The Clintons
I ate the most delicious pepper bacon brown butter sage pasta with toasted focaccia for lunch the other day at Wellington’s. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I didn’t take a picture of the gorgeous food. Or the wonderful company I dined with. But I took a picture in the bathroom.
I love this wallpaper and had to know who this guy is.
Imagine my delight to learn that my perturbed bathroom companion was DeWitt Clinton, sparking the idea for this post. That’s right — this post was inspired by a trip to the bathroom.
DeWitt Clinton served as governor of New York. So did his uncle George.
George Clinton (the one with the funky eyebrows, not the funk musician) was the very first governor of New York.
He was known as the “Father of New York” and served longer than any other governor in the state — 21 years (split between two terms).DeWitt Clinton was the seventh governor. (Nepo baby)
Both were Democratic-Republicans.
Both ran against James Madison for president.
Both lost.
Both died in office (George died as VP; DeWitt as governor).
Neither was related to other Clintons, Bill and Hillary.
Bill Clinton’s name at birth was William Jefferson Blyth III (making him one of many presidents who go by names other than the ones they were born with). Since we’re talking about Governors Clinton, I’ll should point out that Bill was governor of Arkansas. And that Hillary also ran for president. But I’m sure you know that. You seem informed.
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Since DeWitt was the one who sparked this post, here’s a few extra tidbits about him.
Big bucks
The other day I shared that Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000 bill. Before Cleveland (and with a few guys in between) DeWitt was the star. (Check out the bill — it’s gorgeous. Especially the backside. It uses the same bored/exasperated portrait from the bathroom. It’s like he’s thinking “I do not have time for this.”)
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DeWitt butted heads with Aaron Burr.
It led him to be challenged to a duel by John Swartwout. Clinton popped him twice in the leg (non-fatal) then refused to shoot any further. One source I stumbled on speculated that perhaps, knowing what a great shot Clinton was, Burr decided to fix his anger toward Alexander Hamilton instead. Hmmm… interesting, and it makes me want to create a more complete “who challenged who to a duel” chart because this stuff is bananas.
(Feel free to check out my incomplete chart in my Hamilton post).
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DeWitt butted heads with Martin Van Buren.
He called Martin Van Buren the “Prince of Villains”.
Van Buren was pissed when a staff member removed DeWitt from the Erie Canal Board, which backfired and got him reelected as governor. “There’s is such a thing in politics as killing a man too dead!”, apparently.
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Aaaaand he butted heads with the Livingstons.
But first he was friends with them…? His second wife was related to the Livingstons (her mom was Margaret Livingston Jones). I wanted very much to add DeWitt to my Livingston family tree, but got completely lost and turned around. The best I can do is share that I think Edward Philip Livingston (son of Philip Philip Livingston) was DeWitt’s aide-de-campe.
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The statue on his grave is all business up top and [toga] party on the bottom.
At first glance, I thought he semi-Porky Pigging it… but he may be wearing breeches. (Also, is it just me or does he look like he rolled out of bed, threw on a suit jacket, and is about to hop onto a video call to handle some government business?)
Shout out to Kurt Deion of Kurt’s Historic Sites for the incredible photo.
To be continued
There are three other bathrooms at Wellington’s. I’m dying to know if DeWitt’s enchantingly judgmental face graces all of them, or if the others feature different historic figures. I’m not going to ask though — I want to find out next time.
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Kurt Deion of Kurt’s Historic Sites is made a special guest appearance in a recent email and shared a nugget about the original Clinton — George. Check it out!
