Chess in the White House

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30th October 2008, 06:13am
#1
by Prairie_Knight
Deep prairie grasses in Illinois United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 57

In a game I am playing, we have been speculating about whether Presidents of the U.S. play chess. I gussed that the current U.S. President played "Go Fish" and my opponent - across the board- sugessted "War". We both assumed Obama plays chess. Does anyone know if a U.S. President was an avid chess player???

30th October 2008, 06:28am
#2
by Spinatai
Vilnius Lithuania
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 89

Arnold Schwarzeneger (or whatever his name is) plays chess... Not the president, but atleast a governor (or whatever, don't know for sure)

30th October 2008, 06:31am
#3
by drd
United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 134

Jimmy Carter played, and his son was rated.

Most American presidents wouldn't play chess; an intellectual president is pretty much an oxymoron.

30th October 2008, 06:44am
#4
by Prairie_Knight
Deep prairie grasses in Illinois United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 57

Jimmy Carter only has a daughter, Amy...maybe a grandson? Or do you know something about an unknown son????

30th October 2008, 06:51am
#5
by Writch
Connecticut Western Reserve United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1753

Wow. Lookie what I found with a little help from our friend, Google:

Presidents who were involved with chess:

But does the current sitting U.S. President?

Does George W Bush play chess?

That link refers to a great non-fiction book about geopolitics and using the famous historical game as a metaphor.

BTW: I be the player opposite of Prairie_Knight in the aforementioned game. I often chat to distract my opponent - especially with intriguing topics.Wink

30th October 2008, 06:54am
#6
by drd
United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 134

No... I probably "misremembered"...

30th October 2008, 07:09am
#7
by golem3
International
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 255
drd wrote:

Most American presidents wouldn't play chess; an intellectual president is pretty much an oxymoron.


 

Sadly true in recent years. It wasn't uncommon in the past to have intellectuals - Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, the Founding Fathers who were presidents, arguably Lincoln....

Hopefully on Nov. 4th we get to change that though, eh? Cool

30th October 2008, 07:14am
#8
by Being
United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 38

I hear Bush plays chess, but is very bad at it.

I also hear that Obama plays chess and is very good.

It is a bit cold here today, but the sun is bright.

 

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