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President Obama used to play basketball, and the nickname goes all the way back to his high school years. Apparently, Obama earned it due to his jump shot.
Arkansas columnist Paul Greenberg nicknamed Clinton 'Slick Willie' in 1980 for his political views. Bill Clinton is also known as “The Comeback Kid” after bouncing back up in the 1992 New Hampshire primary.
This nickname was given to Bush by his high school classmate, and liberal columnist, Molly Ivins.
Trump had numerous nicknames, many of which were self-bestowed by the president himself. These include “The Donald” (given by his ex-wife, the late Ivana Trump), and the self-professed “Honest Don.”
The nickname was coined by Donald Trump and used by Biden’s opponents during the 2020 election. Another nickname for Joe Biden is “Amtrak Joe,” which he got because he commuted by train every day between Washington D.C. and Delaware.
Sources: (Mental Floss)
The nickname was given to president Raegan by Democratic congresswoman Patricia Schroeder because, apparently, no criticism or blame would ever seem to stick to him. “I got the idea of calling President Reagan the ‘Teflon president’ while fixing eggs for my kids. He had a Teflon coat like the pan,” wrote Schroeder in 2004.
The derogatory nickname stems from a Democratic Party ad for the 1950 U.S. Senate election in California. The ad read: "Look at 'Tricky Dick' Nixon's Republican Record."
Jimmy Carter earned this nickname because, indeed, he owned a peanut farm.
George H. W. Bush was named after his grandfather, so he was known as “Little Pop.” After his son became POTUS, Bush earned a number of other nicknames, including “Papa Bush,” “Bush 41,” and “Bush Senior,” to name a few.
LBJ was known for walking around the White House turning off unnecessary lights, earning him the nickname “Light-Bulb Lyndon.”
“Junie” was president Ford’s childhood nickname. He was also known as the “President Nice Guy.”
FDR was given the nickname by journalists and cartoonists because of his secrecy about whether or not he’d run for a third term in 1940. In 1939, Roosevelt was presented with an actual Sphinx statue with a caricature of his face at the annual Gridiron Dinner for White House correspondents.
JFK had a number of nicknames. In Sweden, for instance, he was known as the “American Erlander,” because of his friendship with Prime Minister Tage Erlander. Other nicknames included “Little Blue Boy” (given to him by Dwight D. Eisenhower) and the not-so-nice “Rat Face” when he was a schoolboy.
The nickname and campaign slogan originates from an event during the 1948 presidential campaign. While delivering a speech, Truman criticized the Republicans. A supporter in the crowd shouted, "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" Truman responded, "I don't give them Hell. I just tell the truth about them, and they think it's Hell."
President Eisenhower’s nickname derives from his campaign slogan: "I like Ike."
President Coolidge was a man of few words. He didn’t speak frequently, hence the nickname.
Herbert Hoover’s first known nickname was “The Chief,” which he earned as a young geologist surveying in the Australian Outback. “The Great Engineer” came after his flood control work in the Mississippi in 1927.
President Taft was a big man, and many of his nicknames made reference to that fact, including “Big Bill,” “Big Chief,” and “Big Lub.” The unassuming nickname “Sleeping Beauty” was given to Taft by his wife Helen because apparently, the president was constantly falling asleep.
“Coiner of Weasel Words” was a nickname given to president Wilson by Theodore Roosevelt in a speech.
President Harding was given this nickname because of his indecisiveness, for sitting on the fence on a number of issues, and for changing sides.
Roosevelt got this nickname when he traveled to the West in 1900. The president had small telescopes installed on all his rifles to compensate for his thick glasses, as a way to enhance his long-distance shooting ability.
The nickname was given to him by then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt over the president’s reluctance in going to war with Spain over Cuba in 1898.
At 250 pounds (113 kg), Steven Grover Cleveland was a big man. He earned this nickname when he became governor of New York in 1882. President Cleveland was also known as “Stuffed Prophet” and “His Obstinacy” (for vetoing many bills).
