Presidents Day Facts

George Washington’s birth date, February 22, 1732, has been observed as a national holiday since the 1880s. Following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, 30 states began to observe his birthday on February 12. It was initially a state holiday, not a national holiday, and for many years the two holidays were celebrated a few days apart in February. In 1950, it was suggested to combine the two birthday observances. The bill also called for shifting the holiday to be celebrated on Mondays, thereby creating a threeday weekend for many.

The bill languished in Congress for several years before passing in 1971 when the Unified Holidays Bill passed making all national holidays to be observed on Mondays. Presidents Day was assigned the third Monday in February as the national day of observation. However, it is still not clear if the day is to celebrate all presidents, two presidents or just one president. When then-president Richard Nixon first heard about the bill, he felt it would be better to commemorate all presidents, not just two. This year, George Washington turns 279 years old. If he were alive today, Washington may have seen the financial crisis coming. As he once said, “few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”