On Wednesday, February 21 at 7pm, join us at Milford Library, 57 New Haven Ave. as Stephen Spignesi explores a whole other side of our nation’s leaders. From George Washington to Barack Obama, this collection of weird and wild—but true!—facts will shed light on the little-known quirkiness of our presidents. Just a sampling:
- Andrew Jackson married a bigamist.
- Martin Van Buren wore pistols in the Senate chamber in case things got too rowdy.
- Franklin Pierce ran over a woman with his horse while in office and was arrested, but police released him once they realized he was the president.
- James Garfield could simultaneously write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower’s nickname for his staff driver was “Private Parts.”
- Barack Obama can bench press 200 pounds.
All attendees will receive a free, tri-fold, color, signed brochure about the presidents.
Stephen Spignesi is a New York Times bestselling author who writes about historical biography, popular culture, television, film, American and world history, and contemporary fiction. He is also a professor of English at the University of New Haven, a poet, screenwriter, musician, and novelist. He has written more than 50 books. His website is www.stephenspignesi.com.
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