Presidents I have (so far) survived

Hi neighbors. Monday is President's Day. Remembering past presidents is a good way to enjoy a hot cup of coffee. It is also a good test of your memory to spend a little time comparing presidents and how we remember them.

The first president I remember was Dwight Eisenhower who served from 1953 through 1961. These were the years I was a child and we were living in Kansas. I guess if I had to sum up my impression of the "Ike" years, I'd use one word -- safe.

I think everyone felt safe and strong when Ike was the president. How much this was related to him as a man, and how much it simply reflected the post-war relief I can't guess.

Next came John F. Kennedy, better known as "JFK" or "John." He was in office from 1961 to 1963. Not very long historically speaking, but it seems a lot of my pre-teen and early teen memories revolve around him. For all the pomp and references to "Camelot" I think my memories of JFK involve the word "fear" more than any other single word.

When he was up for election my mother and several other neighbors talked about what the biblical predictions might be about a Catholic president. They all liked Kennedy a lot, but were afraid the election of a Catholic president would bring on the end of the world. Since I was pretty young at the time, and had very little interest in politics, I remember more of the end of the world talk than anything else.

In retrospect, I'm not certain if the neighbors thought we were doomed because he was Catholic or because he had red hair. One or the other of those conditions was certain to bring about the end of the world in my neighborhood's eyes anyway.

I remember being afraid a lot when JFK was in office. I remember being afraid of Communists launching "end of the world" nuclear attacks. When he was killed, I remember thinking the entire government might fold and we'd end up defenseless and invaded overnight by Russian paratroopers.

Next was President Lyndon B. Johnson, "LBJ." He was in office from 1963 to 1969. At the time he "saved us from anarchy" by stepping up to the plate after JFK was killed. He seemed to be a lot like Ike. He played golf, had dogs, his wife, who had a cute name "Ladybird" seemed friendly and they barbecued a lot.

Richard M. Nixon came along next and was president from 1969 through 1974 when he "resigned from office." He was the first president I experienced that made me start to doubt my own government and begin to realize there was a lot about our government that never was shown on the five o'clock news.

Next came president Ford and frankly I don't remember a lot about him. History says he was the first president not elected by the people. He became vice-president after Spiro Agnew resigned and then became president when Richard Nixon resigned. He always looked good, though. I remember that. That's probably due to the fact he was a male model before being a politician. He was in office from 1974 through 1977.

James Carter, Jr. came next. "Jimmy" Carter and his infamous brother who made and sold beer were in office from 1977 through 1981. I remember I didn't like "Jimmy" very well because he smiled too much.

Ronald Reagan was president from 1981 to 1989. Many liked him because they liked most of his movies. To me he seemed like a nice man who seemed to surprise people when he talked about serious things. I never understood his "trickle down" economics theory.

Next came George "Poppy" Bush, later known as "Daddy Bush" who was president 1989 to 1993. I don't remember anything significant about the man himself other than he called Clinton "wishy-washy" during their presidential debates.

William J. Clinton, 1993 to 2001. My, my, my. I think "embarrassing" would be the best single word to describe what I remember about "Bill." I think I'd sum him up as "shifty." And that brings us to George Bush's baby boy. George W. Bush, current president of the country. Yes, folks, he is only president of one country.

It might seem difficult for us to remember that sometimes as it often seems impossible for him to keep that in mind.

Until the next time friends remember; President's Day is a day to reflect on all the presidents past and president. You might want to see what you remember about each of these men's personalities while you sip your coffee this morning.