12th President Of The United States, David Rice Atchison?

I got a little something for you history buffs. I had heard about President Atchison before but I had forgotten about him. Chances are you won't find much about him in your history books. My Grand Daughter and I are planning a trip to Plattsburg, Missouri to see what we can learn about what I'd assume was the shortest presidential term in the history of the United States. According to this article in our local paper David Rice Atchison was "President for a day".


Nancy Hull
Education Reporter

PLATTSBURG, Mo. - Many believe David Rice Atchison had his own President's Day on March 4, 1849.On this year's annual Presidents Day, a Plattsburg museum in Mr. Atchison's honor became official.Mr. Atchison, who Atchison, Kan., was named for, is most well-known for his legacy of being president for one day. The story goes that when President James Polk's term expired at noon on a Sunday, incoming President Zachary Taylor refused to be sworn in on the Sabbath. Mr. Atchison was the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate at the time, which put him at the top of the chain of command for 24 hours.Officially, Mr. Atchison is not on the president list; his statue and grave in Plattsburg say otherwise. "The honestest presidency ever," Mr. Atchison used to joke, as those gathered in the Clinton County courthouse basement remembered Monday during a dedication for the museum.The Clinton County Historical Society sponsored the project, which is a few display cases in the courthouse basement.To those in Plattsburg, the museum honors a man who accomplished much more than the disputed claim to fame.He was a general for the Confederate Army, a lawyer, a senator.Helen Russell, a Clinton County Historical Society board member, spent nearly 40 years working in the courthouse as the circuit clerk and recorder of deeds, and she fielded many inquires from all over the nation seeking information on the man some consider the nation's 12th commander in chief.Her research led her to know that Mr. Atchison was considerate of the slaves who lived on his rural Missouri property."I read letters he wrote that said, 'take good care of my slaves,'" she said.His will, which is displayed in one of the cases, requested that one particular slave remain living on Mr. Atchison's property for another 15 years."I always tried to avoid that 'president for a day' title and get to the more important stuff," Ms. Russell said.Board member Joanne Holman said the new museum will be helpful to those history seekers who show up in Plattsburg searching for information on Mr. Atchison.Sarah Phelps Smith, Mr. Atchison's great-great-great niece, traveled from Ohio for Monday's dedication. Her mother grew up in Mr. Atchison's old home outside of Plattsburg. Ms. Smith often visited the home as a child, and as a historian herself, she's spent much time researching her famous "Uncle Dave."It was hard for her not to get emotional Monday as she visited with those in attendance and peered at the pictures and letters honoring the relative she knows was a loving family man and colorful politician."Clearly, everyone loved the man," Ms. Smith said.


I feel that a trip to your local museum is the best history lesson a person can get. The area we live in is blessed with many of them.

Thanks go to:
The St. Joseph News-Press

God Bless America, God Save The Republic.