Today in American history…John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917.

He was (and remains) the youngest U.S. President to be elected when he became our 35th President on January 20, 1961.

Today in American history…Julia Ward Howe was born on May 27, 1819 in New York City. She was an American poet and author who wrote the lyrics to The Battle Hymn of the Republic which was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in February 1862.

She was inspired to write the lyrics to The Battle Hymn of the Republic after meeting President Lincoln at The White House in November 1861. The song was inspired by the popular song “John Brown’s Body” and she changed the lyrics that were set to the music of William Steffe.

Today in American history…the colorful and exuberant Dolley Madison was born on May 20, 1768 in New Garden (renamed Greensboro), North Carolina. She is often credited with being the ultimate Washington hostess and before she was even First Lady – she assisted with hosting functions during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. One of the best things she is known for (besides her fun hair decorations, colorful clothing and fun parties!) was her heroic actions in saving George Washington’s portrait from The White House.

In a letter to her sister on August 23, 1814, she wrote:

“…Our kind friend Mr. Carroll has come to hasten my departure, and in a very bad humor with me, because I insist on waiting until the large picture of General Washington is secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall. The process was found too tedious for these perilous moments; I have ordered the frame to be broken and the canvas taken out …”

The British attacked and burned The White House in 1814 but because of her bravery, we still can view this infamous painting today at The White House.

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Today in American history…Andrew Johnson married Eliza McCardle on May 17, 1827. He was 18 and she was 16 years old when they were married in the small town of Warrenton, Tennessee.

Andrew and Eliza were wed by a local justice of the peace, Mordecai Lincoln. How ironic in that Mordecai was a relative of Abraham Lincoln – which some years later, would have such a huge impact on their lives.

Eliza Johnson was known to have had a calming effect on her husband – especially during the trying times of his troubled presidency.

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Today is National Chocolate Chip Day. Here is a delicious recipe from former First Lady Laura Bush’s own personal recipe collection.

Beginning in 1992, Family Circle magazine has organized a political bake-off during every presidential election year. It was already a popular thing for the presidential candidates wives to release their family recipes during the campaign to help them become more relatable to the voters. Family Circle magazine then decided to “up the ante” by publishing cookie recipes from the wives of each presidential candidate and asked their readers to try baking both and then vote on their favorite cookie.

It’s interesting that the results of the bake-off have almost always predicted the winner of the presidential election – except for a minor few.

Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookie was in competition with Tipper Gore’s Ginger Snap cookie during the 2000 presidential election and won!

and well…the rest is history 🍪

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Today in American history…George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia to Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. He once reflected on his mother by saying, “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”

George Washington served two terms as the first President of the United States from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797 and has been famously referred to as the “Father of our Nation” for his distinguished leadership in the formative days of our new country.

“Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” — George Washington

(Paintings by Gilbert Stuart)

Louisa Adams was born February 12, 1775. Did you know that she was the very first First Lady to be born in a foreign country? She was born and raised in London. She met her husband, John Quincy Adams, while he was serving as the U.S. Minister in London and they were married in London on July 26, 1797.

Today in American history…Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. He is truly my personal favorite in that I’ve always admired his strength and tenacity to succeed. Coming from humble beginnings and born in a log cabin in Kentucky, he taught himself at a young age to read and write. He would eventually become a famous lawyer, served a term as a US Representative from Illinois (1847-1849) and then as our 16th US President (1861-1865).

Mary Todd Lincoln quite often made a “white cake” for Abraham Lincoln while they were courting and it was one of his favorites after they were married. She made it for special holidays and especially his birthday. It was also served on their table at their home in Springfield, Illinois for a reception on the evening he was first elected to the Presidency. So, I like to imagine they would have had it today as well – to celebrate his birthday.

Here is a recipe from the book, Lincoln’s Table, by Donna D. McCreary and was adapted by Janice Cooke Newman. We’ve enjoyed making it several times and it’s something you can even make in your own kitchen. How wonderful for us to be able to enjoy something the same way Abraham Lincoln once did.

Happy Birthday, Mr President!

Mary Todd Lincoln’s White Cake

Ingredients
1 Cup blanched almonds, chopped in a food processor until they resemble a coarse flour
1 Cup butter
2 Cups sugar
3 Cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 Cup milk
6 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
confectionary sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt cake pan.
Cream butter and sugar. Sift flour and baking powder 3 times. Add to creamed butter and sugar, alternating with milk. Stir in almonds and beat well.

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into the batter. Stir in vanilla extract.

Pour into prepared pan and and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Turn out on a wire rack and cool. When cool, sift confectionary sugar over top.

A basic white frosting sprinkled with almonds was also popular.

Today in American history…William Henry Harrison was born in on February 9, 1773 in Charles City County, Virginia.

Some of his lifetime achievements were:

First Governor of the Indiana Territory January 10, 1801 – December 28, 1812

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio‘s First District October 8, 1816 – March 3, 1819

Member of the Ohio Senate (Hamilton County) 1819–1821

U.S. Senator from Ohio March 4, 1825 – May 20, 1828

U.S. Minister to Gran Colombia May 24, 1828 – September 26, 1829

He was our 9th US President and unfortunately has the distinction of serving the shortest Presidency (March 4 – April 4, 1841) due to becoming ill and passing away shortly after his inauguration.

He was the very first President to die in office.

William Henry Harrison also holds the record of having the longest inauguration speech of 8,445 words which took nearly 2 hours to read!