Presidential Profiles: William Henry Harrison (1841)

William Henry Harrison was born on February 9, 1773 in Berkeley, Virginia. Born two years before the American Revolution, Harrison's family was among the richest and the most politically prominent in the colony. Harrison's father had served three terms as governor in Virginia.

To the disappointment of his father, Harrison chose a career in the military. He would go on to serve as governor of the Northwest Territory for twelve years. He would became a household name after the battle at Tippecanoe Creek in 1811. Riding on the slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," Harrison would beat his opponent Martin Van Buren by 174 electoral votes in the 1840 presidential election. On March 4, 1841, William Henry Harrison took the oath of office. He was the first President to arrive in Washington, D.C. by train. He also delivered the longest Inaugural address--8,445 words. On April 4, 1841, just a month after the Inauguration, his term would end with his death of pneumonia at 68 years of age in Washington, D.C. The pneumonia is believed to have been caused by his prolonged exposure to inclement weather at his Inauguration.


William Henry Harrison's Administration

First Lady: Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison, married November 25, 1795

Vice President: John Tyler (1841)

Secretary of State:

Daniel Webster (1841)

Secretary of the Treasury:

Thomas Ewing (1841)

Secretary of War:

John Bell (1841)

Attorney General:

John J. Crittenden (1841)

Postmaster General:

Francis Granger (1841)

Secretary of War:

George E. Badger (1841)

Inaugural Information

Fourteenth Inaugural Ceremonies, March 4, 1841

For more information on President William Henry Harrison, check out these resources...

William Henry Harrison, White House

American President: William Henry Harrison, Miller Center, University of Virginia

William Henry Harrison, POTUS, Internet Public Library

William Henry Harrison, The History Channel


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Country Profiles: Cook Islands

Cook Islands are located in Australia-Oceania.

Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 236 sq km, it is 1.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Cook Islands are surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean. It is mostly low coral atolls in north and volcanic, hilly islands in south.



People who live in the Cook Islands are called Cook Islanders, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 10,447 people in Cook Islands. The ethnic group that resides in Cook Islands is mostly Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) at 87.7%. English is the official language, but Maori is also spoken there. Protestants make up approximately 69.6% of the population, while Roman Catholics (16.8%) and Mormons (3.8%) make up most of the rest.



The Cook Islands were once known as the Harvey Islands. The capital is Avarua. Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The country has the right to move to full independence at any time. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current prime minister is Henry Puna. Information about the leaders of Cook Islands' government can be found here. The currency is the NZ dollar (abbreviated NZD), which stands at 1.289 NZD per USD as of 2012.



All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook.
Cook Islands, CIA World Factbook

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Presidential Profiles: Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)

Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782 in Kinderhook, New York. Martin Van Buren was the son of a tavern owner (and supporter of Thomas Jefferson) of Dutch descent. This would make Van Buren the first president not born a British subject--and the first that was not even of British descent.

A lawyer by trade, Martin Van Buren would prove to be an adept politician. His ascent to the Vice Presidency with Andrew Jackson's second presidential term would seal his fate as a future president. On March 4, 1837, Martin Van Buren took the oath of office in the Capitol. His annual salary was $25,000. He would serve 1 term as president from 1837 to 1841. On March 3, 1841, Martin Van Buren's tenure as president would end. On July 24, 1862, he died at 79 years of age in Kinderhook, New York.


Martin Van Buren's Administration

First Lady: widowed before taking office
Angelica Singleton Van Buren (daughter-in-law) filled the role as White House hostess

Vice President: Richard M. Johnson (1837-41)

Secretary of State:

John Forsyth (1837-41)

Secretary of the Treasury:

Levi Woodbury (1837-41)

Secretary of War:

Joel R. Poinsett (1837-41)

Attorneys General:

Benjamin F. Butler (1837-38)
Felix Grundy (1838-39)
Henry D. Gilpin (1840-41)

Postmasters General:

Amos Kendall (1837-40)
John M. Niles (1840-41)

Secretaries of the Navy:

Mahlon Dickerson (1837-38)
James K. Paulding (1838-41)

Inaugural Information

Thirteenth Inaugural Ceremonies, March 4, 1837

For more information on President Martin Van Buren, check out these resources...

Martin Van Buren, White House

American President: Martin Van Buren, Miller Center, University of Virginia

Martin Van Buren, POTUS, Internet Public Library

Biography: 8. Martin Van Buren, PBS


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Country Profiles: Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo is located in Africa.

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

CIA World Factbook

With an area of 342,000 sq km, it is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Montana.

The Republic of the Congo shares a border with Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. It has coastal plains, a southern basin, a central plateau, and a northern basin.



People who live in the Republic of the Congo are called Congolese, which (along with the word Congo) is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 4,366,266 people in the Congo. The ethnic groups that reside in the Congo are mostly Kongo 48%, with some Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%. Several languages are spoken there French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread). Christians make up approximately 50% of the population, while animists (48%) and Muslims (2%) make up the rest.

