David Rice Atchison President for a Day - 1849

Any interesting things about this President that we should know of what could he have done in one day if he was not sleeping. Also is there any genealogy of this President leading back to Royal blood.

Atchison served as President of the United States for a day on Sunday - March 4, 1849. Vice-President George Dallas had resigned, leaving Atchison (President of the Senate) next in line for the Presidency. James Polk resigned his office a day early to head home to Tennessee and Zachary Taylor refused to take the Oath of Office on a Sunday for religious reasons.

Although Atchison never took the Oath of Office, his tombstone does list him as President for that day. What is more interesting is that history records that, because of fatigue from inaugural partying the night before, Atchison slept through the entire day of his Presidency.

[edit on 24-11-2004 by gtmo]

Hilarious, amusing, and interesting!

Thanks so much for a great summary of an almost unknown piece of history!