For the latest installment of the collaborative Buddy System series, I created a patriotic template and asked my friends to draw their favorite president for Presidents Day. I received eleven incredibly diverse responses. Here they are in full glory:
The first submission is from Morit G, who found inspiration in Grover Cleveland's working-class taste buds. Cleveland thought the fancy food they served at the White House was gross.
Fun fact: At the age of 49, Cleveland married an opportunistic 21-year old, marking the only marriage of a sitting US President in history.
The next submission is my own. I drew the only five presidents in American history to sport beards. From upper left going clockwise, you have Benjamin Harrison (perhaps the longest beard); James Garfield (scraggliest); Rutherford B. Hayes (wispiest); Abraham Lincoln (neck beard); and Ulysses S. Grant (shortest). The era of bearded presidents started with Lincoln in 1861 and ended with Benjamin Harrison in 1893. Sadly, America has never had a bearded president since. (Although, Al Gore came close.)

The next submission comes from world-renowned blogger, "14", creator of
Gallery of the Absurd and
Resplendent Chaos. For this assignment, 14 reworked a sketch that was inspired by an
article she read that included a claim by former president
George W. Bush that he cried in the White House on a daily basis.
Another Bush-inspired piece came from Angela B and her son Magnus who worked together on a Curious George coloring page. The purple and yellow squiggly lines represent the challenges faced by Bush during his eight years in office.
Fun Fact: All of America's current economic troubles are the result of policies put in place by Bill Clinton and Barney Frank, not Bush.
Jake C, a distant relative of President Calvin Coolidge, sent in a portrait of Barack Obama that he created on his iPhone.
Fun Fact: President Barack Obama is America's first president of Kenyan descent.
Seth L drew an ink portrait of Don Duff, President of the Northwest Allen County School Board.
Fun Fact: Before becoming school board president, Don Duff was also the
president of a life insurance company and an international
insurance marketing company.
Julia W drew a unique portrait that morphs together Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt. Fun Fact: Teddy Roosevelt came up with the idea for the Teddy Bear after he had visions of tiny bears in a polio-induced fever dream.
David S, a first time contributor, sent in a portrait of a president he would like to see. He explains:
Dreams are important, they inspire us and drive us onward in the face of a miserable unforgiving world full of casual cruelty. That's why I drew my dream president, former attorney general Janet Reno. Did you know that JRe (as we call her) was the FIRST female federal attorney general ever? That is why I know she would also be a great first lady President!
I've drawn her in a tie because she is not concerned with conforming to societies' antiquated gender roles.
Fun Fact: Janet Reno originally wanted to call Ted Kaczynski the "Mailman of Death", but she was overruled by President Clinton who favored "Unabomber".
My sister, Anna U, drew a picture of a bat president.Fun Fact: Bats sleep while hanging upside down in caves.
Nico C was inspired by the Star Wars movies. He thought Boba Fett, the notorious outer space bounty hunter, would make a pretty cool president.Fun Fact: Harrison Ford, the actor who played Han Solo, is the adopted son of former-President Gerald Ford.

And last, but certainly not least, is Carl W's thought-provoking Super Bowl-inspired take on patriotism and cosmetic surgery. Carl envisions an America ruled by the E*Trade baby.
Fun Fact: Carl is an attorney who works for the Federal government, just like U.S. Presidents.
I hope you all learned some new things about presidents this Presidents Day, I know I did. Many thanks to all who participated and God Bless America!
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