That’s a bold move, coachman! Let’s see how that plays out!

>When [William Henry Harrison](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/William_Henry_Harrison_daguerreotype_edit.jpg) died and [John Tyler](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Tyler_Daguerreotype_crop_%28restoration%29.jpg) succeeded him as chief executive, he was the first Vice President to assume office because of the death of a President. As such he was called at first “acting President.” >Tyler’s first act was to commission his coachman to purchase a carriage. In a few days the coachman returned and reported that he had searched Washington and had found a very handsome carriage for sale, but it had been used a few times. >”That will never do,” said Tyler. “It would not be proper for the President of the United States to drive around in a secondhand carriage.” >”And sure,” said the old coachman, “but what are you, sir, but a secondhand President?” ________________________________________ **Source:** Humes, James C. *Speaker's Treasury of Anecdotes About the Famous*. New York: Harper & Row, 1978. 178. Print. ________________________________________ **Further Reading:** [William Henry Harrison, Sr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Harrison) [John Tyler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tyler)