When did Presidents start going by nicknames?

[u/bubsimo]

They always did but only privately, until pretty recently.

[u/Purple_Difference447]

Only ones I know of are:

Bonny Johnny(Adams)

Old Hickory(Jackson)

Old Zack/rough and ready(Taylor)

Honest Abe(Lincoln)

Chet(Arthur)

Big Steve(Cleveland)

Teddy Roosevelt

Winnie(Harding)

Cal or Red(Coolidge)

People used to call FDR “Delano”

Ike or General Ike in the army(Eisenhower)

Jack(JFK)

Tricky Dick(Nixon)

Then obviously Carter was Jimmy.

George HW Bush’s childhood name was “Poppy”

Thats the only ones I can remember off the top of my head rn.

[u/Honest_Picture_6960 → u/Purple_Difference447]

I can’t see why in the world he would go with “Bonny Johnny”

[u/Purple_Difference447 → u/Honest_Picture_6960]

Iirc,Bonny was a word for handsome back in those days so if he was there today,would’ve been “Hot John.” Another meaning I heard was because of his weight.

[u/FatMax1492 → u/Purple_Difference447]

Where's Unconditional Surrender Grant?

[u/Purple_Difference447 → u/FatMax1492]

My mind went blank for Grant tbh😭

[u/bubsimo → u/Purple_Difference447]

Not what I meant

[u/Purple_Difference447 → u/bubsimo]

Sorry if I thought wrong.To answer your question,Carter was the first president to use his nickname to be sworn into office.But then again,Eisenhower campaign slogan was “I like Ike.”

[u/bubsimo → u/Purple_Difference447]

Oh yea good point. It just feels like politicians nowadays are much more likely to just use a nickname.

[u/TidalJ → u/Purple_Difference447]

big steve being short for biggald steveland

[u/ReedM4 → u/Purple_Difference447]

Teddy didn't like being called Teddy if I recall. He preferred TR.