50 US Presidents Trivia Questions and Answers
Trivia about the presidents of the United States: who served when, their vice presidents and first ladies, things they said, and how the office works. The questions are historical, so nothing here depends on who is in the White House this year. Answers are printed under each question.
There are 50 questions on this page. They are free to use for quiz nights, classrooms and pub quizzes, and each one links to its own page.
Related lists: American History trivia questions, US States trivia questions, 60s trivia questions, 70s trivia questions.
1.During which President's term in office did each of these historical events occur? a. U.S. hostages released from Iran? b. Stock Market crashed 1929 c. First 7 states seceded from the union
Answer: a. REAGAN - 81 b. HOOVER c. BUCHANAN - 1860-61
Open this question2.Which U.S. President, who served from 1845-1849, was in office at the beginning of the California gold rush?
Answer: JAMES K. POLK
Open this question3.From which building in Dallas, Texas, did Lee Harvey Oswald shoot the bullets that killed President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963?
Answer: DALLAS BOOK DEPOSITORY
Open this question4.When future President of the United States Andrew Jackson established this city in 1819 he named it after an ancient city of Egypt. What is it?
Answer: MEMPHIS but not alexandria, va. which is much older
Open this question5.Who were Richard Nixon's two Vice Presidents?
Answer: SPIRO T. AGNEW / GERALD FORD
Open this question6.Which person was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 1971 to 1973, then later President of the United States?
Answer: GEORGE BUSH
Open this question7.Can you name three other Presidents besides Clinton whose first name was William?
Answer: William Henry Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft
Open this question8.Which political party were each of these Presidents? a. Abe Lincoln? b. Theodore Roosevelt? c. Herbert Hoover?
Answer: a. REPUBLICAN b. REPUBLICAN c. REPUBLICAN
Open this question9.According to the U.S. Constitution, if none of the candidates for President gains a majority of the electoral votes, how would the choice of President be made?
Answer: DECIDED BY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Open this question10.President Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to the date Dec. 7, 1941 with an ominous quotation. What happened on that date, and how did FDR refer to it?
Answer: PEARL HARBOR ATTACK BY JAPANESE / "THE DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"
Open this question11.Former President Johnson, his wife and two daughters all had the initials LBJ, which abbreviated what?
Answer: LYNDON BAINES / LADY BIRD / LUCY BAINES / LINDA BIRD
Open this question12.In the 1992 Presidential election, what was the name of H. Ross Perot's running mate?
Answer: ADMIRAL JAMES STOCKDALE
Open this question13.Presidential extremes: a. At 6'4", who was the tallest President? b. At 5'4", who was the shortest President?
Answer: a. ABRAHAM LINCOLN b. JAMES MADISON
Open this question14.The witty former Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson once said, "A politician is a statesman who approaches every question with an open ..." what?
Answer: MOUTH
Open this question15.Abraham Lincoln had two vice Presidents: the first had H as an initial, and the second became President upon Lincoln's death. Who were they?
Answer: HANNIBAL HAMLIN / ANDREW JOHNSON
Open this question16.During the great depression of the 1930's, encampments of poor and homeless people were often named after the President in office when the depression started. What were these homeless encampments called?
Answer: HOOVERVILLES
Open this question17.During which President's term in office did each of these historical events occur? a British captured Washington, D.C. b. Panama Canal opened to traffic? c. After the Russians invaded a foreign country this President reacted by imposing a grain embargo
Answer: a. JAMES MADISON - 1814 b. WILSON - 1914 c. JIMMY CARTER - 80
Open this question18.This woman, whose husband was the President of the United States, died in 1982 at the age of 97 years old. What was her name?
Answer: BESS TRUMAN
Open this question19.Who was the first US President to live in the White House?
Answer: JOHN ADAMS
Open this question20.According to the opinion of President Lincoln, which best-selling 1852 novel helped bring on the American Civil War?
Answer: "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN"
Open this question21.In this 1993 film, a versatile actor played the role of both the President of the United States, and a presidential look-alike. Which actor, which film?
Answer: KEVIN KLINE / "DAVE"
Open this question22.What former politician and presidential candidate might have had a personalized license plate which reads: AU-H20?
Answer: BARRY GOLDWATER
Open this question23.Can you name the only room in the White House named after a foreign country?
Answer: CHINA ROOM
Open this question24.Which President's name rhymes with one of Santa's reindeers?
Answer: NIXON / VIXEN
Open this question25.The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. Which French Premier, British Prime Minister, and American President signed that treaty?
Answer: PREMIER GEORGES CLEMENCEAU of France, PRIME MINISTER DAVID LLOYD GEORGE of BRITAIN, and President WOODROW WILSON of the United States.
