# U.S. History trivia quiz **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 26, 2007, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091 "2007-10-26T12:09:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 46
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/901 "2007-12-25T01:42:52Z")
1. Author’s Row, in Concord, MA, refers to what? 2. What eighteenth century charismatic spiritual revival movement leader shares a name with a recent Presidential candidate? 3. Who was the first US Naval officer in non-line service to make flag rank? 4. The US Naval officers Bainbridge and Hull share a distinction. What is it? 5. Why do some people find it amusing/ironic that a certain Mr. Smoot was the President of the International Organization of Standards? Merry Christmas, everyone! ETA: > [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > 1. This notable American battle was fought on Christmas Day. 1. Trenton. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/902 "2007-12-25T01:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] 569. Why do some people find it amusing/ironic that a certain Mr. Smoot was the President of the International Organization of Standards? . [/QUOTE] The body length of a certain undergraduate Smoot was once used to measure a bridge in Massachusetts. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/903 "2007-12-25T01:55:53Z")
**Random** , correct. IIRC the bridge was one of those crossing the Charles connecting Boston to Cambridge. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/904 "2007-12-25T01:55:56Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] 1. The US Naval officers Bainbridge and Hull share a distinction. What is it? [/QUOTE] Both captained the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/905 "2007-12-25T02:06:47Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Both captained the Constitution. [/QUOTE] Correct again. During the War of 1812. And each, I believe, captured several RN vessels. ETA: And here I thought that it was 567 that was the gimme question. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/906 "2007-12-25T02:23:41Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] ETA: And here I thought that it was 567 that was the gimme question. [/QUOTE] Grace Hopper is the name that came to mind, but I figured some doctor or chaplain had to have made flag rank in WWII, so I don_t think I_m correct. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/907 "2007-12-25T02:31:10Z")
[QUOTE=Random] Grace Hopper is the name that came to mind, but I figured some doctor or chaplain had to have made flag rank in WWII, so I don_t think I_m correct. [/QUOTE] Nope, it’s not Amazing Grace. I’m a big fan of hers, but she wasn’t whom I was thinking of. And the officer I’m thinking of was already flag rank when she was raised to it herself. And he’s not medical or chaplain corps, either. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/908 "2007-12-25T04:03:28Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 559. I think that was a few days later, wasn’t it? **Siam Sam** has it - the “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” inaugural address. [/QUOTE] That inauguration was also notable for being the last one in March. FDR’s second inauguration was the first one to be held on January 20, in 1937. The 3-1/2 month lag time before was largely a result of it taking so long to get one’s afffairs in order and then journeying to Washington to take up the post. But modern transportation had cut travel time way down by the 1930s. A more important consideration that I’ve read, though, was that in the 1932 election, people badly wanted Hoover out and FDR in and felt 3 1/2 months had been WAY too long to wait, considering the desperate situation of the times. So it was decided to move the inauguration date up. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/909 "2007-12-25T04:25:25Z")
1. What eighteenth century charismatic spiritual revival movement leader shares a name with a recent Presidential candidate? **Jonathan Edwards** 2. March 1, 1803 - The date Lewis and Clark pushed off from St Louis? **Lewis & Clark left much later than 3/1/1803. How about the aforementioned “Interview at Weehawken,” the Burr-Hamilton Duel**? 3. President Reagan preferred to celebrate Christmas here. **California White House: Santa Barbara**?? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/910 "2007-12-25T04:35:57Z")
**5 Time Champ** is right with his answer for 566. And now, I’m off to bed. I hope everyone enjoys their holiday! ---
**Author:** ![Saratoga\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Saratoga\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saratoga_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/911 "2007-12-25T04:36:27Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] 565. Author’s Row, in Concord, MA, refers to what? 1. What eighteenth century charismatic spiritual revival movement leader shares a name with a recent Presidential candidate? 2. Who was the first US Naval officer in non-line service to make flag rank? 3. The US Naval officers Bainbridge and Hull share a distinction. What is it? 4. Why do some people find it amusing/ironic that a certain Mr. Smoot was the President of the International Organization of Standards? Merry Christmas, everyone! ETA: 1. Trenton. [/QUOTE] 2. Hyman Rickover? 3. Couldn’t be Trenton; Washington’s army rowed over the Delaware on Christmas evening, then fought the battle the following morning (Dec 26) ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/912 "2007-12-26T04:51:53Z")
[QUOTE=Saratoga Sam] 567. Hyman Rickover? 1. Couldn’t be Trenton; Washington’s army rowed over the Delaware on Christmas evening, then fought the battle the following morning (Dec 26) [/QUOTE] You’re right about Rickover. As for Trenton, I’m not going to insist that I was right, I’d just remembered reading something about it, and Monroe’s actions in the battle that made me think it might have happened on Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/913 "2007-12-28T23:12:04Z")
