Presidential House Visit: George H. W. Bush Birthplace

George H. W. Bush Birthplace
Milton, Massachusetts

One of the great joys of this project has been the amount of care that goes into the upkeep of the houses. Maintaining a historic home is a labor of love that needs both funding and the passion of people who care. The fact that so many sites still exist today, even for the most obscure presidents is a testament to the people who keep them going.

Plaque on a rock in front of the house

The George H. W. Bush Birthplace was, unfortunately, an example of what can happen when that funding and passion doesn't come through. The house still stands just south of Boston in Milton, Massachusetts just several miles from the Adams National Historic Site in Quincy. The house is privately owned, but a marker stands on the property explaining the historic nature of the house, which is blocked by trees and bushes, so I had to go up the driveway to get a better look at it.

I almost wished I hadn't, because it upset me. I couldn't describe it as dilapidated, but it certainly wasn't in good shape. I wasn't expecting this, mostly because the other houses in the area look to be about the same age and are in excellent condition. The house itself was a large wooden Victorian with a welcoming front porch, and if taken care of, would be quite beautiful. I hope that someday soon the house will find a champion and be preserved as befits the birthplace of a president.

Presidential House Visit: The Pierce Manse

The Pierce Manse
Concord, New Hampshire

If I had to guess which president had a significant following other than the Rushmore set, Franklin Pierce would have been one of the last men to come to mind. Pierce has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the presidents who were in office shortly before Lincoln, whose towering greatness tends to diminish the accomplishments of his predecessors.

But in Concord, New Hampshire, Pierce holds a place of prominence that is unusual among the houses I have visited so far. Concerned citizens of Concord formed the Pierce Brigade in the 1970’s to save the Pierce Manse, the only home Franklin Pierce ever owned, from demolition during an urban renewal project. In order to accomplish this feat they had to physically move the house to a different location from where it originally stood. Those same people are still heavily involved in the running of the house today, and they formed the Pierce Brigade, which keeps the house in running order.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a lecture at the Pierce Manse given by Pierce biographer Peter A. Wallner. The focus of his talk was on three of the most significant friends of Pierce's life: Daniel Webster, Jefferson Davis, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The talk was extremely informative as well as interesting; I had always associated Pierce with the depression and alcoholism that historians claim dominated his later life. Hearing about these relationships he had forged and kept for so long made him less a tragic historical figure and more of a man whose life had ups and downs just like everyone else's. That he managed to continue to be a true friend through very difficult times is a testament to his character, and speaks to the best part of a man who doesn't get much respect. 

The Northern Tour

Due to the response for the video of my Midwest Tour, I've created a video for my tour of the Presidential Houses of New England.

Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think!

You can also view a higher quality version on youtube here.

The Midwest Tour

I've gotten some comments from people who wanted to know exactly where I've been going on these trips. So I've posted a video that shows the route I took on my Midwest Tour to see presidential homes (with a quick pit stop at the Mark Twain House!) in late May.

Please feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think!

You can also view a higher quality version on youtube here.

Movie Review: Young Mr. Lincoln

Synopsis: The movie chronicles the early adulthood of Abraham Lincoln, following his journey from lowly store clerk to self-taught lawyer. It mostly focuses on his first big law case in which he defends two brothers accused of murdering a local ruffian.

Historical Accuracy:
This is a bit of a tough one to call. Although the plot is almost entirely fictionalized, many of the details are accurate enough that they balance out a bit. For example, the case that takes up the majority of the movie was made up for the purposes of the film, but the defense Lincoln used was from a famous case he defended. In any case, the plot is really unimportant in a movie like this, which was more interested in getting at Lincoln's character than getting the exact chronology of his life. Even so, you wouldn't want school kids to think this is gospel truth.
Grade: C+


Period Detail:
Unlike many other Hollywood films of the period, this one looks like it takes place in the correct time period. Little touches like Lincoln playing the Jew Harp and the parade of Revolutionary War veterans add nice bits of period flair. My only gripe was that the opening and closing music were songs from the Civil War era, which was still several decades away from the action of the film. I can see how they could be considered foreshadowing, but it still bothered me. Still, it was a good job overall.
Grade: A


Casting:
I could go on about all the supporting players in this movie and how they were great, but that would be missing the point. In order for this movie to work, they had to cast one person right, and that's Abraham Lincoln. Not only is Henry Fonda right for the role, he's perfect for it. Nobody else will have that kind of face that just seems to emanate goodness or a voice that sounds humble, soft, and sweet. Even under the (surprisingly realistic) makeup, Fonda shines and embodies Lincoln in a way that wraps myth and man together. 
Grade: A+


Quality of the Film:
Like many classic films, Young Mr. Lincoln is a little bit slower and little bit more cornball than what modern audiences are used to seeing. However, director John Ford injects a naturalism and a sense of integrity into the film that make it stand out above other movies. Not only is this an enjoyable movie, it's a great one.
Grade: A 

Update: I'm Back!

I'm alive!

I've spent the past few days pulling a Walden, staying in a remote location on a body of water with patchy internet and almost nonexistent electricity (if you're asking how electricity can be almost nonexistent, you've obviously never stayed in a cabin built before 1955). 

So what was I doing if I wasn't preparing blog posts? My activities over the past few days have included getting horrific sunburns, mosquito bites, and wasp stings, engaging in water sports, watching beautiful sunsets, and painting cabins. While most of these things are more fun than they sound, I'm glad to be back on schedule.


So stay tuned for more posts!

A Very Special Movie Review: Independence Day

President Pullman, off to save the world

In honor of July 4th, a very special movie post.


There are many aspects of Independence Day (1996) to love: the alien invasion storyline, a deranged Randy Quaid, Will Smith's first foray into science fiction, and a surprisingly ripped Jeff Goldblum, to name a few. But the reason I watch Independence Day whenever it comes on TV is because I believe Bill Pullman is the best president we've ever had. 


My love for Bill Pullman is well documented at this point, but this goes beyond even that. When I see Bill Pullman as President  Thomas J. Whitmore pick up the intercomm and address a group of fighter pilots staging an attack on the alien mothership, I settle in and prepare to feel some patriotic fervor. He speaks eloquently and with conviction about the imminent destruction facing them, laying out the difficulty of their mission without getting too depressing. Then he rallies the troops with a final call to action that will mean independence not only for America, but for the rest of the world as well.


The speech pretty obviously plays into many Americans' love of being the saviors of the world, but it's still effective, mostly because Pullman plays it straight and adds an air of desperation to his performance. He knows it's a crazy plan, but it's the only plan they've got. 


President Pullman (which I will call him henceforth because President Whitmore just sounds wrong) doesn't just talk a good game, he puts his previous combat fighting to use and joins his men in the skies to take down the invading alien forces. He's the George Washington of the movie presidents, leading by example and being generally awesome.


Plus, he looks like Bill Pullman, which is a definite bonus.