Presidents: Past, Present and Future (?)

Hot on the heels of our trip to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, we have been busy discovering more about the American Presidents - and what better place to do it than here in the US capital. Ever since the kids discovered that the Presidents also have had their so-called First Ladies, this topic has become much more interesting for Lucy and Fiona, too.



First up, Thomas Jefferson, whose monument has a clear view of the White House. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, was the 3rd President. Next week Monday we are planning a trip to his home, Monticello.

We also have learned a lot about Abraham Lincoln, who is the subject of a major exhibition at the Museum of American History at the moment, which is - you guessed it - sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln's main contribution was to keep the country together during the Civil War. Plus he did a lot to abolish slavery. When he died in 1865, his funeral march through major parts of the then US was watched by 25 million people (...I wonder who's been counting them).

Ah, and then there is, of course, John F Kennedy - or as Lucy refers to him "the one with the pretty wife". We saw his (and her) grave in Arlington Cemetery. Not far from it his brothers Robert and Edward "Ted" are buried, too.



Another exhibition, which was right up Sabine's, Lucy's and Fiona's street, was the exhibition of the "First Ladies' Dresses", also in the Museum of American History. Not sure that putting Barbara Bush's dress right next to Nancy Reagan's was such a good idea - the former was about three times as large as the latter. Michelle Obama's dress looked like a wedding dress and (here is one for all SATC-fans) her shoes at the inauguration were by Jimmy Choo.

Talking of Obama, no trip to the capital would obviously be complete without bumping into him. Well, sort off...



Judging by the number of policemen on motorbikes blocking off the road and the number of secret service and police cars joining the convoy of black limousines, chances are that he was in one of these blacked-out vehicles which we saw yesterday on the road to the White House. We'd at least like to think so...

And finally a look at the next generation of Presidents. One early front-runner who has already emerged is pictured here (and another one is on the German blog):