A U.S. President’s State of the Union Address was always read by a court clerk rather than the man himself, until Woodrow Wilson took the helm in 1913.
Thomas Jefferson, who didn’t much care for public speaking, installed the rule, even though his two predecessors, Washington and Adams, preferred an audience.
Wilson, though Congress had a fit, said, why should his speech be heard by the American people in a flat, dull monotone, when the man who wrote it could and would, bring it to life?
It’s been the norm ever since.
Mr. Wilson is buried in the crypt at Washington’s National Cathedral.
Helen Keller, rests there as well.
Chicago’s nickname, The Windy City, has nothing to do with weather. Journalists, way back when, coined it that because it was filled with windbags….men full of hot air. It makes you think, many members of Congress might hail from Chicago.
The shell of an 
armadillo, such a cuddly fella, is bulletproof. It’s a pity they can’t enlist. Think of the money it would save.
Abraham Lincoln never slept in the Lincoln bedroom. Many of the Clinton’s heavy cashed campaign donors did, but not honest Abe. 
He actually penned the Emancipation Proclamation there, a fact you’d think would be more well known, then the Clinton’s cheesy manners. Oh well.
Speaking of Bubba, he and George H. W. Bush, both 6’2, are tied in fourth place as the 4 tallest presidents.
That’s all they had in common since, though not perfect, George never would have turned that bedroom into a Hyatt.
The other two tall guys were Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson who were 6’4, though Abe may have topped LBJ by a half inch.
Tom Hanks collects typewriters. 
Oprah has a bathtub in the shape of her body.
Elvis bought his first guitar at 11, and Graceland, when he was 22. I don’t know about you, but at 11, I was buying gum. 
Winston Churchill, who wrote by ear, was totally hairless, except for on his head. He loved swimming and taking baths, totally submerging, popping back up spurting water like a happy whale.
Speaking of hygiene, Napoleon liked his women so earthy, he forbid his wife, Josephine, to bathe. I’d certainly have a bone to pick with Mr. Bonaparte over that one. What would the neighbors, like Italy, think?
A group of owls is called, a parliament, the word itself meaning, to talk. Speaking of hooters (no, not that kind), Shakespeare coined the term, night owl, along with…all of a sudden, dead as a door nail and off with your head.
Jackie Kennedy had size 10 feet.
Actress, Christina Ricci, size 5. 
In 2013, Donald Trump sued comedian Bill Maher, for calling his father a monkey, then dropped the charges.
Did he come to realize his dad did bear a striking resemblance to Curious George, who is rather cute?
He’s never said.
The definition of Trivia is…details, considerations, or pieces of information of little importance or value.
What Webster left out was, how entertaining it all is. 🙂
SB
The origin of “Windy City” was new to me, and I didn’t know the armadillo was bulletproof. Reading this collection of trivia was lots of fun.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You and Skinny will be the ones who think so. My readership is at an all time low. What can a thin girl do when she’s so reluctant to self-promote. She merely writes for the privilege of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe people are reading and not commenting. I wouldn’t skip a post of yours for anything.
LikeLiked by 2 people
God Anne, you flatter me so. sigh
LikeLike
Please take it as admiration. You can still sigh over it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sighing loudly. Can you hear me from there? 🙂
LikeLike
Maybe the earthquake got in the way. A neighbor felt the quake, but we were oblivious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read about it. It’s good you were oblivious. On top of everything else, do you really need an earthquake?
LikeLike
I’ve never experienced a serious earthquake. I’ve only had fun ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Was there cake and punch?
LikeLike
No cake and no punch, but I was eating lunch during the last earthquake I experienced. My chair was doing a jig under me, and I noticed the hanging plants outside the office window were swinging merrily. That was a fun one.
LikeLike
It sounded like a party. Love the term…swinging merrily. 🙂
LikeLike
The others in the office joined me, all of us a bit excited about the quake. The plants were still swinging, so I guess it did turn into a party of sorts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s wonderful that you weren’t afraid.
