August 2000

Much was made last year of the fact that President Clinton's visit was the third to Skaneateles by a U.S. President, but the first by a sitting President, i.e. one actually in office at the time of his visit. Before the Chief arrives tomorrow, I must straighten this out.

At the least, President Clinton is the fifth U.S. President to visit. In addition to both Roosevelts, Teddy and FDR, who visited with cousins at Roosevelt Hall, there were at least two others: Martin Van Buren passed through on September 30, 1834, while Vice President (before his Presidential term of 1837-41) and Millard Fillmore, who worked as a "bobbin boy" at a woolen mill south of the Village, and fished and bathed in the lake's waters, visited the Village again shortly after his Presidency (1850-53), on August 5 & 6, 1854, in the company of his daughter.

In addition, I need to do some digging on Chester Alan Arthur and Grover Cleveland, both New Yorkers, who easily could have made a stop here before, during or after their Presidencies.

So it's five and counting. Regarding President Clinton's second visit, the first TV truck arrived this evening; the infestation begins.