Benjamin Harrison was the grandson of the 9th president William Henry Harrison. Apparently, he earned the nickname because Democratic cartoonists depicted him standing beside or wearing an oversized version of his grandfather's beaver hat. Additionally, Republicans supported him through a campaign song titled "Grandfather’s Hat Fits Ben."
President Buchanan earned his derogatory nickname after stating that 10 cents a day was a fair salary for manual workers.
The rather unflattering nickname was earned because Hayes reportedly stole the campaign of 1876.
Lincoln had a number of nicknames. One of them came from the fact that Abe Lincoln was actually a wrestler, and a pretty good one too!
Chester A. Arthur’s dapper sense of style earned him the nickname “Dude President.” Arthur was also called "America’s First Gentleman."
When Garfield was a teenager, he worked on the canal boats transporting goods from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, hence the nickname. It turns out, he was not cut out for it. Garfield reportedly fell overboard 14 times in just six weeks.
Grant earned this nickname after capturing Fort Donelson in Tennessee in 1862. Another nickname earned thanks to his Civil War efforts was “Great Hammerer.”
Despite being a general, Taylor was always eager to join his troops in battle, a quality that earned him the nickname "Old Rough and Ready."
The nickname derives from the fact that Fillmore was a wool carder apprentice when he was a teenager.
Andrew Johnson took office after Lincoln’s assassination. He was given the nickname due to his exercise of that authority during those turbulent times. Johnson was also known as "Tennessee Tailor," due to his former profession.
There are different theories as to why Pierce earned his nickname. One theory is that the nickname was given to him by his friends. Other points to his wealth. Another theory simply says that the president pronounced his name “Pierce” like “Purse.” And another theory links the president’s nickname with his involvement in the Gadsden Purchase, where the US bought land from Mexico.
John Tyler was William Henry Harrison’s VP. The nickname “His Accidency” was given to him when he took office after Harrison’s death.
Andrew Jackson’s fighting tactics earned him the nickname "Sharp Knife." President Jackson was also known as" Old Hickory," for his readiness to endure combat alongside his troops.
Van Buren’s detractors called him "Machiavellian Belshazzar" for his dishonesty in political affairs.
James Polk was a supporter of Andrew Jackson. The latter was also known as "Old Hickory," also Polk earned the nickname "Young Hickory." President Polk was also a great orator, and for this he was given the nickname “Napoleon of the Stump.”
The nickname was given to Harrison by Democrat detractors (including Van Buren) because he was apparently “ancient and out of touch.” He was also called “coward” and “petticoat hero.”
President Adams’ nickname derived from a speech he gave, where he said: “Sink or swim, survive or perish with my country, is my unalterable determination.”
James Monroe was the last prominent politician to have fought in the Revolutionary War, and like other American fighters, he too wore a cocked hat.
America’s fourth president was known as the “Father of the Constitution.” But he also earned the nicknames “Little Jimmy” and “His Little Majesty” due to his short stature. Madison is the shortest US president in history at 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m).
John Quincy Adams earned his nickname while he was a congressman. He did so because of his fervent backing of freedom of expression, access to education, and opposition to slavery.
President Jefferson was a tall man. At 6 feet 2.5 inches (1.89 m), he was quite above the average height for men at the time, hence the nickname.
George Washington earned this nickname after a Roman general and his military strategy, which was similar to the one Washington used during the Revolutionary War. The nation’s first president was also known as the "Sword of the Revolution."
Some people's nicknames go all the way back to childhood, while others are earned later in life. In the case of US presidents, we have a bit of both, but the vast majority of nicknames were earned during their terms. While some of these presidential nicknames are in fact quite nice, others, not so much.
In this gallery you'll get to know the nicknames of US presidents, as well as the meaning behind them. Curious? Click on!
Do you know which president was called "Sleeping Beauty"?
The nicknames of American presidents, explained
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Some people's nicknames go all the way back to childhood, while others are earned later in life. In the case of US presidents, we have a bit of both, but the vast majority of nicknames were earned during their terms. While some of these presidential nicknames are in fact quite nice, others, not so much.
In this gallery you'll get to know the nicknames of US presidents, as well as the meaning behind them. Curious? Click on!