[QUOTE=Governor Quinn] 562. [re: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus] The _New York Sun_ (the historic one, not the current one) [/QUOTE] Incorrect. For 560, I _was_ thinking of the Battle of Trenton, which I’d (mis?)remembered was fought on Dec. 25. My bad. **Siam Sam** , I’ve read the same thing elsewhere was to why Inauguration Day was moved forward from March 4 to Jan. 20. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/914 "2007-12-28T23:21:26Z")
[QUOTE=5 time champ] … 556. March 1, 1803 - The date Lewis and Clark pushed off from St Louis? **Lewis & Clark left much later than 3/1/1803. How about the aforementioned “Interview at Weehawken,” the Burr-Hamilton Duel**? 1. President Reagan preferred to celebrate Christmas here. **California White House: Santa Barbara**?? [/QUOTE] Incorrect as to both. **OtakuLoki** , I remember reading in _Time_ magazine that then-Navy Secretary John Lehman hurriedly named a nuclear submarine after Rickover because he feared that Congress would otherwise name a supercarrier after him. Presidential travels. 1. George Washington traveled outside of what is now the U.S. only once in his lifetime. Where did he go? 2. Abraham Lincoln also _maybe_ traveled outside of what is now the U.S. only once in his lifetime (his biographers aren’t quite sure). If he went anywhere else, where was it? 3. Who was the first President to leave the U.S. during his term in office, and where did he go? 4. President Truman conducted his famous 1948 “Whistlestop Campaign” aboard this plush, armored, distinctively-named railroad car. 5. What was noteworthy about President Nixon’s return from his historic 1972 state visit to China? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/915 "2007-12-28T23:25:09Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] **OtakuLoki** , I remember reading in _Time_ magazine that then-Navy Secretary John Lehman hurriedly named a nuclear submarine after Rickover because he feared that Congress would otherwise name a supercarrier after him. [/QUOTE] LOL I’d not heard that. I can believe it, though. He was not popular with the brass nor the civilian chain-of-command from all I’d heard. And his popularity in Congress was hard to believe. ISTR that all his promotions above the rank of Captain were forced on an unwilling Navy by Congress. ETA: Honestly, though, I’d rather have a birdfarm named for Rickover, than trying to explain to people who John C. Stennis was. (Though I’ll admit the sub was probably more appropriate.) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/916 "2007-12-29T00:23:39Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Incorrect as to both. **OtakuLoki** , I remember reading in _Time_ magazine that then-Navy Secretary John Lehman hurriedly named a nuclear submarine after Rickover because he feared that Congress would otherwise name a supercarrier after him. Presidential travels. 1. George Washington traveled outside of what is now the U.S. only once in his lifetime. Where did he go? 2. Abraham Lincoln also _maybe_ traveled outside of what is now the U.S. only once in his lifetime (his biographers aren’t quite sure). If he went anywhere else, where was it? 3. Who was the first President to leave the U.S. during his term in office, and where did he go? [/QUOTE] 4. Canada? 5. Canada? 6. Definitely Canada, Warren G. Harding. ---
**Author:** ![Saratoga\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Saratoga\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saratoga_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/917 "2007-12-29T01:35:03Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Presidential travels. 1. George Washington traveled outside of what is now the U.S. only once in his lifetime. Where did he go? [/QUOTE] 1. Barbados, where I believe he caught smallpox ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/918 "2007-12-29T04:45:33Z")
Well, **Elendil** you may have stumped me on a group of questions. 1. Abraham Lincoln also maybe traveled outside of what is now the U.S. only once in his lifetime (his biographers aren’t quite sure). If he went anywhere else, where was it? **I was unaware that Lincoln ever left the US So if it isn’t Canada, how about that he secretly strategized with his generals on one occasion in Bermuda**?? 2. President Truman conducted his famous 1948 “Whistlestop Campaign” aboard this plush, armored, distinctively-named railroad car. **I oughta know this one–How about the Missouri Mule**?? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/919 "2007-12-29T05:43:14Z")
[QUOTE=Saratoga Sam] 570. Barbados, where I believe he caught smallpox [/QUOTE] Correct. Washington went in his teens with his half-brother Lawrence, who was having health problems (tuberculosis, IIRC). The house in which they stayed was recently restored by a joint U.S.-Barbados nonprofit group. GW’s smallpox immunity led him to have his own troops vaccinated during the Revolution, much to their advantage. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2007, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/920 "2007-12-29T05:44:31Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] … 572. Definitely Canada, Warren G. Harding. [/QUOTE] Incorrect. Think earlier, and it wasn’t Lincoln (see next answer). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091.md?page=47)