Mr. Beat on Abraham Lincoln: America's Greatest President?

Mr. Beat teams up with Jared from The Daily Bell Ringer for an engaging deep dive into Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy. It’s fitting that this video was filmed in Springfield, Illinois, because Illinois is often known as the Land of Lincoln. After moving there with his family in 1830 at age 21, Lincoln settled in New Salem, then Springfield. He worked various jobs, taught himself law, served in the state legislature, practiced law, and launched his national political career from the state—making it central to his path to the presidency.

Watch the full video here [VIDEO]

In conclusion, Lincoln is considered one of America’s greatest presidents for preserving the Union, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, and ending slavery—demonstrating adaptability, moral growth, and extraordinary leadership in the nation’s darkest hours despite personal struggles and controversies. Jared (Daily Bell Ringer) emphasizes that Lincoln’s actions strengthened American democracy by showing that a government "of the people, by the people, for the people" could endure and expand freedom.

Thoughts?

Mr. Beat: How Every President Spent Their Retirement

 

[VIDEO] How did every president spend their retirement?

A few of them didn't get retirements as eight had died while in office. Someone like a James K. Polk has died a short time after leaving office - President Polk had the shortest retirement of any president.

Many had devoted their time to writing and speaking. And especially now many former Presidents stay active in someway. Being President is like a very special fraternity - well only men so far have been President - the current President has his predecssor Presidents to lean on.

Regardless after working such a stressful job for four years or longer, a President has earned their retirement once they leave office. Another fact noted the earlier Presidents lost money once they serve. The only recent reported example has been Donald Trump who is said to be a billionaire.

Either aren't you curious how every President has spent their retirement. Check out this recent vid by Mr. Beat.

Jimmy Carter - 39th POTUS R.I.P.

 The news broke on Sunday and there have been nothing but stories about it. Carter served as the 39th President of the United States between 1977 to 1981. In 1976, he was elected in light of the Watergate scandal as a change from the Nixon/Ford administrations. Then had to face the terrible economy of the late 1970s and was really brought down by the Iranian hostage crisis which resulted in his 1980 electoral loss to his successor Ronald Reagan.

His last public appearance was in a wheelchair in time for his 100th birthday, he didn't even appear to be conscious at that time. There were reports prior to that in terms of his condition and was noted by his son that he wasn't awake everyday.

He had been in hospice care for well over a year and about a year ago former first lady and wife Rosalyn Carter had passed away. That was his last formal appearance.

How many of you follow the X/Twitter account "How Many Days Until Jimmy Carter Turns 100?" At least the account was able to track Jimmy Carter to 100 years of age, however, not too long after that he passes away and this was the first time I heard about it.

Rest in peace, Mr. President https://t.co/K8go6A99cE

— How Many Days Until Jimmy Carter Turns 100? (@CarterTurns100) December 29, 2024

This is how the YouTube channel Biography remembers President Carter. [VIDEO]

I am too young to remember Carter's presidency, however, as a former President he was very active often seen working with Habitat for Humanity and even as a Sunday school teacher. 

He may not rank well with many of America's great or even above average Presidents, however, he was an all around decent man and that's how I remember him. I don't care about his politics or even what he had done as President. What allowed him to be a great man in general?

Grover Cleveland

 On Tuesday night, 45th President of the United States Donald Trump (2017-2021) became only the second man to have served one term, lost his re-election bid, and then get elected to yet another term as President. He defeated in a landslide Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday and was able to repeat his feat from 2016. Better still he not only wins in the Electoral College, he also wins handily in the popular vote - something he didn't do in 2016.

He shares this historical footnote with only one other man, his name is Grover Cleveland who was the 22nd (1885-1889) & 24th (1893-1897) President of the United States. Oh and an interesting footnote here, just as happened with Trump in 2016, Cleveland actually won the popular vote in 1892 and yet lost in the Electoral College to his successor Benjamin Harrison - the 23rd President (1889-1893).

Grover Cleveland

I'm sharing this most recent story I found this morning from Spectrum News. While it appears to have only been published to YouTube a day ago just from the way they were talking it had to have been produced before Election Day 2024. [VIDEO]

Inside the Oval Office - Presidential Secrets

 

[VIDEO] The history of the Oval Office has fascinated me. And this video from Beyond Facts will answer many questions about it.

The history of this office which was only first constructed in 1909 and was moved to it's current site much later. The history of the Resolute desk, secret compartments, redecorations, or even surveillance devices. As far as surveillance devices just think Richard Nixon and his use of making audio recordings in the oval office, and as we know now it got him in trouble. He resigned over it! 

Prager U: Could Zachary Taylor have PREVENTED the Civil War?

 

[VIDEO] In one of my classrooms in school there was a chart of all the president up to that point think about 1991 so that would be up to President George Herbert Walker Bush. Some of us may know about Thomas Jefferson, George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. However Zachary Taylor who was the 12th P.O.T.U.S. was one of the many really obscure Presidents.

One reason why is that he died in office very early in his presidency which only lasted from 1849 to 1850. John F. Kennedy probably would be comparable as he died almost three years into his presidency and already faced some major crises (think Cuban Missile Crisis) and he had a bold agenda which included landing men on the moon.

