President Barack Obama is the latest of eight left handed American presidents. These other seven are: James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
The trait is not only limited to these presidents, but also a number of former presidential candidates including Al Gore, Bob Dole, Ross Perot, John Edwards and Bill Bradley.
"Southpaws"
In the late 1890s, left handed people got the nickname of southpaw. Most baseball fields were laid out were the pitcher is facing west and the batter facing east, so the sun wouldn't be the batter's eyes. When a left handed pitcher threw a ball it was with his arm that was toward the south so left handed people started to be called southpaws.
Other Famous Left Handers
- Henry Ford, automobile manufacturer
- David Rockefeller, banker
- Helen Keller, advocate for the blind
- Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
- Jay Leno, talk show host
- Lenny Bruce, comedian
- Matt Groening, cartoonist
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
In 2008 both presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, were left handed
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Fact:
In 1992, all 3 presidential candidates, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot, were left handedWashington Post: A Vast Left-Handed Conspiracy
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Fact:
It is said that Herbert Hoover and Harry Truman were photographed writing with their right hand
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Fact:
James A. Garfield was ambidextrous; he could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other
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Fact:
People who are left handed use the right side of their brain moreAssociated Content: Unique Left Handed Facts
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Fact:
Between 5-15% of the U.S. population is left handedAssociated Content: Unique Left Handed Facts
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Fact:
More left handed people suffer from allergiesAssociated Content: Unique Left Handed Facts
