Happy Presidents Day

The German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA® wishes you a Happy Presidents Day. Originally established in 1879 by Congress to celebrate George Washington’s birthday on February 22nd, this holiday now often includes all presidents.

Herbert Hoover, elected in 1928, was the country’s first German-American president. Since then, numerous presidents have had German ancestry.

Herbert Hoover had German-speaking ancestry on his paternal side and was the descendant of Andreas Huber, who immigrated to America from the Palatinate in the 18^th century. He was also of Swiss-German ancestry.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, elected in 1952, also had German heritage. Eisenhower’s ancestors immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany in the 18^th century. Eisenhower derives from Eisenhauer.

Richard Nixon, the country’s 37^th president, was of partial German lineage being the descendant of the German-American John Trimmer.

The last four presidents all of had German ancestry. Bill Clinton is believed to have had partial German lineage. His successor, George W. Bush, has German heritage through his maternal side, whose ancestor Kate Pritzel immigrated to Pennsylvania from Bavaria. Barack Obama also has German heritage, whose lineage can be traced to the Woelflin family who immigrated to America in the 18^th century. President Trump is also German-American, whose grandfather Frederick Trump immigrated to the US from Bavaria in 1885.

We hope you have a nice Presidents Day.

Sincerely,

German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA®