~Many Presidents of the United States have visited the Central Illinois Area~ The Peoria Area certainly had a unique kind of politics and it was not by happenstance that so many of these famous men visited here. Here is what John F. Kennedy said about us when he was asked why presidential hopefuls and presidents visit Peoria. “It’s nothing to do with Peoria’s size. Peoria is a ‘sounding board.’ Not only does it have the right mixture of people for accurate political surveys, but next to Chicago it is in the center of a ‘Swing State.’” Peoria 1832: Three future presidents were in Peoria way back in 1832. They were Abraham Lincoln, Zachary Taylor and Jefferson Davis. In Peoria records there is talk of Franklin Pierce, Ulysses Grant, and Grover Cleveland visiting but no mention of dates or other concrete evidence. Martin Van Buren: Visited Peoria on June 25, 1842, staying for two days. He stayed at Planter House and because of the large crowd, spoke at the courthouse. Abraham Lincoln: Historians tell us that Mr. Lincoln probably visited Peoria on at least 17 occasions. He spoke at a half-dozen Whig events, and on Oct. 16, 1854 debated Senator Stephen A. Douglas on the courthouse steps. Benjamin Harrison: On March 18, 1894 he visited Peoria briefly talking to local politicians. He was on his way to Bath and duck hunting on Spring Lake. Born in Ohio, he moved to Indiana, becoming the only man from Indiana to become president, America’s 23rd President. His efforts brought six states into the Union. William McKinley: Came to Peoria to dedicate the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the Peoria County Courthouse. A massive, enthusiastic crowd greeted him on Oct. 6, 1899. Spectators said he was overwhelmed by the reception. “Six thousand school children with flags in their hands and love of country in their hearts and I could not but think as I looked at the glorious process, that my country is safe.” Theodore Roosevelt: “Teddy” as Americans loved to call him came to Peoria as a candidate for vice president. He spoke in the Courthouse Square on Oct. 8, 1900. He returned Oct. 10, 1907, where he made Grandview Drive famous by saying “This is the world’s most beautiful drive.” William Howard Taft: On Sept. 22, 1911, Taft came to Peoria to be the key speaker at the Columbus Day banquet sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. He spoke at the old Coliseum where the Armory is now located. Taft was our 27th President and also a famous Supreme Court Justice. Franklin D. Roosevelt: FDR, as American’s affectionately referred to him came to Peoria with Governor Cox to speak at the Peoria Armory on Oct. 12, 1920. Roosevelt at that time was a running mate of Cox, who was running for President of the United States. John Calvin Coolidge Jr.: “Silent Cal” as he was often referred to was here in Peoria, Illinois, in 1922 shortly before he became President of the United States. We have Dr. Charles Farnum to thank for the information on Coolidge’s visit here. Farnum was the master of ceremonies at a banquet held here at the Jefferson Hotel and introduced the famous guest. Herbert Clark Hoover: Hoover visited Peoria on Nov. 4, 1932 and spoke from the rear of a train stopped at the Rock Island Depot. He arrived to a wild, enthusiastic throng of people that had gathered to meet his train that arrived at 4:30 p.m. His presidency did not weather the Great Depression and the drought throughout southwestern United States. He made attempts to stop the ‘downward spiral’ of the economy but his efforts were of no effect. The former president returned to Peoria on March 14, 1940 to speak before a large crowd at the R.G. LeTourneau plant. Harry S. Truman: Harry Truman was here in Peoria twice during his lifetime, 1942 and on Oct. 26, 1944. He spoke in front of a small crowd at the Shrine Mosque. He was on his way to his home in Missouri after he had been named as Roosevelt’s running mate. Of course, folks here in Peoria had no idea that he would soon be the President of the United States. Dwight David Eisenhower: “Ike” was a visitor to Peoria, Illinois on Sept. 25, 1956. He spoke at the Fieldhouse to a standing room only crowd. It was the first National TV address from Peoria. Eisenhower was the first sitting president to visit here since 1932. John Fitzgerald Kennedy: During his Presidential campaign, Kennedy came to Peoria on Oct. 24, 1960. He spoke in the Courthouse Square to a massive crowd, who wildly supported him. Lyndon Baines Johnson: President Johnson came to Peoria on Oct. 7, 1964 to speak at the Courthouse Square and the Armory some five blocks away. A huge, admiring crowd surrounded him and the President responded with wide grins. He commented, “I thought Peoria was a Republican town.” Here in Peoria he was heard to say about Peorians, “Aren’t these people just wonderful?” Richard Milhous Nixon: In Peoria June 15, 1973 Nixon made his way to Pekin to dedicate the Dirksen Memorial Library. Mr. Nixon was in the area a total of eight times between 1951 to 1973. He reminded the crowd “That the system is working and critics should not shun politics but should enter it and fight for their ideals.” Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.: Actually he was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr. Ford was here in Peoria on March 5, 1974, speaking at the Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. Mr. Ford was our 40th Vice-president and our 38th President, 1974-1977. He stayed overnight at the Pere Marquette Hotel. (A local maid claims that he did not leave her a tip) Ford returned to Peoria on Feb. 22, 2000 to make the keynote speech at the Washington Day Banquet. “Our Constitution calls for a system of checks and balances…our system was not designed to be efficient or economical, but it was designed to preserve freedom for the people,” he said. Ronald Wilson Reagan: Reagan was in this area many times in his life, having graduated Eureka College. He was here in November of 1980 with Gerald Ford and George H. Bush campaigning in Peoria. Oct. 20, 1982 he spoke at a fund-raiser for Bob Michel. May 9, 1982 he spoke at Eureka College, and here Feb. 6, 1984, and back to Eureka College in 1992. William ‘Bill’ Clinton: Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III and was our 42nd President serving 1993-2001. He was in Peoria April 8, 1992 as the leading Democratic candidate for the Presidency. He walked a Caterpillar picket line in East Peoria and spoke to union members. George Walker Bush: On Aug. 22, 2000 candidate Bush came to Peoria and spoke at the Byerly Aviation’s main hangar. He mentioned his plan to “Leave No Child Behind.” He also took part in a panel discussion at Harrison School in Peoria. He came to Peoria in 2008 to speak on behalf of Aaron Schock who was running for the 18th congressional District seat in the U. S. House of Representatives. Barack Obama: President Obama was in East Peoria at Caterpillar on Feb. 11, 2009 to boost his economic recovery plan. He called on Republicans in Congress to pass the stimulus package and telling workers at the Caterpillar plant here that the recovery effort could bring back some of their jobs. “Once Congress passes this plan and I sign it into law,” Obama said, “a new wave of innovation, activity and construction will be unleashed all across America.” source: woodfordtimes By Norman V. Kelly Read more: woodfordtimes/article/20110221/News/302219991#ixzz2vcZX3eRB
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:00:01 +0000
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