Open this question26.Which U.S. President in 1823 declared that the United States would not tolerate European intervention in the Americas.
Answer: JAMES MONROE Monroe Doctrine
Open this question27.He was born in New York City in 1858, graduated from Harvard University, published over 2,000 works on history, politics, and travels, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and served as President of the United States. Who was he?
Answer: THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Open this question28.The oldest street in San Francisco was originally called Dupont Street, but was later re-named after a President. Which street is this?
Answer: GRANT ST. - named after Ulysses S. Grant, 18th Pres.
Open this question29.Can you name the four U.S. state capital cities named after U.S. Presidents?
Answer: LINCOLN, nebraska / MADISON, wisconsin / JEFFERSON CITY, mo. / JACKSON, mississippi
Open this question30.In 1781, eight years before Washington was elected President, which man was elected 1st "President of the United States in Congress assembled."
Answer: JOHN HANSON
Open this question31.Which two people signed the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and later became U.S. Presidents?
Answer: GEORGE WASHINGTON / JAMES MADISON
Open this question32.This plant was required growing for farmers from middle ages Europe to in 17th century America. President Thomas Jefferson declared it a "necessity;" it was Kentucky's largest cash crop until 1915. What was it?
Answer: HEMP
Open this question33.Name two women who were wife of one U.S. President and mother of another.
Answer: ABIGAIL ADAMS - Wife of John, mother of John Quincy / BARBARA BUSH - Wife of George H., Mother of George W.
Open this question34.Dick Cheney served in what position on the cabinet of President George H. Bush?
Answer: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Open this question35.Presidents: a. George Washington moved into the first presidential mansion in 1789. In which city was this house located? b. In which state was Abe Lincoln born? c. In which state is Lincoln buried?
Answer: a. NEW YORK b. KENTUCKY c. ILLINOIS
Open this question36.After the death of President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson was sworn-in as President in what unusual setting?
Answer: ON AIR FORCE ONE
Open this question37.If a foreign born person becomes a U.S. citizen, that person receives all the rights and privileges of natural-born citizens, except for one. What is it?
Answer: THE RIGHT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT
Open this question38.The Republican Party first appeared on the U.S. Presidential ballot in which of these years: 1826, 1856, or 1860?
Answer: 1856 - Presidential candidate, John C. Frémont; 1860 - Lincoln
Open this question39.Can you name three rooms in the White house named after colors?
Answer: GREEN ROOM / BLUE ROOM / RED ROOM
Open this question40.Distinguished British actor Anthony Hopkins played the film role of what U.S. President?
Answer: RICHARD NIXON (in Nixon, 1995); he also played John Quincy Adams in Amistad (1997)
Open this question41.These people all ran against each other for President in 1912: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. Who won the election?
Answer: WILSON / 28th President 1913-1921
Open this question42.What did Presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton have seven of, that Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter had six of, that George Bush and Gerald Ford only had four of?
Answer: LETTERS IN LAST NAME
Open this question43.President Harry Truman liked to say, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of ... what?
Answer: THE KITCHEN ... meaning ... don't take on a responsibility if you can't face its pressures.
Open this question44.This former first lady is remembered for her calmness in the face of the British invasion of Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812. When the British burned the White House in 1814 she saved many documents, including a portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Who was she?
Answer: DOLLEY MADISON
Open this question45.In 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson underwent surgery, his Vice President served as acting President of the United States for exactly three hours. Who was this v.p., and what kind of surgery ?
Answer: HUBERT HUMPHREY / GALLBLADDER
Open this question46.There are five pairs U.S. Presidents who share the same last name. What are they?
Answer: ADAMS John and John Q. / HARRISON Wm. and Benjamin / JOHNSON Andrew and Lyndon / ROOSEVELT Theodore and Franklin / BUSH George H. and George W.
Open this question47.November 22, 1963: was Jackie Kennedy sitting to the left or right of her husband in the car in Dallas?
Answer: LEFT
Open this question48.In November, 1987, President Reagan nominated someone to fill a Supreme Court seat, but this person had to resign from consideration when his history of previous marijuana use became known to the public. What was his first and last name?
Answer: DOUGLAS GINSBURG - 2 points for last name, 1 for first name.
Open this question49.Elected to the U.S. Congress in 1948, in 1954 became the youngest majority leader in its history at the age of 46. He led the condemnation of Senator Joe McCarthy, and later, in 1960, lost the fight for the Presidential nomination. Name this person.
Answer: LYNDON B. JOHNSON
Open this question50.A total of fifteen U.S. Presidents were born in just two states. Which ones?
Answer: VIRGINIA 8 / OHIO 7
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