When I was in Law School, there was a student from India who didn’t understand the concept of Presidents Day. “You mean you celebrate all the Presidents? Even the bad ones? Like George Bush?” This was around 2010. Well yeah. I guess it’s kind of an odd, unenthusiastic holiday. It’s a substitute for Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday. Now we use one day to celebrate Washington, and Lincoln, and…Buchanan…and Harding…and Nixon.

It’s not just the bad presidents. It’s the utterly forgettable ones. Think William Henry Harrison, the guy who died in 30 days. Millard Fillmore, whose main claim to fame is a political cartoon named after him that is less famous than Doonesbury. Chester A. Arthur, a guy who became vice-president because he represented the pro-corruption wing of the Republican Party. Franklin Pierce, a president who was famous for being horribly racist, incompetent, and a raging alcoholic. Yeah, those people.

Then there’s the current occupant of the White House. We try to stay apolitcal here on the book nook, but needless to say, the man has his critics. They make up more than half the country at this point, if polls are to be believed, and President Trump is one to doubt them. No doubt he appreciates having a day that celebrates him. He appreciates having political appointees, buildings with his name on it, and foreign trade liaisons celebrate him, so he probably loves having his own day.

So for all of the Presidents, this one is for you.