It can be hard to get away from nicknames, even for a US president. Although nicknames are sometimes negative, they don’t have to be. Many of the names on this list (like Uncle Abe), refer to positive attributes or traits. These are 25 presidential nicknames and where they came from!
His Obstinacy - Grover Cleveland
He vetoed more bills than the first 21 presidents put together.
The Phrasemaker - Woodrow Wilson
Thanks to his eloquence, he didn’t need speech writers.
Boatman Jim - James Garfield
He worked on the Ohio canals when he was younger.
The Peanut Farmer - Jimmy Carter
He owned a peanut farm.
The Great Communicator - Ronald Reagan
Because, you guessed it, he was a great communicator.
Poppy - George H. W. Bush
It was a nickname ever since his childhood.
Bubba - Bill Clinton
This is a common nickname for males in the southern United States.
Dubya - George W Bush
This is based on the Texas pronunciation of the letter “W”.
No Drama Obama - Barack Obama
This was largely due to his cautious Presidential campaign in 2007 and his relaxed demeanor as President.
Rutherfraud - Rutherford B. Hayes
After the disputed 1876 election many people didn’t consider his presidency to be legitimate.
Unconditional Surrender Grant - Ulysses S. Grant
He became a hero for demanding nothing less than unconditional surrender.
The Tennessee Tailor - Andrew Johnson
He worked as a tailor before becoming President.
Uncle Abe - Abraham Lincoln
He was known for his kindness and friendliness. Kind of like an uncle.
Old Buck - James Buchanan
It’s basically a shortening of his last name.
Young Hickory of the Granite Hills - Franklin Pierce
This nicknamed compared his military victories in the Mexican-American War to those of Andrew Jackson. The Granite Hills is a reference to his home state of New Hampshire.
Napoleon of the Stump - James Polk
This referenced his powerful speeches during his run for the Tennessee state legislature.
His Accidency - John Tyler
This name was used by his opponents because he was the first person to become president due to the death of his predecessor (William Henry Harrison).
Washington of the West - William Henry Harrison
This was a reference to his victories at the battles of Tippecanoe and Thames.
The Careful Dutchman - Martin Van Buren
His first language was Dutch.
Old Hickory - Andrew Jackson
This was allegedly given to him by his soldiers for being as “tough as old hickory”.
The Abolitionist - John Quincy Adams
He was known for constantly bringing up the issue of slavery against Congressional rules.
The Last Cocked Hat - James Monroe
He was the last president to wear a tricorne hat.
Little Jemmy - James Madison
At 5’4”, he was the shortest president.
Old Sink or Swim - John Adams
Adams once gave a speech where he said “To sink or swim; to live or die; survive or perish with my country”.
The American Cincinnatus - George Washington
Washington was often compared to the famous Roman general Cincinnatus because despite defeating all his enemies and basically having ultimate power, he stepped down and became a private citizen. (Cincinnatus did something similar in Ancient Rome)
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