Thursday, Sep. 18, 2008
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison is not a particularly famous President, but he did inspire the best known political campaign song of all time. The election of 1840, between Harrison and Martin Van Buren, took Presidential campaigning to a whole new level with parades, floats, banners, concerts and of course, the song-turned-slogan, Tippecanoe and Tyler Too — referencing the site of Harrison's victorious 1811 battle between his Indiana militia and Native Americans, and his vice president, John Tyler. Originally titled Tip and Ty, the tune was written by an Ohio jeweler, debuted at a New York Whig Party rally and was so popular that it quickly spread throughout the country.
—By Claire Suddath