The winds of change will sweep through the halls of The White House, Washington and the World, when the next American presidential inauguration occurs on January 20th, 2009. Upon that day Barack Obama will take the oath of office and be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America.
The first president, George Washington, was inaugurated in New York on April 30, 1789. While watching the following YouTube video I was fascinated not by the faces I recognised, but by the names and faces of those I didn’t.
The other factor that scared me is that come the 20th I may boast being around for ¼ of them
From George Washington To Barack Obama – A Long Way
01 Washington, George (1789-1797)
02 Adams, John (1797-1801)
03 Jefferson, Thomas (1801-1809)
04 Madison, James (1809-1817)
05 Monroe, James (1817-1825)
06 Adams, John Quincy (1825-1829)
07 Jackson, Andrew (1829-1837)
08 Van Buren, Martin (1837-1841)
09 Harrison, William Henry (1841)
10 Tyler, John (1841-1845)
11 Polk, James Knox (1845-1849)
12 Taylor, Zachary (1849-1850)
13 Fillmore, Millard (1850-1853)
14 Pierce, Franklin (1853-1857)
15 Buchanan, James (1857-1861)
16 Lincoln, Abraham (1861-1865)
17 Johnson, Andrew (1865-1869)
18 Grant, Ulysses S. (1869-1877)
19 Hayes, Rutherford Birchard (1877-1881)
20 Garfield, James Abram (1881)
21 Arthur, Chester Alan (1881-1885)
22 Cleveland, Grover (1885-1889)
23 Harrison, Benjamin (1889-1893)
24 Cleveland, Grover (1893-1897)
25 McKinley, William (1897-1901)
26 Roosevelt, Theodore (1901-1909)
27 Taft, William Howard (1909-1913)
28 Wilson, Woodrow (1913-1921)
29 Harding, Warren Gamaliel (1921-1923)
30 Coolidge, Calvin (1923-1929)
31 Hoover, Herbert Clark (1929-1933)
32 Roosevelt, Franklin Delano (1933-1945)
33 Truman, Harry (1945-1953)
34 Eisenhower, Dwight David (1953-1961)
35 Kennedy, John Fitzgerald (1961-1963)
36 Johnson, Lyndon Baines (1963-1969)
37 Nixon, Richard Milhous (1969-1974)
38 Ford, Gerald Rudolph (1974-1977)
39 Carter, James Earl Jr. (1977-1981
40 Reagan, Ronald Wilson (1981-1989)
41 Bush, George Herbert Walker (1989-1993)
42 Clinton, William Jefferson (1993-2001)
43 Bush, George Walker (2001- )
44 Barack Hussein Obama II (President Elect)
Thanks for sharing that I really enjoyed it. The transition to Nixon’s face really gave me the creeps! I almost booed at my computer screen!!
that is a fabulous picture montage, I loved the way the faces (and eyes) would turn and change and give you the next person. It really does make Obama’s face look quite striking. (that first picture that showed teeth was very odd!!)
Aww thanks for making me feel like an ‘old fart’ . I just wish they’d stop toting him as the next JFK. A lot of hope lies in his administration.
@JL – Some of those changes were creepy.
@Sam – That first smiling face seemed so out of place, and a few others were real ‘There’s a camera!’ smiles!
@Baino – You are a young chicken compared to me!
Grannymar,
Nice one!
It’s fascinating to note the change in facial hair trends over the years.
First, sideburns were all the rage, then beards, then moustaches until finally, the clean shaven look won over.
I can’t see Obama sporting a beard while in office, can you?
Now we can all be presidential anoraks and learn them all…and then help out the quiz team….
But why Ravel?
As for the JFK comparison…. I agree that it’s unfortunate for many reasons not to be iterated here. The pessimism and cynic in me make me fearful for/of what will happen….. the optimist is ever hopeful.
There are too many entrenched interests in the USA for much to really change…..money talks.
Sorry to be a party pooper but, Hey he’s a good guy..and young!
Steph,
I saw somewhere on the blogs the other day a question ‘I wonder if Obama will wear a hat?’ You know I think it would suit him.
Magpie,
He has come a very long way in a very short time. He presents himself well and can speak with conviction. I only wish we had a few like him in government closer to home!
Hopefully it won’t be long before he stops being seen as the first black president or the new JFK and just becomes a widely loved and admired national leader alongside the best of his predecessors.
Nick I agree. He needs to be allowed to put his own stamp on the office of President.
I am so hopeful it hurts.
stwidgie
I think we are all willing him to succeed!
Being born three months before JFK was inaugurated, Obama will be my eleventh US President – like you, one quarter of the total!
Ian,
I have my sums wrong! 🙁
Harry Trueman was in the hot seat when I arrived during the bitter winter of ’47. At this stage I have lived through the terms of 11 US Presidents.
I’ve got fingers crossed for BO, GM but I have many reservations.
XO
WWW
I couldn’t access your blog for several days, glad whatever needed fixing got fixed….
WWW,
The Grannymar family were changing Hosting plans within house and my site took a little longer to settle since it never sleeps. A few people were knocked out for a day or three. I do apologise.
You know what’s amazing? They only smile after the 1940’s… once Truman started it they all followed suit! The smile renaissance?
Long live Obama!
It’s a brilliant video. It’s both inspiring and very sad to see that colour change at the end. A great moment in US history, but one that should never have taken this long.
@K8 – That first smile was a bit of a shock and a few of the others were a bit ‘cheesy’. Barak’s looks natural, he has an open face and I wish him well with all my heart.
@Darren – Our own Island, small and all as it is, has some prejudices to deal with. Lets hope we learn from this Election.
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