# 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:** 49
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/961 "2008-01-02T15:26:32Z")
Identify the President by his earlier gigs. 1. Editor, sanitarium resident, senator. 2. Surveyor, planter, soldier, state legislator. 3. College professor, author, governor. 4. International aid administrator, agronomist, Secretary of Commerce. 5. Lawyer, mayor, governor, strikebreaker. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/962 "2008-01-02T15:40:52Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Identify the President by his earlier gigs. 1. Surveyor, planter, soldier, state legislator. 2. College professor, author, governor. [/QUOTE] Just some guesses, here: 1. James Madison 2. Woodrow Wilson Oh, and would you believe it? I made it to Paris in just 25 hours. 😉 ---
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/963 "2008-01-02T17:04:56Z")
1. Editor, sanitarium resident, senator. **Harding** 2. International aid administrator, agronomist, Secretary of Commerce. **Hoover** 3. Lawyer, mayor, governor, strikebreaker. **Coolidge** ---
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/964 "2008-01-02T17:11:12Z")
1. This inventor made his fortune salvaging sunken Mississippi River steamboats, built Civil War ironclads, and designed & built a navigation/flood control system near New Orleans [and he wasn’t paid a dime by the Federal Govt until they were sure it worked.] 2. Another item on the President’s long & varied resume was “Flood Czar” in the aftermath of this very destructive flood. 3. This building in Chicago was considered to be the first skyscraper. 4. In Richard Nixon’s _Checkers_ Speech, how did Nixon described this article of clothing worn by his wife Pat. [Hint: it wasn’t pink underwear]? 5. And one the from Codes, Cyphers & Espionage category. Re: JFK’s aforementioned PT-109, what was the medium of the send help message sent by Kennedy & the ship’s crew? ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/965 "2008-01-02T17:15:26Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. In Richard Nixon’s Checkers Speech, how did Nixon described this article of clothing worn by his wife Pat. [Hint: it wasn’t pink underwear]? > > 2. And one the from Codes, Cyphers & Espionage category. Re: JFK’s aforementioned PT-109, what was the medium of the send help message sent by Kennedy & the ship’s crew? 1. A “plain Republican cloth coat”. 2. The messages were on coconut shells, IIRC–something like “NATIVE KNOWS POSIT”. ---
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/966 "2008-01-02T17:59:33Z")
correct on both- fire away ---
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/967 "2008-01-02T18:02:29Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Just some guesses, here: 1. James Madison 2. Woodrow Wilson Oh, and would you believe it? I made it to Paris in just 25 hours. 😉 [/QUOTE] 1. Incorrect. 2. Correct. Hope you enjoy yourself in the City of Lights! ---
**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:** [January 2, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/968 "2008-01-02T18:04:21Z")
[QUOTE=5 time champ] 602. Editor, sanitarium resident, senator. **Harding** 1. International aid administrator, agronomist, Secretary of Commerce. **Hoover** 2. Lawyer, mayor, governor, strikebreaker. **Coolidge** [/QUOTE] All correct. 1. James Eads. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/969 "2008-01-03T01:06:33Z")
1. George Washington. 2. Herbert Hoover, after the Mississippi flooded in the mid-1920s. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/970 "2008-01-03T01:29:56Z")
Some more questions, based on politicians: 1. In 1958, the Governor of California and the former Senate Majority Leader from that state engaged in an action that ended both their political careers. Who were they, and what was it? 2. In 1950 and 1952, back-to-back Senate Majority Leaders were defeated by Republicans who would become of note later. Who were they, and who were the Republicans? 3. He was the last Speaker of the House to leave his post to enter the US Senate. 4. Only one Senator has represented three states in the United States Senate. Name him and the states he represented. 5. Name the first US Senator to reach the age of 100. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/971 "2008-01-03T01:37:10Z")
[QUOTE=Governor Quinn] 615. Only one Senator has represented three states in the United States Senate. Name him and the states he represented. [/QUOTE] Okay, this is a complete guess: Daniel Webster, the Gentleman from Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/972 "2008-01-03T01:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Okay, this is a complete guess: Daniel Webster, the Gentleman from Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire? [/QUOTE] Incorrect. He only served New Hampshire in the House, and he never represented Maine at any level. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2008, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/973 "2008-01-03T05:25:07Z")
[QUOTE=Governor Quinn] 603. George Washington… [/QUOTE] Correct. I didn’t ask question 608, so I won’t answer yea or nay, but I think you’re right. And you stumped me on 612-616! Identify these noteworthy Americans by what they said. Extra credit if you provide context. 1. “Watson, come here, I want you.” 2. “The administration of justice is the surest pillar of government.” 3. “I fired [him] because of the damned insubordination of God’s right-hand man.” 4. “He doesn’t know chicken shit from chicken salad.” 5. “They won’t think anything at all, my dear.” ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/974 "2008-01-03T05:35:34Z")
[QUOTE=5 time champ] 1. This building in Chicago was considered to be the first skyscraper. [/QUOTE] The Home Insurance Building designed by William LeBaron Jenney. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/975 "2008-01-03T09:31:26Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 617. “Watson, come here, I want you.” [/QUOTE] 618: Alexander Graham Bell, the first words to pass through his telephone. IIRC he spilled one of the acid baths from one of the batteries on himself and needed assistance cleaning 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:** [January 3, 2008, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/976 "2008-01-03T16:36:28Z")
607-611 all correct Stumped on 612-616 also. Making a guess on 616 as Claude Pepper. ---
**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:** [January 3, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/977 "2008-01-03T16:39:28Z")
1. “I fired [him] because of the damned insubordination of God’s right-hand man.” \*\* Harry Truman said of Gen. Douglas MacArthur\*\* 2. “He doesn’t know chicken shit from chicken salad.” \*\* Sounds like an LBJ quote\*\* ---
**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:** [January 3, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/978 "2008-01-03T17:30:01Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] 618: Alexander Graham Bell, the first words to pass through his telephone. IIRC he spilled one of the acid baths from one of the batteries on himself and needed assistance cleaning up. [/QUOTE] Correct. **5 time champ** is also correct in his two answers. I believe LBJ was speaking of then-House Minority Whip Gerald R. Ford. Claude Pepper was in the House when he reached 100, wasn’t he? **Governor Quinn** , did you mean an incumbent senator? ---
**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:** [January 3, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/979 "2008-01-03T19:47:06Z")
But wasn’t Claude Pepper a Senator back in the New Deal days, Or are we missing the obvious- Strom Thurmond. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/980 "2008-01-03T22:27:19Z")
To respond to the last two posts: Claude Pepper was only 88 or 89 when he died, and 616 was designed as something of a trick- two different Senators (neither of them still in the Senate) reached 100 before Thurmond. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091.md?page=50)