# Presidential nicknames **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357 "2004-08-11T14:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/1 "2004-08-11T14:49:04Z")
[The Onion](http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4032) gets it right again. : ) In some other pit thread I may press the argument that Mr. Bush should step down, either by resigning or by failing to run for reelection, because he has lost the support to lead effectively. Like Nixon, who stated his resignation was due to his inability to govern while always a suspect, Junior should recognize he’s lost the support half of his constituency, his supreme court, half his congress, the ROTW, and most damning, Inigo Montoya. But that’s not what this thread is about. It’s about presidential niknames. I can only remember a few that had any currency. Can you fill in the blanks with nicknames that were mainstream (but of course, never hit the official media)? I don’t remember back any further than Nixon, but what history has logged so far: Nixon: Tricky Dick Ford: ? Carter: ? Reagan: ? George Bush: ? Clinton: Bubba/Slick Willie George W. Bush: Duhbyah/Shrub And the bonus question: should he be elected what the hell do we call **Jo** hn **Ker** ry? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/2 "2004-08-11T15:00:43Z")
Reagan: Dutch ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/3 "2004-08-11T15:29:46Z")
There were people who called Carter “Peanut”. And Bush Senior was known by his supposed college nickname of “Poppy”. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/4 "2004-08-11T16:59:57Z")
Reagan was also the Gipper. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/5 "2004-08-11T17:16:56Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Ford: ? I think that WAS Ford’s nickname. Pronounced either “Uh?” or as a shrug of the shoulders. Carter: Jimmy. Not as cool as some of the others, sure, but it’s a nickname. > [@](#): > > And the bonus question: should he be elected what the hell do we call **Jo** hn **Ker** ry? [/quote] I’m not sure that fits his personality (or if he’s the nickname type at all). I don’t think “Skinny” sounds very Presidential, but maybe something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/6 "2004-08-11T18:51:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m not sure that fits his personality (or if he’s the nickname type at all). I don’t think “Skinny” sounds very Presidential, but maybe something like that. You’re right, of course. But have you ever seen the guy smile? His facial features recall the tristed grimmace of the Batman villain. Whether or not he’s totally diabolical or insane or both remains to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/7 "2004-08-11T19:21:05Z")
James Earl “Snake-Hips” Carter ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/8 "2004-08-11T19:42:43Z")
I think Kerry is so boring that his Secret Service nickname will be “John Kerry.” ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/9 "2004-08-11T19:48:16Z")
I am sort of in agreement that Kerry looks a touch like Fred Gwynn, or Herman Munster, so i think Herman would be appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/10 "2004-08-11T20:45:24Z")
Andrew Jackson was ‘Old Hickory’ ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/11 "2004-08-12T19:12:28Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > [The Onion](http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4032) gets it right again. : ) In some other pit thread I may press the argument that Mr. Bush should step down, either by resigning or by failing to run for reelection, because he has lost the support to lead effectively. Like Nixon, who stated his resignation was due to his inability to govern while always a suspect, Junior should recognize he’s lost the support half of his constituency, his supreme court, half his congress, the ROTW, and most damning, Inigo Montoya. But that’s not what this thread is about. The WTF did you have to post it? Zachary Taylor - “Old Rough & Ready” ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/12 "2004-08-13T01:22:56Z")
kerry’s secret service name is minuteman. (get out of the gutter y’all.) ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/13 "2004-08-13T02:46:17Z")
Calvin Coolidge was was Silent Cal, wasn’t he? -Lil ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/14 "2004-08-13T02:57:05Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I think Kerry is so boring that his Secret Service nickname will be “John Kerry.” How do you know he’s boring? Franklin Pierce = “Hero of Many a Well-Fought Bottle” (he was accused of drunkenness) Martin Van Buren = “Old Kinderhook” Truman = “The Haberdasher” (used to run a clothing store, IIRC) ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/15 "2004-08-13T06:32:16Z")
_Bill Clinton_ - I like to call him “Kodos”. 😃 _George W. Bush_ - I’ve heard a lot of people call him “Junior”. In fact, **Inigo Montoya** calls him that in the OP. _John Kerry_ - **Inigo** mentioned a Batman villain, but I think he was referring to The Joker. I think “Clayface” would be more appropriate. Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/16 "2004-08-13T06:54:13Z")
Reagan was also called “Ronnie Ray Gun.” I read someplace that Kerry was called “JFK” in college not just because they were really his initials but because of his political aspirations and his idolization of John Kennedy. In that vein I think “Jack” might be an amusing sobriequet. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/17 "2004-08-13T07:38:20Z")
Ford: I seem to remember hearing someone years ago call him “Lefty.” I can only surmise that may have been a reference to his two left feet or that he might have gone left when he should have gone right resulting in some stumble. IOW, he was quite the klutz. Carter: My parents called him “Cah-tah.” I don’t know if that was lovingly or as regional put-down. I don’t think they were being mean-spirited, though. Reagan: Yes, “the Gipper.” But more locally to me: “Bonzo.” Bush, Sr.: I’m so disappointed that people didn’t start calling him “Ralph” after his illustrious dinner with the Ambassador of Japan (???). Clinton: “Slick Willy” of course. But “Wee Willy Wock-uh-chick-uh-Wock-uh-chick-uh” also found its way into our lexicon after the Monica debacle. _cue '70s porn music_ Bush, Jr.: “Dubya” is getting old. I propose “Herr Whackjob.” ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/18 "2004-08-13T23:26:14Z")
“Dubya” doesn’t count, since it’s one the guy uses himself. “Shrub,” as popularized by the unflappable Molly Ivens, would be a more representative example. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/19 "2004-08-14T01:45:30Z")
William Henry Harrison = Tippecanoe Abraham Lincoln = Honest Abe If Kerry is elected, maybe “Lurch” will stick. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357/20 "2004-08-14T01:53:26Z")
I don’t think people are going to call the President “Lurch.” The people who don’t like him will think of something worse, and the people who like him won’t use that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-nicknames/259357.md?page=2)