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List of nicknames of presidents of the United States

Presidents of the United States have often acquired nicknames, both flattering and unflattering. This list is intended to note those nicknames that were in common use at the time they were in office or shortly thereafter.

George Washington
• The American Cincinnatus, like the famous Roman Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, he won a war, then became a private citizen instead of seeking power or riches as a reward. He became the first president general of the Society of the Cincinnati, formed by Revolutionary War officers who also "declined offers of power and position to return to his home and plough". • The American Fabius, for his Fabian military strategy during the Revolutionary War • Conotocaurius, or Town Destroyer, given by the Seneca chief Tanacharison. • The Father of His CountryHis ExcellencySage of Mount Vernon ==John Adams==
John Adams
Bonny Johnny, "Bonny" meaning a sizeable person. • The Colossus of Independence, for his leadership in Congress in 1776 • The Duke of Braintree, due to residing in Braintree, Massachusetts and his strong opinions on the use of honorifics for important officers of the government • Father of American Independence for his girthy bodily figure • Old OakOld Sink or Swim, for the speech in which he vowed "sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I am with my country from this day on" ==Thomas Jefferson==
Thomas Jefferson
• The Apostle of DemocracyFather of the Declaration of Independence • The Moonshine Philosopher of Monticello, as Jefferson was known for his interest for alcohol • Red Fox • The Sage of Monticello ==James Madison==
James Madison
Father of the ConstitutionLittle Jemmy or His Little Majesty, • The Sage of MontpelierWithered Little Apple ==James Monroe==
James Monroe
• The Era of Good Feelings President, for the Era of Good Feelings, the period following the victorious end of the War of 1812. The term was first coined by the Boston Federalist newspaper Columbian Centinel on July 12, 1817, following Monroe’s visit to Boston. • The Last Cocked Hat, because he was the last U.S. president to wear a tricorne hat according to the style of the 18th century ==John Quincy Adams==
John Quincy Adams
• The Abolitionist or Old Man Eloquent, famed for routinely bringing up the slavery issue against Congressional rules, and for his role later on in the Amistad case. He is the only American president to be elected to the House of Representatives after his presidency. The nickname gained currency as a result of his campaign against slavery waged as a congressman, and as the attorney in the Amistad case. • Mad Old Man From Massachusetts ==Andrew Jackson==
Andrew Jackson
• The Hero of New Orleans, for his military victory in the Battle of New OrleansJackass, Jackson's critics disparaged him as a "jackass" (a male donkey); however, Jackson embraced the animal, making it the unofficial symbol of the Democratic Party. • King Andrew, for his supposedly excessive use of the veto power • King MobMad Dog Jackson, for his aggressive military tactics • Mischievous Andy • The Old Barbarian • The Old Hero was derivative of the Hero of New Orleans sobriquet, but it had a more disparaging, slightly disdainful connotation. • Old Hickory, • The Old Roman • '''People's President''' ==Martin Van Buren==
Martin Van Buren
was given many nicknames due to his distinct appearance and attractive personality. • The American TalleyrandBlue Whiskey Van, a reference to his excessive drinking of whiskey • The Careful Dutchman, Van Buren's first language was DutchDandy President, critics called him for his fancy expensive outfits • The EnchanterMachiavellian Bellshazzar, given to him by detractors • Martin Van Ruin • The Mistletoe Politician, so called by Joseph Peyton of Tennessee, a Whig opponent, who charged that "Martin Van Buren was a mere political parasite, a branch of mistletoe, that owed its elevation, its growth--nay, its very existence, to the tall trunk of an aged hickory" (i.e. Andrew Jackson) • Old Kinderhook (OK), a reference to his home townRed Fox of Kinderhook, a reference to his red hair and home town • The Sage of Lindenwald • The Sly Fox ==William Henry Harrison==
William Henry Harrison
• The Cincinnatus of the West, as in the expression, "keep it mum," because of his avoidance of speaking out on controversial issues during his election campaign • Old Granny, his opponents called him for he was the oldest person at the time to be president; his age was 68. a reference to Harrison's victory at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe; used in the campaign song Tippecanoe and Tyler Too during the 1840 presidential election • Washington of the West, a reference to Harrison's victories at the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe and 1813 Battle of the Thames ==John Tyler==
John Tyler
His Accidency, a nickname given by his opponents; the first president to be elevated to the presidency by the death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison • The President without a Party ==James K. Polk==
James K. Polk
First Dark Horse President, he was not well known before the 1844 United States presidential electionNapoleon of the Stump, for his short stature and potent oratory skills • Polk the PurposefulPolk the Plodder or Polk the Mendacious, multiple politicians saw him as untrustworthy and scheming. • Punctilious JamesYoung Hickory, because he was a particular protégé of "Old Hickory", Andrew Jackson ==Zachary Taylor==
Zachary Taylor
Old Rough and ReadyOld Zack ==Millard Fillmore==
Millard Fillmore
• The American Louis PhilippeLast of the Whigs, he was the last member of the Whig Party to become president • Wool Carder President, when he was 15, he was sent to be an apprentice to a wool carder ==Franklin Pierce==
Franklin Pierce
Fainting Frank or the Fainting General, used by Whig Party opponents for his record in the Mexican–American WarHandsome FrankPurse "Young Hickory" compared his military deeds (in the Mexican–American War) with those of Andrew Jackson. "The Granite Hills" were his home state of New Hampshire. ==James Buchanan==
James Buchanan
Bachelor President, • Old Buck, from a shortening of his last name, used later in life • Old Public Functionary, used by Buchanan in his December 1859 State of the Union address and adopted by newspapers ==Abraham Lincoln==
Abraham Lincoln
AbeHonest Abe for his avuncularity in his later years. • The Ancient One, a nickname favored by White House insiders because of his "ancient wisdom". • Grand Wrestler, Lincoln was great at wrestling and only had one recorded loss • The Great Emancipator and the Liberator, for the emancipation of the slaves. • The Rail-SplitterSpotty Lincoln • The Tycoon, for the energetic and ambitious conduct of his administration • The Uncommon Friend of the Common Man ==Andrew Johnson==
Andrew Johnson
Andy the SotKing Andrew or King AndySir Veto, because of the large number of legislative vetoes he issued during his presidency; 29 in total, (the most at the time) • The Tennessee Tailor, for his career as a tailor before going into politics ==Ulysses S. Grant==
Ulysses S. Grant
• The American Caesar • The Butcher, Grant's unmatched persistence led him to win several key victories for the Union forces earning him this nickname • The Galena Tanner • The Great Hammerer • The Hero of AppomattoxLittle Beauty, a nickname mocking his good looks • Ulyss, childhood nickname • Useless GrantU.S. GrantUncle Sam Grant, a name given to him by his classmates at West PointUnconditional Surrender Grant, a backronym for his uncompromising demand for unconditional surrender during the Battle of Fort Donelson in 1862, which made him a hero • United States Grant, his classmates soon began to call after he got his new initials USG ==Rutherford B. Hayes==
Rutherford B. Hayes
Dark Horse PresidentGranny HayesHis Fraudulency or Rutherfraud, because after the disputed results of the 1876 Election, many Democrats did not consider him legitimately to be president • The Great Unknown, for his obscurity as a candidate • President De FactoRud, childhood nickname ==James Garfield==
James Garfield
Boatman Jim, referencing his work on the Ohio canals in his youth • Canal Boy, also referring to his old job on Ohio canals as a boy • The Plow Boy of Ohio, sung in a campaign song. • Preacher President ==Chester A. Arthur==
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