For Zachary Taylor he was one of the pre-Civil War presidents and well what's discussed in the above video with the narration by Professor Joseph Fornieri is whether or not he could've been able to prevent the Civil War. I do consider myself a history buff, however, it's hard for me to say.

Taylor was willing to deal with secessionists by executing them. He seemed very uncompromising when it comes to the balance between free & slave states. Then again he also held slaves himself, however, the argument is that he was willing to admit the territories as free states that he helped gain in the Mexican-American War as an Army General.

However, since within the midst of trying to bridge the divide in America at that time he passed away we'll never really know if he'd be able to prevent a Civil War. Historians can continue to speculate on whether or not the Civil War was inevitable.

Mr. Beat discusses every US President's favorite beverage

 

[VIDEO] Who knew that Obama preferred tea over coffee and liked beer - even had some brewed in the White House. Who knew that Donald Trump was a "teetotaler" and liked to drink Diet Coke. Also who knew that our current President Joe Biden also was a teetotaler and also preferred not to drink any alcohol. Biden also likes Gatorade and as most of the men who held the office of the President likes a cup of coffee.

If I ever become president we can add an Arnold Palmer, lemonade mixed with iced tea. That's awesome now if I could make my own.....

Mr. Beat: The Iceberg Presidential Facts Chart

 

[VIDEO] Today is President's Day and it is more than appropriate to share Mr. Beat's recent video about the Iceberg of Presidential Fact. It's a bit of a metaphor and it uses a chart with an iceberg background to categorize these fact. The metaphor is to show that most of an iceberg is below the surface of an ocean and therefore perhaps most of these facts might be unknown to the general public.

What facts in this almost 23 min. video surprised you the most?

As an aside, I'm very sorry that I failed to mark President Abraham Lincoln's birthday which was observed last Monday, February 13, 2023 although it's actually on February 12th. I had to look it up!

Come to think of it President George Washington was born on February 22 so in a couple of days another Presidential Birthday.

Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday we know as Presidents' Day. Of course according to Wikipedia it's still Washington's Birthday in Illinois and nine other states. Lincoln's Birthday is a holiday in Illinois and eleven other states.

I never appreciated these holidays when I was still in school. It was a day off from school and I liked that! 

Mr. Beat on Dwight Eisenhower

 

[VIDEO] One of Mr. Beat's videos discusses the 34th POTUS Dwight David Eisenhower. He's known for being one of the many five-star generals of the second World War. He was in command of the Allied forces that landed on Normandy Beach in France. He was elected President of the United States in 1952 served between 1953 to 1961.

He was the President during the start of the Cold War against the communist Soviet Union. He addressed issues of Civil Right as president sending federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to integrate the public schools. It was under him that the Interstate Highway system was first constructed. His presidency proved to be a stabilizing influence in a critical time.

Of course how he to to where he was from his humble roots in Kansas to going to West Point to his career in the US Army and then his presidency. Very fascinating look.

Mr. Beat: Every presidents biggest accomplishments

 

[VIDEO] Well did you know a President of the United States paid off the national debt? Did you know that George Washington established in effect the role of the Presidency and his importance in our gov't? And even some of America's worst presidents have their own accomplishments even if they weren't able to accomplish much.

This is what Mr. Beat discusses in his latest video of all 45 POTUS'. Including our current POTUS Joe Biden, of course even he admits it's hard to remain unbiased with a currently serving President. Although Mr. Beat noted the withdrawal from Afghanistan while also stating that he recognizes that it didn't quite go very well.

I hope you learn something new here.

Mr. Beat: Which Presidents are related?

 

[VIDEO] This video actually dropped last Friday. If you hadn't had enough Mr. Beat he's doing a livestream today on President's Day with another YouTuber as far as ranking all of America's Presidents.

In this above video, he's listing the many ways that Presidents are related to each other. So these presidents are in some way distantly related to each other, think distant cousins. Some are closely related to others and no I'm not even talking about fathers and sons who became president or even grandfather and grandson.

If you want to know George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were father and son. So was John Adams and John Quincy Adams. William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison were grandfather and grandson.

Also another known fact Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt were fifth cousins.

However, if you want to know the relationships to our various Presidents watch the video. Another fact extrapolated from this video many of our presidents can claim as an ancestor English King John I. Indeed many Presidents can claim an ancestor from Royalty.

This day Feb 21st is a federal holiday President's Day. However in the state of Illinois this is a holiday known as Washington's Birthday. Earlier this month another state holiday is Lincoln's Birthday.

Mr. Beat presents: Every Presidents favorite food

 

[VIDEO] Perhaps you might want to try some of these yourself. I wouldn't mind pickled herring - the favorite meal of Grover Cleveland the 22nd and 24th President - although I hardly see that in a grocery store. And maybe some "hoe cakes" which is the favorite food of our 1st President George Washington. Oh and I almost forgot if it wasn't for our 3rd President Thomas Jefferson we wouldn't have another popular American dish mac & cheese something he discovered overseas.

Perhaps some of you have your own favorite dishes to share.

Sorry to throw this in at the end, but who knew that the 26th President Theodore Roosevelt liked fried chicken. Check out the kind of meals he liked and what was served for a birthday during his time in office.