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How Well Do You Know Your Presidents?

A Pajiba Quiz / Dustin Rowles

Seriously Random Lists | November 4, 2008 | Comments (71)


Not-So Fun Fact: As a high-schooler, I played Quiz Bowl. I was pretty good, too. My expertise was popular culture and American History. Unfortunately, a future champion of College Jeopardy and a finalist in their Series Long Tournament of Champions was also on my team. His expertise was also current events and American history. We were 8th in the nation — I rarely got to play. You think being a benchwarmer on your high school basketball team is pathetic? Try being a benchwarmer on your high-school Quiz Bowl team. Yeah.

Still, I did carry with me all these years an incredibly amount of useless Presidential Trivia knowledge that I gained by studying for months and months for no apparent reason So, I’m dumping it onto you folks — readers of a pop-culture site. Hahahahahahaha: Fuck You.

Again, it’s a short quiz (less than five minutes long) and, again, a T-shirt goes to our winner, so long as you post your results in the comments and register your score with the system. (Speaking of which, DarthCorleone was the winner of the Romantic Comedy quiz. Please send your details to me at dustin a pajiba dot com to receive your DVD).

Have at it, folks:


The Ten Greatest Fictional Presidents | Trailer for Johnny Got His Gun



Comments

ForsakenCM: 1765!

Posted by: Colin at November 4, 2008 2:11 PM

475. I'm English = my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Posted by: jarizle at November 4, 2008 2:13 PM

Proud former captain of the FHS quiz bowl team. Only got 1264. My skills must be getting pretty rusty.

Posted by: Nate at November 4, 2008 2:15 PM

799.

Yes, I am a math person. I'm also a Canadian with little to no interest in old American politics at the moment, because university is currently taking up exactly all of my brain space for the time being. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Posted by: dsbs at November 4, 2008 2:16 PM

1435. Not too shabby.

Now I want to reread Assassination Vacation.

Posted by: Julie at November 4, 2008 2:17 PM

I was captain of my HS Quiz Bowl team as well. What was weird is that half of my team was made up of the most dedicated potheads and heavy drinkers Hesston KS had ever seen. If you have been to Quiz Bowl meets you would just how much a team like that would stick out.

Posted by: dylanj at November 4, 2008 2:19 PM

1278. Damn. And I also did Quizbowl- well actually in New Hampshire it's called Granite State Challenge. We came in 3rd in the state my year; the next team won. I was so damn jealous we only did it every other year so I was only able to do it once in high school. But woohoo trivia!

Posted by: Rorny at November 4, 2008 2:20 PM

Hahahaha, I got under a thousand! Hahahahaha!

The funny part is? I AM a History person! Only, I'm an ancient history person, I could care less about anything that happened sooner than about 1800. So that's my defense.

Posted by: lizzieborden at November 4, 2008 2:22 PM

956. Not the top of the dog pile, but not the bottom of it either. Gotta say, being more than a decade removed from the lessons where this shit was crammed down my throat once a year for a week, I'm kinda proud I remembered as much as I did. Most of my memorization for school was for regurgitation and NOT comprehension. Regurgitation was easier.

Posted by: Roaddog at November 4, 2008 2:23 PM

1352

I'm Canadian though. Gimme a break, you don't know that much about us either. Assassination Vacation was fantastic. I asked for The Wordy Shipmates for my birthday!

Posted by: becks at November 4, 2008 2:26 PM

576. I'm not worthwhile.

But I seemed to get the ones most people got wrong right.

We Canadians are so backwards.

Posted by: Admin11 at November 4, 2008 2:30 PM

Damn, why don't we have hooker presidential candidates anymore?

It's like I've always said: Voter turnout would be a lot higher if we had more politicians like Tina Turner in Beyond Thunderdome.

Posted by: Todd at November 4, 2008 2:31 PM

First time around: 435.

Second time around: 1478!

I pride myself on my memory skills, if nothing else. :)

Which, not that you care but I'm telling you anyway, is how I passed my Series 7 exam. Now run away from your stock broker as fast as possible.

Posted by: boo at November 4, 2008 2:38 PM

Maybe it's my depraived thought process but....doesn't that header picture look like Bushy is getting ready to receive the money shot?

