The History of President’s Day

Did you ever wonder how President’s Day became a holiday? Most of us know when and how it’s celebrated, but why? Let’s dive into its origins.

The story begins in 1800 after George Washington’s death in December 1799. Washington, commander of the Continental Army during the (First) American Revolution and the first President of the United States was honored with remembrance on his birthday, February 22nd. Although his birthday was observed for much of the 1800s, it wasn’t until the late 1870s that it became a federal holiday. Senator Stephen Wallace Dorsey of Arkansas proposed the measure, signed into law by President Hayes in 1879.

Initially, the holiday only applied to the District of Columbia until 1885 when it expanded nationwide. Washington’s Birthday joined four other federally recognized bank holidays—Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, the 4th of July, and Thanksgiving. President’s Day was the first to honor an individual American.

The holiday gained its modern name, Presidents’ Day, after becoming part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which aimed to create more three-day weekends. However, this change faced opposition. US Senator Robert McClory of Illinois led efforts in the late 1960s to shift several federal holidays to predetermined Mondays. While this was supported by the private sector and labor unions, some argued it diminished the holidays’ significance by detaching them from their original dates.

During the debate, McClory proposed renaming the holiday “Presidents’ Day” to honor both Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays. However, Congress rejected the idea, and the Act did not change the name or combine Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays.

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1968 and became effective in 1971 following an executive order from President Nixon.  He named the holiday Washington’s Birthday. But marketers soon seized on “Presidents’ Day” to promote sales and travel, leading to its widespread adoption.

In fact, Presidents’ Day never aligns with any president’s actual birthday. It’s always celebrated on the third Monday of February. In the beginning, the holiday focused on Washington and Lincoln, now the holiday commemorates all US presidents. One could argue that this dilutes the legacies of more prominent leaders with the likes of Biden.

Efforts to restore separate recognition for Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays were not successful. So, while President’s Day has evolved, its origins and controversies persist. There you have it. It’s another lie. President’s Day isn’t technically a federal holiday.

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