Obscure American history trivia

Van Buren was the first president born as an actual American, post-Revolution, so everybody before him technically fits the bill. But I'm guessing you were going for something else?

 

I’m too tired to look it up but is Van Buren the only president whose first language was not English? Or am I imagining things?

 

Correct. Spoke Dutch first. Also first former POTUS to run as a third-party candidate for WH. Last incumbent veep to win POTUS until Bush 41....and first of many NY governors to become POTUS.

 

Who, at 100, is the oldest living former U.S. Senator?

 

Not American history, but came across this and thought it was a good read. On this date 570 years ago the Middle Ages and last vestiges of the Roman Empire fell, and one part of the modern world started to take shape, when the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople.

 

Outing alert: Batman is a member of They Might Be Giants.

 

Henry Kissinger?

 

Get outta here with that Istanbullshit.

 

Never a Senator

 

Didn't think so, but I saw where he just turned 100 last week and figured it was a tie-in.

 

I’m going to guess Nicholas Brady, who was known as a treasury secretary but also spent a few months in the Senate after he replaced a guy caught in a bribery scandal.

 

No. Same party/region.