Comments on: Common programming errors and presidential inaugurations

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:52:26 +0000

You suggested that the "transition of power" when George Washington became President wasn't particularly peaceful.It was always my understanding, however, that both the ratification of the Constitution and the election of G.W. were quite peaceful. I assume that even Cyrus Griffin stepped down gracefully.Not that the affair wasn't politically tricky, mind you; the Articles of Confederation may have been clearly insufficient, but that didn't mean that everyone was excited about the Constitution.Well, perhaps we could quibble over the "State of Franklin"; one might argue that the military actions by North Carolina placed something of a "violent chill" over those states who would have preferred a more independent government…

By: Nigel Jones

Nigel Jones — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:34:00 +0000

I'm not sure I follow your logic. Grover Cleveland was indeed president for two non-consecutive terms, meaning that there have been 43 different men that have served as President. However, he is treated as both the 22nd and the 24th president (see, for example, here). Thus unless I'm missing something there have been 43 transfers of power. As David Klein pointed out, the question of 'peaceful' is much more debatable.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Not so fast…Grover Cleveland was president for two non-consecutive terms. So indeed Barack Obama is the 44th president and this was the 44th peaceful transfer of power from one elected president to the next.

By: David Klein

David Klein — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:35:00 +0000

It is kinda hard to consider Johnson’s takeover after the assassination of Kennedy or Lincoln as “peaceful” either.