Maine's Hail to the Chief

A visit from the President of the United States always brings with it excitement. In Maine, perhaps part of that excitement stems from the fact that presidents rarely visit the state-only 18 of the 45 presidents have visited Maine in the nation's 244-year history. Many of these visits came at significant points in a presidency; and some visits had controversy, conflict, and ironic twists. For example: * During George Washington's visit, Maine was not even Maine, it was part of Massachusetts. * President Ulysses S. Grant was the hero of the recently ended Civil War. * President Richard Nixon was met with protests that saw Mainer battle Mainer. * President Carter spent the night of his visit with a common, ordinary Maine family, in their modest home. * President Trump's visit came in the middle of a global pandemic. Each of Maine's presidential visits left us with great stories, and a detailed view of Maine's lively history.