Fourth of July Fun Facts

Amaze your family and friends while celebrating the 4th of July with these interesting American facts:

Independence Day Facts
- The first public 4th of July event at the White House occurred in 1804.
- Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
- In 1941 Congress declared the 4th of July a federal legal holiday.
- The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more that six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have resulted in their deaths.
- On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution.
- Malia Obama, George Steinbrenner, Neil Simon, Ron Kovic and Calvin Coolidge were all born on the Fourth of July.
- In 1845: Henry David Thoreau moved into his shack on Walden Pond on Independence Day.
- July 4, 1942 U.S. air offensive against Nazi, Germany
- Lyndon Johnson signed the Freedom of Information Act on July 4, 1966.
- Approximately 150 million hot dogs are consumed on this day.
- The song "Yankee Doodle" was sung originally by British officers making fun of backwoods Americans.

Presidential Facts
- Before he became President, Lyndon Johnson was a teacher at a small school in South Texas.
- Before Woodrow Wilson became President, he was president of Princeton University.
- James Garfield was the only President who previously was a preacher.
- George Washington’s teeth were actually made from elephant and walrus tusks as opposed to wood.
- John Adams was the first president to live in the White House.
- James Madison was the smallest President standing at 5 feet and 4 inches and weighing 100 pounds.
- Andrew Jackson was the first President to ride in a train.
- Martin Van Buren was the first President born an American Citizen.
- Ulysses S. Grant was given a $20 speeding ticket while riding in a horse drawn carriage.
- James Garfield could write with both hands at the same time in different languages.
- William McKinley was the first President to use campaign buttons.
- Warren G. Harding gambled away a set of Whit House china.
- George Bush (senior) survived 4 plane crashes during World War II.
- Gerald Ford held his daughter’s High School prom in the White House.