The President's One Big Mistake

In the past year I have learned a lot about William Henry Harrison. For years I told people he was our most perfect president, “he only made one mistake while in office, he went to his own inauguration.” The fact is that Thursday, March 4, 1841 was a very cold day. Sixty-eight year old “Tippecanoe” did not wear a hat, overcoat, or gloves, and stood outside to deliver the longest inauguration speech on record. As a result he caught pneumonia and died thirty-one days into his term of office.

William Henry Harrison Inauguration 

Quite by accident this year, my family has traveled in the areas where William Henry Harrison lived. He was born at Berkeley Plantation between Williamsburg and Richmond, Virginia in 1773. He was the son of Benjamin Harrison V, a Burgess who signed the Declaration of Independence and participated in the ratification of the Constitution. The Harrison family was well acquainted with national leaders of his day, and William Henry Harrison personally knew every man who served as President of the United States before him. He was the ninth President of the United States.

Berkeley Plantation in Virginia

William Henry Harrison served a distinguished career in the military, served as the first governor of Indiana Territory, defeated Tecumseh at the battle of Tippecanoe, served in the United States House of Representatives. the United States Senate and as foreign minister to Columbia where he worked to point president Simón Bolívar, toward formation of a democracy. We visited Grouseland, Harrison’s home in Vincennes, Indiana this year in our travels, which holds many mementos of this remarkable man.

Grouceland Plantation in Indiana

Today is William Henry Harrison’s Birthday. If he were alive it would be number 245. I will be attending a wreath hanging ceremony in North Bend, Ohio. Tomorrow I hope to post some pictures from the event.

Our Most Perfect President

For years I have told people our most perfect president was William Henry Harrison. Teasingly I tell them that he only made one mistake during his term in the White House .... he did not wear a hat to his inauguration. It was cold and he caught pneumonia and died about a month after taking office. This man, known as Tippecanoe, spoke for an hour and forty five minutes on the cold day, the longest inauguration speech on record, He was also the oldest president until Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

William Henry Harrison built a home near North Bend, Ohio

After years of talking about the man, I decided to learn something about him. William Henry Harrison is buried in the county where my oldest daughter goes to school, Hamilton County, Ohio. Four of our presidents have ties to this area: William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati; Ulysses S. Grant was born one county east; William Henry Harrison is buried in North Bend; and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was born in Hamilton, County. Because I am interested in history, I have visited sites related to these men when I visit my daughter.

William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati

My visit to the gravesite of William Henry Harrison occurred on a cold day in March of last year. We attempted to visit a museum near his home first, but the facility was closed. It seems the curator was on vacation in Europe (I know because I wrote to ask why the museum was closed during opened hours). We went on to the grave, which is close to where he built his home. It was an enjoyable day seeing the countryside and learning a bit about the man who served as our president for thirty-one days.

Tippecanoe built a home with a view!!

When I inquired about why the museum was closed, the people I talked to told me about a wreath hanging program instituted by Gerald Ford when he was president. Every year a president’s birthday, a representative of the current president hangs a wreath at the grave site. I decided to visit the tomb of Tippecanoe once again this year to participate in the ceremony. The event happens on February 9.

Of Presidents and Royalty

Today the baton passes from Barack Hussein Obama to Donald John Trump. With the changing of the guard we will see differences in rhetoric, communication style and outward focus on the public side of Washington. Away from public view, because of the bureaucracy, some things will remain same.

Program near the steps of the Capitol in Washington, DC

Eight years ago I looked at the name of our President: Barack Hussein Obama. Barack is Hebrew for blessing (or lightning), Hussein is Arabic for a good or beautiful child. It is also a name for kings, such as the King of Jordan and former king of Iraq. Obama is a family name.

Parade in Washington, DC

Our new President also has an interesting name, Donald John Trump. Donald from the Gaelic Domhnall means ruler of the world. John or Johannan comes from the Hebrew word (יוֹחָנָן) God has graced. Our new President’s last name is a shortened form of an occupational term, Trumpeter. This is appropriate because twittering can be seen as a different form of trumpeting.

Constitution Hall in Philadelphia, PA

Today in Washington D.C. we transition from the reign of “Lightning beautiful child Obama” to the ascendancy of the “Trumpeter who is by the grace of God a Ruler of the World.”

Statue of Liberty welcomes immigrants to the USA

So, what will the administration of Donald John Trump look like? I borrow a line from Fiddler on the Roof, “I tell you, I don’t know.” For the time being I just observe. In four years we will know, and in fifty years historians will decide what “really” happened during Trump’s tenure.

What a fractured world looks like from World Trade Center

One thing we do know (and that we have already seen), promises will be broken. This is true of all Presidents. They can not be blamed, especially a man like Donald Trump, for he comes with no experience in government. And even if he had experience, there is no way to anticipate future events which will torment or bless his dynasty.

Festival on the Mall in Washington DC

A second thing which our new President will discover is that the office of the President changes a person. Contrast the philosophies of Barack Obama eight years ago with what we see in him today, there is change. This can be said of any President. During each year of our President Trump’s sovereignty we will see changing strategy. And if his hairdresser does not mess with it, we will see the graying of the hair which comes with wisdom.

Changing of seasons in the mountains

My prayer for our new President is that he will bring to pass the self-evident truth “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” By this I mean that all people: Black, White or Brown; Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Agnostic or Atheist; Rich or Poor, Democrat, Republican or Libertarian; Inner City, Suburban or Rural, will come to have value.

A street in New York City

The scripture tells us, “When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)

The President should defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and love the foreigner residing among within our land. (Dt. 10:18)  He should guard the common laborer and make sure they receive a fair wage “because they are poor and are counting on it.” Our bankruptcy laws should be overhauled to make sure workmen and small business owners are always paid for work performed. (Sorry about the rant but too many Christians have told me there was no problem with Donald Trump’s declaration of bankruptcies in order not to pay small businesses because the law allows it). “Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” (Dt. 24:15) The President (and all of his men) should not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false testimony or send wrongful tweets. (Exodus 20)

Lincoln Monument and Reflecting Pool in Washington DC

We are to “be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1) and submit to the king as the supreme authority.” (1 Peter 2:13) Paul wrote, “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Many approach the next four years with great hope. Others move forward in great trepidation. I pray that in the end we will find unity, prosperity and peace.