Debate 2000 Washington University in St. Louis

"In one of the most memorable photographs in the history of American politics, the 'sure loser' holds aloft a premature Chicago Tribune headline. Heading east after the election, Truman's train had stopped at St. Louis where he was handed a copy of the paper." --quoted from Truman by David McCullough

Presidential St. Louis

Throughout St. Louis' history, the office of the president of the United States has impacted St. Louis and St. Louis has influenced that office. Visitors to St. Louis can discover the city's presidential connections by touring several free, historic attractions. The following are some historical and fun facts about St. Louis' relationship with those who have the held the nation's top job:

Thomas Jefferson

President Thomas Jefferson's dream of a continental United States became closer to reality when he purchased the Louisiana Territory, which included St. Louis, from France for $15 million in 1803. Today, Jefferson's vision is commemorated on St. Louis' Mississippi River bank with a gleaming, 630-foot stainless steel sculpture known as the Gateway Arch.

Zachary Taylor and Ulysses S. Grant

Another site open for visitors is Jefferson Barracks. Named to honor President Thomas Jefferson, the Federal Army post opened in 1826 as the nation's first "Infantry School of Practice" and played an important role in westward expansion. In addition to being named after the country's third president, two other presidents served the Army at "JB"--12th president Zachary Taylor and 18th president Ulysses S. Grant.

Hardscrabble: The log cabin home hand-built by Ulysses S. Grant.

Ulysses S. Grant

In 1843, young Second Lieutenant Ulysses S. grant, fresh from West Point, was assigned to St. Louis' Jefferson Barracks.

Hardscrabble, the log cabin home hand-built by Grant, can be seen from April through October at Grant's Farm, a 281-acre animal preserve operated by St. Louis' Anheuser-Busch, Inc.

Grant sold cordwood harvested from his Hardscrabble farm at St. Louis' Soulard Farmer's Market.

In 1861, Grant legally freed his only slave at St. Louis' Old Courthouse, the building that was the scene of Dred and Harriet Scott's historic freedom trial.

St. Louis' Old Courthouse: Scene of Dred and Harriet Scott's historic freedom trial.

Abraham Lincoln

Just north of St. Louis, neighboring Alton, Illinois was one of the places where future president Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas engaged in a series of "Great Debates." The primary topic: slavery.

Theodore Roosevelt

Thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt, the "lights were shining" in St. Louis on April 30, 1904. That day, through the magic of turn-of-the-century public relations, from the East Room of the White House, T.R. "turned the key" which officially opened the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. Roosevelt visited the St. Louis fair on November 26, 1904 to be greeted by more than 200,000 cheering fairgoers.

An avid outdoorsman, Roosevelt was most pleased that the first Olympic Games ever staged in the United States were taking place in St. Louis in conjunction with the fair. The games were held at Washington University stadium which is now known as Francis Field in honor of David R. Francis, the St. Louis civic leader who was the president and director of the famous fair.

The ever-intrepid Roosevelt became the first president to ride in an airplane when he boarded a plane at St. Louis Kinloch Airfield in 1911.

Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson won his party's nomination at the 1916 Democratic Convention in St. Louis.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the recipient of a true St. Louis-style gift in 1934. The first case of post-prohibition Budweiser was delivered to FDR at the White House via the Budweiser eight-horse hitch, the Clydesdales.

In 1935, to set the wheels in motion for the future Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, FDR proclaimed the St. Louis riverfront a National Historic Site and authorized the National Parks Service to manage the area.

Roosevelt arrived in St. Louis in 1935 to dedicated the site for a memorial to St. Louisans who lost their lives in World War I. Now known as Soldiers Memorial, the free downtown memorial museum honors U.S. veterans and war dead from both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam.

St. Louis riverfront and Jefferson National Expansion memorial: The area was proclaimed a National Historic Site by FDR.

Harry S. Truman

"This is one for the books." So said Missouri's own President Harry S. Truman when presented with the infamous newspaper bearing the headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman." The celebrated photograph of a victorious Truman raising the erroneous Chicago Daily Tribune was taken on the back of a train car at St. Louis Union Station on November 3, 1948.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Jefferson National Expansion memorial, better known as the Gateway Arch, was dedicated on May 25, 1968 by Vice President Hubert Humphrey. The only president to take the tram ride to the top of the 630-foot tall monument was Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Thomas Eagleton (Vice presidential candidate)

Democrat Eugene McCarthy tapped Missouri senator and St. Louisan Thomas Eagleton to be his Democratic vice presidential running mate in 1972. Eeagleton's name was later removed from the ticket. Eagleton was instrumental in the Senate's passage of the Clean Air and Water Acts and sponsored the Eagleton Amendment that halted the bombing of Cambodia and effectively ended U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

AND NEXT...

No need to wait for this year's presidential election returns. St. Louis already has streets bearing the names of the two major party candidates. Suburban Ballwin, Missouri claims Bush Drive and Gore Avenue is a tree-lined street in the Webster Groves neighborhood.

SOURCE: ST. LOUIS CONVENTION & VISITORS COMMISSION

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