Rock legend Meat Loaf once said, “Life is a lemon, and I want my money back.” While my photographer and I are huge fans of the Bat out of Hell icon, we didn’t want our money back when we explored…
Author: Thomas Watson
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
369: I COULDN’T LET A CIGAR COME BETWEEN ME AND GRANT DURING OUR YOUTUBE SALUTE
When it came to cigars, President Ulysses S. Grant wasn’t about to come up short. In fact, the Savior of the Union allegedly smoked 20 stogies per day and in 1885, Grant’s habit finally caught up with him as he…
368: THE SAGA OF THE SACRED SIGNERS CONTINUED UNTIL THE COWS CAME HOME
In the fifth episode of The Spirits of Independence on my photographer’s YouTube channel, Tom and Bob Moldenhauer spent the day crisscrossing Virginia where the pair visited the gravesites of four Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Those four Signers…
367: ANDREW JOHNSON FILLED BIG SHOES DURING HIS YOUTUBE APPEARANCE
When President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865 and died the next morning at 7:22am, Vice President Andrew Johnson knew he had big shoes to fill. And while most people remember Johnson for being the…
366: THE ESCAPE AND MAN-HUNT FOR LINCOLN ASSASSIN JOHN WILKES BOOTH
After actor John Wilkes Booth pulled the trigger on his derringer and assassinated President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, he fled Ford’s Theater and was on the run for twelve days. Have you ever wondered where Booth went, who…
365: THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS CELEBRATED ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Although Thomas Jefferson is Tom’s and my favorite President, it’s hard to argue that Abraham Lincoln was America’s greatest President. After all, Lincoln devoted his life to keep our country united during the Civil War and he died in that…
364: AMERICA’S WORST PRESIDENT CAME FROM PENNSYLVANIA – SURPRISE, IT’S NOT JOE BIDEN
Have you ever said to yourself, “Self, I wonder who the worst President in American history was?” Well, in the past 26 years, it could have been a few men who fit that category – and some might think he’s…
363: THE SPIRITS OF INDEPENDENCE STARS TOOK THEIR SHOW TO CHARLESTON
On May 29, 1991, during their 17-day non-stop adventure to visit the graves of all 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Watson and Bob Moldenhauer hung out at Middleton Place before they crisscrossed the streets of downtown Charleston…
362: TWO MORE YOUTUBE VIDEOS FEATURE PRESIDENT PIERCE & THE D of I TRIP PART 3
Followers of my photographer’s videos will get a lot of bang for their buck today as Tom has published two more shows on his YouTube channel. Help celebrate America 250 and be part of our nation’s great history. The first…
361: MILLARD FILLMORE GOES FROM “ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT” TO YOUTUBE STAR
While 13th President Millard Fillmore and actor Alec Baldwin share an uncanny resemblance, one of their biggest glaring differences is the fact that Fillmore never accidentally shot and killed someone. Fillmore was called the “Accidental President” by his political foes,…