Posted by: Admin11 at November 4, 2008 2:41 PM

901

Another Canadian here. I think I would've gotten higher but I jumped at Agnew on the first question without even seeing Ford there.

What I'm most proud of is the fact that being able to answer the bachelor President question means that those years of watching Welcome Back Kotter have finally been validated.

Posted by: kushiro at November 4, 2008 2:41 PM

Negative. I scored negative points. I suck...

Posted by: Skitz at November 4, 2008 2:42 PM

Under a thousand, but I went to elementary school in the 90's where we didn't learn history, we learned how to take standardized tests. (Not a joke, we had a class where we took "practice" standardized tests to prepare us for the real thing.)

Still, I should probably read up on past US presidents.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at November 4, 2008 2:42 PM

919...Being an engineering major, I really only know about Hoover and Carter I guess.

Posted by: Diablo at November 4, 2008 2:45 PM

983, and pissed. Me no likey the online quiz thingy. This is the third one in a row where the 2x2 placement of the buttons has confounded me. I guess I'm very much a serial -- and Occidental -- processor of information, so having to perform a mental "carriage return" really fucks my reflexes up...that's my excuse, anyway, for why I keep hitting the wrong buttons even when I'm staring at what I know to be the right answer.

Posted by: Che Grovera at November 4, 2008 2:46 PM

631. I only knew the answer to 2 questions, and got lucky on the other 4. I'm pathetic. Does it help if I was raised in England and didn't learn any American History? Now ask me anything that occurred before 1066 in England and I'll nail that quiz!

Posted by: BWeaves at November 4, 2008 2:47 PM

....doesn't that header picture look like Bushy is getting ready to receive the money shot?

Totally. He looks like he just told someone to cum on his tits.

Posted by: Julie at November 4, 2008 2:49 PM

1472/2000! Not amazing, but I'm pleased. I love Presidential trivia.

Incidentally, there's a mistake in the quiz. You asked who was the only President to be a grandson of another President, and the 'right' answer was William Henry Harrison. The absolutely correct answer should've been BENJAMIN Harrison.

Posted by: vic at November 4, 2008 2:56 PM

Admin11, he kinda looks like an obliging girlfriend who's instructing "Ok, you can try it in there, but do it slowly."

Posted by: becks at November 4, 2008 2:58 PM

Bucdaddy already told you that you can't give yourself a shirt Julie. So stop it!

Posted by: Admin11 at November 4, 2008 2:59 PM

I disagree becks, if your going to go that route it looks more like Cheney telling George to "quit crying and take it like a man."

Posted by: Admin11 at November 4, 2008 3:08 PM

1472? I guess you can say my finger is magical.

Interpret that as you wish...

Posted by: Sofía at November 4, 2008 3:10 PM

Wow, that is a sexy thought.

Posted by: becks at November 4, 2008 3:15 PM

I dunno, to me the picture is a lot less "anal-rapey" and much more "I just found out I can't use Camp David in a few months."

Posted by: Roaddog at November 4, 2008 3:17 PM

14 hundred something on my first try...I mis-clicked one as well. I've always been a fan of Presidential trivia (Pierce and Polk were bastards), and I recently saw an excellent play called "43 Plays For 43 Presidents," which probably helped refresh my memory.

I was a quiz bowl guy myself, but our school didn't really do much to encourage or fund the team. We had about one random invitational tournament per year, and that was it.

Incidentally, I proudly except the mantle of romantic comedy champion, as this is no doubt a title that I can use to get at least a few dates. (Any takers? I'm the grand champion of the Pajiba romantic comedy quiz! C'mon, ladies...) However, admittedly that high score was NOT achieved on my first try.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 4, 2008 3:50 PM

182. I'm English, which is apparently not as good an excuse as I thought, seeing as jarizle managed well over twice that...

Posted by: Gumble at November 4, 2008 3:52 PM

Oh, dear Godtopus -- what is this about multiple attempts? Doesn't anyone play anything straight anymore? I would accept nothing less than a perfect score on a second attempt at a quiz like this...well, if the buttons were rearranged to run entirely left-to-right or top-to-bottom (see my earlier post).

Posted by: Che Grovera at November 4, 2008 3:54 PM

887, Canadian and frankly kinda impressed with myself.

