HISTORIC INAUGURATION DAY AND A LITTLE QUIZ

On this historic day when President Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States I thought I would set one of my little quizzes just for a bit of fun.

But first my thoughts today are influenced by the fact that my oldest friend is a black Jamaican. I remember very well that when we first met 46 years ago the USA was a very different place. I think that as well as congratulating President Obama on his achievement we should congratulate the American people on their long  journey since those dark days of the 1960s. 

I have a suspicion that George W. Bush will not be judged as harshly by history as he is today. He was dealt a very difficult hand to play with and made some poor decisions. But the fact that he brought African Americans into high office might be seen in a hundred years time as a defining moment in American history. 

Now the USA has a new charismatic leader with a crushing weight of expectation on his shoulders. 

President Barack Obama has an almost impossible tasks in front of him, but so did many American leaders in the past from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

We can only wish him well. 

The Questions:

1] Who was the only American President for whom English was not his first language?

2] Who was the only American President who died outside the United States, and was not officially mourned in Washington?

3] Which American President are these quotes referring to:

'May God give our country leaders as faithful, as wise, as noble in spirit as the one whom we now mourn.'

'a majestic figure who stood like a rock of consistency'

'He taught us the power of brotherliness'

''It is believed to be the most remarkable demonstration in American history of affection, respect , and reverence for the dead.'

No prizes but hopefully it might take your minds off the dire economic situation for a few minutes.