Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin HarrisonPresident Harrison\'s single term fell between the two terms of Grover Cleveland, a Democrat. Cleveland was popular with the people but unpopular with political leaders. Harrison was popular with neither. There was indeed something of a mystery in his being elected at all. He was serious and dignified, not a hand-shaking politician and not a leader of men.
On July 1, 1862, Lincoln called for more troops. Harrison went to the governor, who asked him to recruit a regiment. On his way back to his office, he bought a military cap and hired a fifer and a drummer. Then he put a flag out of his office window and began recruiting. When the regiment was complete, the governor commissioned him a colonel, and Harrison set off with his troops. By day he drilled his men; at night he studied tactics. Always he looked after his soldiers\' needs. They called him Little Ben.
General Harrison went back to his work at the Supreme Court and his law practice. He also took over again his large Bible class in the Presbyterian church, where his wife taught Sunday school.
In 1876 Harrison ran for governor of Indiana. The Democrats called him \"cold as an iceberg\" and nicknamed him Kid-Glove Harrison. The Democratic candidate, nicknamed Blue Jeans, won the election.
Four years...
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