vote—LBJ’s in again.
Change of party we now present RICHARD NIXON as President.
As peace in southeast Asia nears, NIXON in for four more years.
But he resigns over Watergate, GERALD FORD is number 38.
The 39th to hold the reins, JIMMY CARTER from Georgia’s Plains.
RONALD REAGAN of the silver screen is the next to grace the national scene.
Landslide results in ’84 return MR. REAGAN for four more.
Next, GEORGE BUSH knows he’s headed right in seeking a thousand points of light.
In ’92 we now all know, CLINTON was the winner, beating Bush and Perot.
In ’96, CLINTON and Gore are chosen to serve another four.
After Florida counting left it up in the air GEORGE BUSH, the son, wins by only a hair.
Despite the controversial War in Iraq, in 2004, BUSH and Cheney are back.
In 2008, after great debate, BARACK OBAMA is elected our head of state.
Amidst continuing economic fears, OBAMA and Biden win another four years.
With Make America Great Again as his plan, a divided America hopes DONALD TRUMP can.
Democracy prevails as divisions widen, America’s 46th is JOSEPH BIDEN.
Giving the Republicans a second chance, America elects TRUMP and Vance.
The tradition of the President’s Poem continues to grow with each newly elected leader. Who will fill the next line in 2028?
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First published in 1797, it’s the second oldest almanac in the United States. It has been in continuous publication for 230 years and is the only almanac in the United States still published by the founders’ direct descendants.
