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.