Posted by: Jams at November 4, 2008 4:34 PM

1191, and that's because I blanked on Assassins for a second and clicked the wrong button.

I also learned that Bill Clinton is left handed today. Good to know.

Posted by: Robert at November 4, 2008 4:35 PM

I got 1563, and I'm English, which makes that more impressive, or probably pathetic. Ah, well.

Posted by: Marriott67 at November 4, 2008 4:41 PM

I proudly except the mantle of romantic comedy champion.

Posted by: DarthCorleone

By "except", do you mean to say that you won't accept it and let the second-best score win the t-shirt? Because in that case, I owe Dustin an e-mail. Oh, and I scored that high on my FIRST try, thank you very much.

Posted by: Sofía at November 4, 2008 4:43 PM

1007.. not too bad for a Theatre major.

Posted by: HJ at November 4, 2008 4:50 PM

Sofia>> My brain is falling apart. I never thought I'd see the day when homonyms would give me this much trouble typing, although really I'm not sure "accept" and "except" even qualify. Sure - I'll cede the prize to you if you scored 1950+ on your first try. The only reason I did it a second time in the first place was because I missed that they gave you the correct answers in green and wanted to find out what they were. Can I safely assume that all on future quizzes all Pajibans will bow to the honor system and only take the quiz once?

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 4, 2008 4:56 PM

For the record, I offer my solemn apology for tainting the contest.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 4, 2008 4:58 PM

on all future quizzes, that is

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 4, 2008 4:59 PM

CHEATER!! Grrrrarrgggggbleeergzuuuhh!

:p

Posted by: Julie at November 4, 2008 5:02 PM

DarthCorleone,

When I said "my first try" I meant "my first twenty tries."

Nah, just kidding. It's okay. But thanks for being such a gentleman. Does this mean you also open doors for ladies and not-so-ladies? If so, are you single? If you're not, are you looking for a female slave? And if it's none of the above and you're a homosexual, will you be my bestest friend ever who also opens doors for me?

Posted by: Sofía at November 4, 2008 5:03 PM

Who knew you were so needy, Sofia? ;)

Posted by: Che Grovera at November 4, 2008 6:41 PM

Needy? Nah... just overly friendly... I think.

Posted by: Sofía at November 4, 2008 6:55 PM

1047...and I majored in History! Blergh. It's more difficult for me when there's a time clock, because I'm indecisive, and I panic and just pick something...oh, well!

Posted by: Cait at November 4, 2008 7:01 PM

833. I'm unimpressed with myself. The timed thing screws me up, because sometimes I click on one, and then have a DOH!! moment, because I actually knew the right answer.

Posted by: Alexandra at November 4, 2008 7:02 PM

1555. I have a life, but as a child I spent a summer laid up after knee surgery and read the encyclopedia from A to Z. It's amazing what kind of trivial crap I can pull up. And yes, I was on the "In The Know" team in high school.

On the other hand, I made some serious bucks playing Trivial Pursuit...

Posted by: funtime42 at November 4, 2008 7:04 PM

685...I should be ashamed, but I'm Canadian, never was a history buff, and have absolutely no interest in politics.

In other words, I'm shameless.

Posted by: meaux at November 4, 2008 7:10 PM

Didn't know we could do it twice. 1418 on my second try. I blame my touch-pad mouse for making me slower...

Posted by: Alexandra at November 4, 2008 7:11 PM

928
hmph
i suck at trivial knowledge concerning my president's handedness

Posted by: courtney 1 at November 4, 2008 7:27 PM

Fun fact: If my score were a year, it would be the year George Washington started his first term as president: 1789. Why do I know that? Because I'm a fucking loser.

Although, I think I may have cheated, because my roommate took this quiz before I did and I told her Taft was the bachelor president and she threw stuff at me when I was wrong, which is why I picked Buchanan instead.

Posted by: Marra at November 4, 2008 7:50 PM

Knowledge is power, Marra. That makes you a superhero. I'm sure you can come up with a kick-ass costume for yourself.

Just remember: knowing a lot of stuff doesn't make you a loser. It means you're not ignorant.

