Obscure American history trivia

I know it's a toughie. I had never heard of this person until I visited a local museum that had a small exhibit that mentioned him. As a bonus, he moonlighted as a war correspondent.

 

I'm fascinated by stories of descendants of former presidents and patriots from way back. Apparently Harrison Ruffin Tyler (the grandson of John Tyler) is still alive at age 95. Tyler was president from 1841 to 1845.

I don't think there is another president with a living grandchild that's even close to that.

 

That is true, and there were two grandsons up until a little more than a year ago.
Tyler was in his 70s when he fathered a son, and that guy was in his 70s or so when he fathered the two grandsons. That always grosses out the girls in my class when I do "Presidential Fun Facts."
Same goes for when I bring up Grover Cleveland married what was essentially his daughter, who he helped raise after her father died.

 

Had to look up the name, but I knew the person. John Wayles Jefferson, son of Eston Hemings.

 

Correct! He served as a colonel in the 8th Wisconsin Infantry, wounded twice. The American Battlefield Trust tells his story. John Wayles Jefferson

 

On the surviving Tyler, his father became president of William and Mary in 1888. A great-grandfather led local militia in 1775.

 

My kid went to W&M law school, so we heard all about the Tylers, not to mention Jefferson, Monroe, John Marshall and George Wythe.

 

Choosing a (current) House Rep for the VP slot has failed many times in presidential elections ('64, '84, '96, '12). When was the last time it worked?

 

I guess it would be John Nance Garner. Pretty sure he was House Speaker.
IIRC, Garner was the one quoted as saying VP, "wasn't worth a warm bucket of spit." There's speculation he didn't really say spit.

 

Mojo Nixon in 1956?

 

Nixon was a senator when Ike tabbed him for 52.

 

Alben Barkley?
Oops, no looks like was in the Senate when he ran with Truman.