Mnemonic Device to remember the Presidents
When A Joke Made Me A Joker, Van Held The Poker, The Fiery Poker, But Long John Grant Had Gone And Chased His Crazy Mooses ‘Round The West Hollering, “Can’t Help Rinse Those Empty Kettles Just Now, Friend.” Come ‘Round By Charlie’s Bed Often (or: Colanders Rinse Bad Cabbage Best, Obviously)
Explanation
A rhyme to remember the U. S. Presidents in order. The first letter of each word corresponds to the first letter of the last name of each president. “Chased” and “Crazy” both refer to Grover Cleveland and represent his two split terms. I know that the plural of “moose” is not “mooses,” but that’s how it was taught to us. The mnemonic has remained unchanged from “When” to “Friend” for quite a while now.
The order of the presidents of the U.S.
- Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, (Quincy) Adams, Jackson,
- Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, Polk,
- Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce,
- Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield,
- Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland, McKinley,
- Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding,
- Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford,
- Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama
Note: this mnemonic covers the presidents through Barack Obama (the 44th president) and hasn't been extended for the presidents since. If you'd like to suggest an updated version, get in touch.
Alternatives
- Washington's Army Jogged Many Miles, And Jogged Very Hard To Philadelphia, To Find Pretty British Ladies
- When A Joke Made Me A Joker, Van Had To Poke The Fiery Poker
- Will A Jolly Man Make A Jolly Visitor? How Truly Poor That First Paper Boy Looks
- (second set of eight presidents) Happy Teens Poked The First Purple-Bearded Lamb
See also Wikipedia, a list of all the presidents of the US.