I wanted to publish some presidential nicknames I've come across in the biographies I've read so far. I owe a debt of gratitude to Wikipedia for jogging my memory on some of the more obscure names.
Of note, Andrew Jackson (Old Hickory) inspired the nicknames of two later presidents; James Polk (Young Hickory) and Franklin Pierce (Young Hickory of the Granite Hills). Jackson's tough guy populism made him a kind of Ronald Reagan figure for the next generation, with many candidates claiming to be his legacy.
Five of the first 22 presidents' nicknames were preceded by 'Old', showing a trend where the second and third generation of Americans wanted to be less known as revolutionary and known more for being established.
I think that my personal favorite nickname remains 'The Careful Dutchman' (Van Buren) closely followed by John Quincy Adams (Old Man Eloquent).
Here's the list:
Washington:
The American Cincinnatus
The Survivor of Monongahela (used mostly during the revolution)
Adams:
The Duke of Braintree
King John the Second
Jefferson:
The Sage of Monticello
The Negro President (for his victory in the election of 1800 since he won because of the 3/5's compromise)
Mad Tom
Madison:
Little Jemmy (he was only 5'4'')
His Little Majesty
Monroe:
Nothing too creative
John Quincy Adams:
Old Man Eloquent
Andrew Jackson:
Old Hickory
The Hero of New Orleans
Van Buren:
The Careful Dutchman
The Little Magician
Old Kinderhook (O.K)
Martin Van Ruin (by his Whig opponents)
Harrison:
Old Tippecanoe
Tyler:
His Accidency
Polk:
Young Hickory
Zachary Taylor:
Old Rough and Ready
Millard Fillmore:
The American Louis Phillepe
Franklin Pierce:
Young Hickory of the Granite Hills
James Buchanon:
Ten-Cent Jimmie (because he once said a man should be able to live on 10 cents a day)
Abraham Lincoln:
The Rail Splitter
Andrew Johnson:
The Tennessee Tailor
U.S. Grant:
Unconditional Surrender Grant
Rutherford B. Hayes:
Granny Hayes
James Garfield:
Boatman Jim
Chester Arthur:
Gentleman Boss
Walrus
Grover Cleveland:
The Hangman of Buffalo
Jumbo
4/10/11
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