# 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:** 68
**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:** [February 24, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1341 "2008-02-24T03:48:25Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 904. “Because they are so grateful.” [/QUOTE] 1. Benjamin Franklin, on having sex with older women. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1342 "2008-02-24T21:11:34Z")
1. “I’m going to open my front door at 4am, look both ways down the street, and then whisper, ‘It’s Bobby.’” JFK, on choosing RFK as his Attorney General ---
**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:** [February 25, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1343 "2008-02-25T03:54:52Z")
In honor of the Oscars ceremony: 1. Who is the only actor to receive two Oscars for the same role in the same film? ---
**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:** [February 25, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1344 "2008-02-25T03:57:23Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] In honor of the Oscars ceremony: 1. Who is the only actor to receive two Oscars for the same role in the same film? [/QUOTE] 2. Harold Russell, who received a special Oscar and Best Supporting Actor for his part in _The Best Years of Our Lives_ ---
**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:** [February 25, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1345 "2008-02-25T04:00:59Z")
[QUOTE=Governor Quinn] 909. Harold Russell, who received a special Oscar and Best Supporting Actor for his part in _The Best Years of Our Lives_ [/QUOTE] Bingo! That’s the answer. The Academy thought he would not win but wanted to honor him in some way, so they arranged a special Oscar. But then he DID win after all. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1346 "2008-02-25T14:24:10Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] 904. Benjamin Franklin, on having sex with older women. [/QUOTE] Correct. And **want2know** is correct about JFK and RFK. 1. Name the Federal judge swore in LBJ on Nov. 22, 1963. 2. Who first swore in Calvin Coolidge as President? 3. Why was this controversial? 4. Harry Truman reacted badly to what _Washington Post_ music critic, and why? 5. Who bought the first White House china to actually feature pictures of the house itself? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1347 "2008-02-25T14:43:11Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Correct. And **want2know** is correct about JFK and RFK. 1. Name the Federal judge swore in LBJ on Nov. 22, 1963. 2. Who first swore in Calvin Coolidge as President? 3. Why was this controversial? [/QUOTE] 4. Thurgood Marshall. 5. His dad, IIRC, in the attic of their home, by candlelight. I may be mixing up the details with someone else. 6. He used a nonstandard Bible or something like that. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1348 "2008-02-25T16:38:33Z")
1. Harry Truman reacted badly to what Washington Post music critic, and why? The music critic of the Post wrote a very unflattering review of Margaret Truman’s piano recital. In turn Harry wrote the music critic a very rude letter. He said if he ever met the critic in person, the critic would need " a steak for his black eye and a supporter." I guess Truman was a pioneer “helicopter parent.” Margaret Truman Daniel died earlier this year. The name of the critic? I can’t remember. NPR did a story at the time of Margaret’s death, but I don’t think they gave the critic’s name. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1349 "2008-02-26T14:13:06Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] 910. Thurgood Marshall. 911. His dad, IIRC, in the attic of their home, by candlelight. I may be mixing up the details with someone else. 912. He used a nonstandard Bible or something like that. [/QUOTE] 1. No. 2. Yes, his dad by candlelight, but it was on the first floor, not the attic. (I’ve been in the room). 3. No. **5 time champ** , you’re kinda right but more kinda wrong as to question 913. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1350 "2008-02-26T14:36:55Z")
1. What was significant about the Halibut Treaty of 1923 (other than to people interested in the halibut fishery)? 2. Who was the only person other than a President or Vice President ever to formally convene a Cabinet meeting? 3. The only Presidential election in which a third party polled more electoral votes than the losing major party? 4. Referring to thre same election as 917, what was unique about the Presidential candidates in that election? (Other elections may have had 67% of this uniqueness-- what makes this one unique in that regard?) ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1351 "2008-02-26T14:43:54Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] 917. The only Presidential election in which a third party polled more electoral votes than the losing major party? 1. Referring to thre same election as 917, what was unique about the Presidential candidates in that election? (Other elections may have had 67% of this uniqueness-- what makes this one unique in that regard?) [/QUOTE] 2. I’m not sure as to the year, but wasn’t this the result when Theodore Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party ran for his election as president? 3. Well, if I’m right for 917, that’s the only time I can think of where a former president ran for office under the auspices of a party other than the one he’d been a member of while he served as president. ETA: I just had a flash of an idea for 916. Who was the only person other than a President or Vice President ever to formally convene a Cabinet meeting? 916. I’m going to guess that this was Woodrow Wilson’s First Lady. (Edith? I’m less certain of her name.) ---