SOFIA / BIG-ASS HANDS '12

Posted by: Sofía at November 4, 2008 8:04 PM

1042 - I'm Australian and that's probably better than I'd do on an Australian Prime Minister's Quiz. I'm not sure what that says about me other than confirming that I watch too much Jeopardy! and The West Wing. Also, Anderson Cooper is hot and it's hard not to accidentally take in information when he speaks. He's soooooothing . . . it just seeps into my brain.

Posted by: TallulahBelle at November 4, 2008 8:20 PM

Mini-Diversion: how many of us were members of our high school quiz teams? Former captain, here.

But history totally wasn't my thing. 1072.

Posted by: Girlnone at November 4, 2008 8:20 PM

1061...I wish I could click faster. :P

Posted by: CJSpooks at November 4, 2008 9:12 PM

It's pretty amazing that so many of us were Quiz Bowlers in HS. Which means we all got laid on the daily and wore our letter jackets around school all the time right?

Posted by: dylanj at November 4, 2008 9:28 PM

529 but I'm Canadian so that's alright... right?

Posted by: darwinfox at November 4, 2008 10:07 PM

1481. My facility for useless factoids comes in handy from time to time. One quibble, though, William Henry Harrison was the grandfather to Benjamin Harrison. The question phrased it like William was the grandson.

Posted by: rlr260 at November 4, 2008 11:08 PM

Sorry, I commented before I read the thread. I didn't realize vic had already addressed the Harrison question. And yes, I am a nerd.

Posted by: rlr260 at November 4, 2008 11:16 PM

365 the first time (hey, I'm Australian and the majority of my knowledge of American history comes from The Simpsons). However, I got 1508 the second time, so at least one part of my brain works.

Posted by: James at November 4, 2008 11:40 PM

I got an 1120, and most of that was thanks to Drunk History.

Posted by: heather at November 4, 2008 11:50 PM

713...but I'm a Canadian Studies major, so fuck it.

Posted by: malomalomalo at November 5, 2008 12:58 AM

1876. Which is what it should be considering I am a wannabe American History teacher. I read the strange facts about presidents to my kids at bedtime on occasion, yes they ask before I do it.

Again, congrats Obama backers, I just hope you are all right on your choice.

Posted by: richmac at November 5, 2008 2:16 AM

Again, congrats Obama backers, I just hope you are all right on your choice.

Posted by: richmac at November 5, 2008 2:16 AM

Yes, we are.

Posted by: Che Grovera at November 5, 2008 7:26 AM

740 and Irish.

Posted by: csb at November 5, 2008 7:35 AM

Che, as a fellow resident of Illinois I have to respectfully disagree. Like what is being mentioned on a different thread here, he will not have the luxury of JFK and grow into the office. JFK was better prepared and he still did not get his feet under him until 1963 and our electorate is a lot less tolerant today. BHO will have to hit the ground running and I believe those in his own party, Reid Pelosi, will be his biggest obstacles, just like for Clinton in 1993.

Posted by: richmac at November 5, 2008 10:57 AM

1717, and I'm from Bangladesh (has anybody ever heard of that country)?

Posted by: Emran at November 5, 2008 9:10 PM

479. I'll use the excuse that I'm Australian.

Posted by: Wombat at November 6, 2008 2:30 AM

1717, and I'm from Bangladesh (has anybody ever heard of that country)?

Posted by: Emran at November 5, 2008 9:10 PM

Absolutely. T-Rex did a song about it...wait, that's "Bang a Gong". OK, I know. Todd Rundgren did a song about it...no, that's "Bang the Drum".

I guess not.

Posted by: Che Grovera at November 6, 2008 7:29 AM

Che, the only notable song about Bangladesh in English language was sung by Geroge Harrison during the "Concert for Bangladesh" in 1971-:)

Posted by: Emran at November 6, 2008 9:35 AM

I kid, Emran, I kid.

I can't believe how many people you guys cram into that soggy space. It's, like, the most densely populated country in the world, not counting Monaco (which doesn't count for anything anyhow, Grace Kelly notwithstanding).

Posted by: Che Grovera at November 6, 2008 10:02 AM

That's ok, Che. It's 150 million people and counting (approximately half of the population of the US in a landmass 1/66 the size of the US). May be that's why we always want to get out of that country-:)

Posted by: Emran at November 6, 2008 10:34 AM