October 24, 2011
Contrary to popular belief, George Washington was NOT the first President of the United States.
July 4, 1776 is Independence Day in the United States, so it is weird that our first President did not take office until April 30, 1789 (thirteen years later). John Hanson, a representative from Maryland, was elected as "president of the United States in Congress Assembled." That’s quite a long name, and seven other men, including John Hancock, held this title before George Washington was elected President under the newly ratified Constitution in 1788.
It doesn’t seem right, but the truth is that there are a lot of false facts out there that many people tend to believe. Under close examination and considerable time in libraries, Joey Green explains some of these false facts, over 250 of them, in his book, Contrary to Popular Belief.
Other facts discussed include: Dracula, the Golden Gate Bridge, Woodstock, the speed of sound, and the Pennsylvania Dutch. Some of the facts make a lot of sense; others are pretty weird. Some of them are just unbelievable. If you’re looking for a quirky trivia resource or some time to kill, this book is for you. This book is not only proof that you can’t believe everything you hear, but also proof that libraries are amazing resources for fact-checking.
