There was a pre-WWII movement called Technocracy, which held that scientists and engineers should take over the government and economy from politicians and economists. The leader of the movement was known as the Great Engineer.
6
The system of democracy was introduced 2,500 years ago in Athens, Greece.
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In 1916, a US amendment was proposed to put all acts of war to a national vote. If you voted yes you would have to register as a volunteer for service in the United States Army.
5
J. Edgar Hoover liked to fire FBI agents whose palms were sweaty when shaking hands.
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In 1955, the citizens of São Paulo were so upset with their government that they elected a rhinoceros named Cacareco (meaning rubbish) to the city council in protest, with over 100,000 votes.
18
John F. Kennedy ordered over 1,000 Cuban cigars for personal use just hours before he made them illegal.
4
Daniel Webster, who ran for president and lost three times, declined the Vice Presidency twice, thinking it a worthless office. Both presidents who offered it later died in office, meaning that if he had accepted, he would’ve become president after all.
10
Of all things, Andrew Jackson's tombstone does not mention that he served as the president of the United States!
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