When
is a federal holiday not a federal holiday? History of Presidents' Day
By Denise Duda
Most people believe that Presidents' Day is a federal
holiday. The day is observed on the third Monday in
February. While most observances focus on honoring
both Lincoln and Washington, according to the federal
government, the holiday is still known as Washington's
Birthday.
History of Presidents Day
Although Washington's actual birthday was on February
11, 1731, it was changed to February 22 with the adoption
of the Gregorian calendar by Britain and her colonies
in 1752. After Washington became president his birthday
was widely celebrated and was recognized by Congress
in 1870. Signed into law by president Chester Arthur
in 1885, Washington's Birthday, February 22nd became
a federal holiday.
Later on, in order to simplify the federal calendars
and allow for three day weekends, the "Monday
Holidays Act" of 1968 officially changed the
holiday to fall on the third Monday in February. The
law took effect in 1971. Many states were celebrating
Lincoln's birthday on February 12th as well as Washington's
Birthday on the 22nd so President Nixon took the opportunity
to combine the two and proclaim the third Monday in
February as "Presidents' Day" in honor of
all U.S. presidents. Nixon probably believed that
he had changed the name, but unlike an executive order,
a presidential proclamation is not legally binding.
The name of the federal holiday remains Washington's
Birthday.
Maine observes all federal holidays including Washington's
Birthday, but the term Presidents' Day has found support
here as well as in other states. "Washington's
Birthday" and "Presidents' Day" have
become interchangeable in many state documents and
on calendars as well. One document covers all the
bases by referring to the holiday as Washington's
Birthday/Presidents' day. Either way, all federal
facilities and courthouses will be closed. Locally,
town offices are closed, and the day falls on the
school vacation week so the schools will be closed
as well.
Why Lincoln?
Maine and the country take the opportunity to pay
tribute to its two most revered presidents, Abraham
Lincoln and George Washington. After President Lincoln
was assassinated, the country began to honor his memory
every year on his birthday, February 12th. Lincoln
was best remembered for his steadfastness during the
Civil War and for the Emancipation Proclamation he
issued in 1863, freeing the slaves in the confederate
states. His continuing concern for the nation as a
whole is displayed in his second inaugural address,
written now on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial, "With
malice toward none; with charity for all with firmness
in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let
us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind
up the nation's wounds..."
Why Washington?
Washington earned the honor not only as the first
president of the United States, but as Commander in
Chief leading the Continental Army to victory in the
Revolutionary War. When a newly independent America
struggled, Washington became the major force behind
the formation of the Constitutional Convention in
1787. He remained a staunch supporter of both the
Constitution and American liberty throughout his lifetime.
In Washington's official eulogy the enduring impact
of his life on the nation's citizens could already
be felt. It was then that John Marshall wrote those
famous words, "First in war, first in peace,
and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was
second to none...Pious, just, humane, temperate, and
sincere; uniform, dignified and commanding; his example
was as edifying to all around him as were the effects
of that example lasting...." However the holiday
is designated, those effects still remain.
Presidential Trivia
Did you know that the popular use of the phrase, "Your
name is mud" has become identitifed with an incident
involving Lincoln's assassination? Dr. Samuel Mudd
treated the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth, who,
unbeknownst to the doctor, was injured while fleeing
the theatre where he had shot the president. Doctor
Mudd was wrongly charged with conspiracy to assassinate
the president. The doctor was convicted and sent to
prison in a fort on the Dry Tortugas. He was later
pardoned because of his efforts to save prisoners
during a yellow fever outbreak.
