The ever elusive and often mysterious Bonnie was up to something as 10 October grew ever closer. Others seemed to know that change was in the air. As it turned out, the invitation said it all, but of course I was not allowed to see the invitation in advance:
When I
showed 
up at
Bonnie's house on the eve
ning of 10 October, there were signs that somethi
ng was
underway.
Yes, guests kept arriving - Barry Howard, Ron and Claudia Weber, Tom and Sheila Genoni, Pam and Ron Walters, and then the families of the grandkids: Beth and Ron with Garrett and Mollie, David and Tricia with Charlene and Ian. It soon became a full house, and one of political intrigue and insight.
My campaign manager had the Soup Kitchen in great shape, with
three choices of healthy soup, including Sheila's contribution of green chili corn chowder - plus delicious sourdough bread.
As it turned out, the Presidential Trivia questions proved too difficult except for Pam and Tricia, the only Democrats in the crowd. I understand the readers of this blog are sharp and thus I offer the trivia questions for you, interspersed with photos from the gathering. Please leave your comments at the end of this article.Great party, Bonnie!
U.S. Presidential Trivia
1. Who was the only president to be
elected unanimously by the Electoral College?A: George Washington
2. A New Hampshire delegate to the Electoral College wanted to preserve George Washington's legacy, and thus another president received every vote from the Electoral College save one - who was the President who almost tied George Washington's record?A: James Monroe, the 5th President (1817-1825)
3. In the 2000 Election, George W. Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore, yet won the Electoral College. Three other presidents share this distinction of attaining the highest office in the land without the backing of the majority of the voters. Who are these three presidents?A: John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), Benjamin Harrison
4. Who was the first president to attend a Major League Baseball game?A: Benjamin 
Harrison, on 6-6-1892, and the game went into extra innings. He found it boring and never came back.
5. Who was the first president to throw out the season opening pitch?
Harrison, on 6-6-1892, and the game went into extra innings. He found it boring and never came back.A: William Howard Taft, 4-14-1910. Extra credit: What baseball player did he throw it to: Walter Johnson
"The first time I faced him (Walter Johnson) I watched him take that easy windup and then something went past me that made me flinch. The thing just hissed with danger. We couldn't touch him....every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park." - Ty Cobb6. Only one president since Taft has not thrown out a season opening pitch - who was that?
A: Jimmy Carter
7. Who was the first president to successfully throw the ball from the pitcher's mound all the way to the catcher?A: Bill Clinton - and surprisingly, Monica Lewinsky caught it for him.
8. Who was the first left-handed president to throw out the first pitch?A: Harry S. Truman (4-15-1946)
9. Much has been said about Barack Obama's middle name. What two men had already deleted their first names by the time they became president:Answer: Stephen Grover Cleveland and John Calvin Coolidge
11. What president was often heard singing "Daddy's Home" while in the White House shower?
A: Ulysses S. Grant
12. Who was the first president to attend a NASCAR race?A: None - every president has refused to attend since NASCAR started in 1955. OK, Ronald Reagan, July 4, 1984.
13. What president had only a letter for his middle name?A: Harry S. Truman - named for both of his grandfathers.
14. In 1812, George Clinton died in office, causing what first in American History?A: For the first time, the country was without a Vice President. No one noticed for 3 years.
15. You probably know the tallest US President (Abraham Lincoln, 6'4"). Who was the shortest president?A: James Madison (5'4" and less than 100 pounds) He was never photographed during his life wearing a tank helmet.
16. Grover Cleveland paid someone $150 so he, Cleveland, could take care of his mother and sisters. For what?
A: He was drafted in the Civil War but paid for a substitute to take his place.
17. William Henry Harrison (the ninth president) made the longest U.S. inaugural speech on record, March 4, 1841. What happened exactly one month later to the day?A: He died from pneumonia - he had made the speech in the snow.
18. Next: John Tyler, our 10th President, accomplished this rather amazing feat when he was in his 70s. What was it?A: He fathered his 15th child. He was sometimes called "his Accidency" because of the "devolved" duties. Interesting that one of Tyler's children died in 1847, the last in 1947.
19. William Howard Taft weighed over 300 lbs. What fixture in the White House did he have workmen replace?A: The bathtub, after he had become stuck. The new one could hold four full sized men - not that there is anything wrong with that -
Only Pam, Tricia, and Barry Howard were awarded a prize for their trivia knowledge. However, a good time was had by all, as seen in the following.
And at least Claudia and Ron demonstrated the proper respect for the Birthday Boy with their card:
However other cards were fun as well:
Finally, we offer a few unedited selected photos of guests having way too much fun:
Only Pam, Tricia, and Barry Howard were awarded a prize for their trivia knowledge. However, a good time was had by all, as seen in the following.
And at least Claudia and Ron demonstrated the proper respect for the Birthday Boy with their card:
However other cards were fun as well:
Finally, we offer a few unedited selected photos of guests having way too much fun:
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