**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:** [February 26, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1352 "2008-02-26T15:12:07Z")
1. The only Presidential election in which a third party polled more electoral votes than the losing major party? 1912, Theodore Roosvelt running on the Bull Moose [Progressive] ticket came in second to Woodrow Wilson, but finishing ahead of Taft the Republican. Umm- where was **Loki’s** post? I didn’t see it until I posted mine. :o ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1353 "2008-02-26T15:13:54Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 907. “When the President does it, that means it is not illegal.” [/QUOTE] 1. Nixon, during Watergate. [QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 912. Why was this [Coolidge swearing in] controversial? [/QUOTE] 1. Something about his dad being a justice of the peace and not a “real” judge. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1354 "2008-02-26T16:11:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Elendil’s Heir > 912. Why was this [Coolidge swearing in] controversial? > 912. Something about his dad being a justice of the peace and not a “real” judge. JP’s _are_ real judges (at least in this state); Coolidge’s father was a notary public. > [@](#): > > 1. Who was the only person other than a President or Vice President ever to formally convene a Cabinet meeting? Just a guess, but I’d say Woodrow Wilson’s wife while Wilson was incapacitated after a stroke. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1355 "2008-02-26T16:19:01Z")
[QUOTE=Petey] 907. Nixon, during Watergate. 1. Something about his dad being a justice of the peace and not a “real” judge. [/QUOTE] 2. Close enough. It was a few years afterwards, when Nixon was being interviewed by David Frost for the BBC. Hard to believe he actually said it, but he did. 3. Correct. Coolidge’s dad was a Vermont justice of the peace. Most legal observers thought and still think that he was empowered to administer the oath, but just in case, Coolidge was sworn in again when he reached Washington the next day. 4. I’m probably wrong, but… SecState Alexander Haig in 1981, after Reagan was shot and while VP Bush was out of town? Who said it? Bonus points for context. 1. “[A particular President] has all the backbone of a chocolate eclair.” 2. “A first-class temperament but a second-rate mind.” 3. “I choose not to run.” 4. “Let us never forget that this a _Constitution_ we are interpreting.” 5. “I could carve a better judge out of a banana.” ---
**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:** [February 26, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1356 "2008-02-26T16:28:29Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 921. “I choose not to run.” [/QUOTE] 1. LBJ? in 1968, announcing his decision not to run again? A decision I believe was brought about by the Tet offensive in Vietnam earlier that year. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1357 "2008-02-26T16:39:02Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] 912. Correct. Coolidge’s dad was a Vermont justice of the peace. Most legal observers thought and still think that he was empowered to administer the oath, but just in case, Coolidge was sworn in again when he reached Washington the next day. [/QUOTE] Um, **Elendil** , you might want to read [this.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_coolidge#Succession_to_the_Presidency) I assure you, I did not look this up before answering; I remember learning this in grade school history class. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1358 "2008-02-26T16:56:38Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] JP’s _are_ real judges (at least in this state); Coolidge’s father was a notary public. [/QUOTE] That’s why I put real in quotes. But it appears both **Elendil’s Heir** and I misremembered Coolidge Sr. being a justice of the peace. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1359 "2008-02-26T17:28:25Z")
I visited the little town where Coolidge was sworn in (not going to mention its name; that might be a future question in this thread!) a few years ago with my wife, a Vermonter, and was _certain_ that the elder Coolidge was a J.P. Huh. 😕 ---
**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:** [February 26, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091/1360 "2008-02-26T17:29:56Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] 921. LBJ? in 1968, announcing his decision not to run again? A decision I believe was brought about by the Tet offensive in Vietnam earlier that year. [/QUOTE] Incorrect. (LBJ did as you said, but he didn’t utter these words). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091.md?page=67) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-history-trivia-quiz/424091.md?page=69)