Pondering Presidential visits

President Obama was in Holland, Michigan today for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the site of  new battery plant. Now, I am not one who is very passionate about politics, but I did pay a little more attention when I heard the president was coming to my city. The area in Michigan where I live is a very conservative Republican community, so President Obama was not welcomed totally with open arms. He also did not come to our community with only kind words. There was a little 'bashing' going on at the expense of the man whom I will be vote for to be the next Governor of Michigan. So anyway, enough said. I am not confident that this whole battery plant incentive thing is a great idea. Are battery operated cars really going to take off and be a thing of the future? We shall see. Like I said, I am not one who spends all, if any of my waking hours thinking about politics. (we were supposed to attend a dinner for a gubernatorial candidate this evening and we will support him, we just aren't the type to rub political elbows) Don't get me wrong, I think it is important and I will educate myself to vote responsibly and in a manner I feel God is leading. I am glad there are people that God has gifted with that passion (like Pete Hoekstra-just a little plug for Pete).
So the gist of this blog is that in my curiosity of history I wondered how often Holland has had a president visit.
This is what I found:
1900: Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican candidate for vice president, came during a campaign stop, spoke at Centennial Park.

1920: Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democratic candidate for vice president, spoke at Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland. He was assistant secretary of the Navy at the time.
1952: Richard Nixon came when he was running for Republican vice president with Dwight Eisenhower. They were elected in the fall. Nixon spoke at the Holland Depot.
Grand Rapids Press File Photo Gerald and Betty Ford ride in Holland's Tulip Time parade May 15, 1976, as they campaign for the Michigan primary.
1976: Gerald R. Ford, as sitting president, came to Tulip Time when his daughter, Susan, was the Grand Marshal of Tulip Times Parade of Bands.
1980: Former presidents George H.W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan attended the 1980 Tulip Time Parade of Bands while they both were running for the Republican nomination for president. Reagan won the GOP nomination that year and defeated President Jimmy Carter in the November election. Bush was elected vice president.
1992: George H.W. Bush, as president, returned during a campaign stop for re-election. He spoke at Hope College.
2000: George H. W. Bush as former president was the keynote speaker during a rally for his son, presidential candidate George W. Bush, in the Hope College Dow Center during a visit in October.
2004: George W. Bush visits Ottawa County fairgrounds, campaigning for his second term.
Just a few interesting facts of history.
I just want to emphasize that I am very thankful to anyone who passionately chooses to serve the people, this country, and God by being a part of this government. This comes from the proud daughter of a WW2 veteran.
~bekuyps