The country's official name is Republic of the Congo, but it is referred to as Congo. The capital is Brazzaville, and the country is made up of 10 regions. Though Congo gained independence from the French on August 15, 1960, a constitution was not drafted until 1992. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Information about the leaders of Congo's government can be found here. The currency is the Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (abbreviated XAF), which stands at 511.4 XAF per USD as of 2012.



All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Republic of the Congo, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Republic of the Congo, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in the Republic of the Congo, U.S. Department of State.

You can also check out the Country Studies tab on our Fed Docs libguide here for more resources on all of the countries.


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60 Minutes (3/10/2013)

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Meet the Press (3/10/2013)

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Presidential Profiles: Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

Andrew Jackson was born on March 15, 1767 in the Waxhaw area, on North Carolina-South Carolina border. Born to obscure parents and orphaned in youth, he was the first "self-made man" and the first westerner to reach the White House. He fought as a boy in the Revolutionary War, studied law, and in 1788 moved west to Nashville. In 1791, he began living with Rachel Donelson Robards, whose husband had abandoned her. They were formally married after her divorce in 1794. Charges of adultery arising from the episode dogged Jackson's later political career.

After serving as Tennessee prosecutor, judge, congressman, and senator, he won fame as a major general in the War of 1812 with smashing victories against the Creek Indians in 1814 and the British at New Orleans in January 1815. n a confused, four-candidate presidential race in 1824, Jackson led the popular and electoral vote but lost in the House of Representatives, through the influence of Speaker Henry Clay, to John Quincy Adams. Jackson challenged Adams again in 1828 and defeated him in a campaign which centered on Jackson's image as a man of the people battling aristocracy and corruption. This election would prove to be contentious. Andrew Jackson would blame his opponent, John Quincy Adams, for the death of his wife, holding the verbal attacks made by Adams and his political allies responsible for her passing. On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson took the oath of office, the first president to take the oath on the east front portico of the U.S. Capitol. Annual salary was $25,000. He would serve 2 terms as president from 1829 to 1837. On March 4, 1837, Andrew Jackson's tenure as president would end. On March 4, 1837, he died at 78 years of age at the Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee.


Andrew Jackson's Administration

First Lady: none - widowed before taking office

Vice Presidents:

John C. Calhoun (1829-1832)
Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)

Secretaries of State:

Martin Van Buren (1829-31)
Edward Livingston (1831-33)
Louis McLane (1833-34)
John Forsyth (1834-37)

Secretaries of the Treasury:

Samuel D. Ingham (1829-31)
Louis McLane (1831-33)
William J. Duane (1833)
Roger B. Taney (1833-34)
Levi Woodbury (1834-37)

Secretaries of War:

John H. Eaton (1829-31)
Lewis Cass (1831-36)

Attorneys General:

John M. Berrien (1829-31)
Roger B. Taney (1831-33)
Benjamin F. Butler (1833-37)

Postmasters General:

William T. Barry (1829-35)
Amos Kendall (1835-37)

Secretaries of the Navy:

John Branch (1829-31)
Levi Woodbury (1831-34)
Mahlon Dickerson (1834-37)

Inaugural Information

Eleventh Inaugural Ceremonies, March 4, 1829

Twelfth Inaugural Ceremonies, March 4, 1833

For more information on President Andrew Jackson, check out these resources...

Andrew Jackson, White House

American President: Andrew Jackson, Miller Center, University of Virginia

Andrew Jackson, POTUS, Internet Public Library

Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil, and the Presidency, PBS

The Hermitage: Home of Andrew Jackson


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LLA Presentation 2013: Googling for Answers

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LLA Presentation 2013: There's a Gov Doc for That!

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LLA Presentation 2013: From Gov Docs to Fun Docs

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Face the Nation (3/10/2013)

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President Obama's Weekly Address (3/9/2013)

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Washington Week (3/8/2013)

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Country Profiles: Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in Africa.

Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 2,344,858 sq km, it is slightly less than one-fourth the size of the United States of America.

Democratic Republic of the Congo shares a border with Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It is a vast central basin is a low-lying plateau with mountains in east.



People who live in Democratic Republic of the Congo are called Congolese, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country (Congo also describes an object from the country). As of July 2012, there are 73,599,190 people in the country. Over 200 African ethnic groups reside in the DRC, the majority of which are Bantu. The four largest tribes are Mongo, Luba, Kongo, and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) and make up about 45% of the population. Several languages are spoken there: French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, and Tshiluba. Roman Catholics make up approximately 50% of the population, while Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 10% make up the rest.

The country's official name is Democratic Republic of the Congo. The capital is Kinshasa, and the country is made up of 10 provinces. Though the DRC gained independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960, a constitution was not drafted until February 18, 2006. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current president is Joseph Kabilar. Information about the leaders of the DRC's government can be found here. The currency is the Congolese francs (abbreviated CDF), which stands at 920 CDF per USD as of 2012.



All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Democratic Republic of the Congo, CIA World Factbook

Background Notes: Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.S. Department of State

2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Democratic Republic of the Congo, U.S. Department of State.

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This Blog will be taking a BRIEF hiatus while our owner gets through the LLA conference!  

Look forward to more exciting information starting Monday, March 11th!

Thank you for your patience!

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