LikeLike
There wasn’t time to be afraid. The quake was over before we had firmly identified what it was.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see, never having experienced one, I’m kind of happy to say, unless of course, I remember my mother who could shake the earth at a moment’s notice. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love trivia, Susannah. Keep it coming!
Maybe Napoleon didn’t have a sense of smell. And I want to see Oprah’s tub. I can’t imagine it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Think of the size , and the room it must be in. Marie Antoinette, opulence wise, had nothing on Miss. O. 🙂
LikeLike
I did not know any of this…I’m glad you wrote this ’cause it’s very interesting. I love trivia…fun stuff when it’s written by such clever author…that you are. Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Vasca, I do too.
LikeLike
A fun grouping of little known facts, Susannah. I love the pinball effect of your post as such action made it even more fun. I could see your literary flippers in motion to keep the ball in play. Well done. Have a super Sunday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure what you mean John, by the pinball effect of the post, but it sounds promising. Thanks for reading it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you think of each subject being surrounded by a bumper and then the discussion (ball) goes from one to the other without the need for a direct connection. The flippers like in a pinball game keep the discussion going. If you never played pinball then my metaphor is very confusing indeed. Yes very promising. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I’ve just, courtesy of you, learned something else. Thank you John. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Two thoughts … re: the windbags in Congress. For decades, Republicans have tried to limit the federal government. They finally figured the most effective way to do that. For the last dozen years, the representatives of the right-wing in Congress have simply refused to do anything. They have refused to lead, they have refused to govern. The only things they care about are tax cuts, that continue to squeeze the government, and appointing judges appointed by Republican Presidents. Beyond that, they simply don’t care.
And Napoleon … that is just … gross!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, one could easily throw tomatoes at Congress, though who’d want to waste them on such a selfish, self-absorbed group who’ve forgotten why they were elected. It’s a damned shame…and as far as that guy Napoleon goes, that was one helluva strange peccadillo he had…sniff, sniff. Thanks Mark, or do you spell it Marc? Forgive me for not knowing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spell it the right way. With a k. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mark. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s quite a fun collection of trivia, Susannah! I hope those armadillos aren’t being subjected to target practice by people trying to disprove that one.😲
LikeLike
What a chilling thought. Frankly, I know little about them so that tidbit piqued my interest. And they do look like little gladiators. I love learning things that have little importance to most, but again, pique an Eilene or a Susannah’s interest. Thanks, as always, for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve seen Oprah in a ski outfit in Aspen and gotta see that bathtub! LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe there’s a photo, on Google. She certainly is the woman who has everything. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Including Stedman. 😂
LikeLike
I forgot about him, though I’m not so sure he’s not just a titular presence in Ms O’s life. Always wanted to use that word. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bwahahaha! Never understood that relationship and always thought it was a convenient escort.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, well…it was before you can more or less date a zebra, and no one can say a thing about. She’s never really said what her sexual preference is, which is her right. I’m still a proponent of civil liberties with personal privacy attached, I don’t care what Ronan Farrow has to say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! To each is own so long as it’s decent and kind, I don’t give a flying rat’s hat if one is into 3 legged green midgets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or a Smurf…:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. There is no exception to the rule on Smurfs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very Democratic of you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha…I actually do subscribe to the ‘big tent’ theory but you gotta draw the line somewhere. I’m only human. 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
As we all are, even those we don’t like 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Grasshopper, you never disappoint. Hairless except for his head …. oh, I’m beyond fascinated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s true. Imagine him naked, like a big Pop and Fresh. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just read a book about him, and all the secretaries he had during the war. What they had to say about working for him. One of my favorites…one of them had her appendix out and was in the hospital. When Churchill learned of this he said…but can she still type? I know you’re howling.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha .. oh my god
LikeLiked by 2 people
They all liked him, but boy…was Whinnie a handful.
LikeLike
I love your trivia pieces (although based on your definition above, maybe I’d better say informational). I always learn something new. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Loved the State of the Union lore. Had just read a little book on Woodrow Wilson knowing very little about him, just that, he wouldn’t let Teddy go to war and that he remarried a woman who myth claims, may have ran the country after he had had a stroke. It sounds like a soap opera, doesn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person