Dear Dr. Crews,
I have a problem. My boyfriend looks like John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States. I just can’t get over it. At first I didn’t notice but a couple of weeks ago it struck me in American History class. I know it’s low to think of him differently because he looks like a President but, like I said, I cannot get over it. What should I do?
Rebekkah Longington, Montreal, Canada
I’m sorry but I don’t understand the question. It seems to me like you are complaining that your boyfriend looks like John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States. Honey, compared to modern day, that is like saying, “Please help me! My boyfriend looks like Brad Pitt” or “I can’t stand it. My boyfriend has ripped abs like Orlando Bloom!” You just don’t complain about that. Your boyfriend has been blessed with something so rare and so special. Maybe you don’t understand it because you are missing the historical context. Maybe a little history is in order.
John Tyler, the 10th President – A Brief History Lesson
John Tyler (President from 1841 to 1845) was what we would call today a rock star. He was known for his wild antics and cult-like following. His following was largely due to his fine cut looks. Many scholars say that there wasn’t and haven’t been anyone near as handsome as Tyler was. Many scholars doubt there ever will be.
John Tyler was a living legend but his fame has declined over the ages due to a secret society with a pro-Martin Van Buren agenda that has led a smear campaign against John Tyler’s legacy. When Tyler gave presidential speeches there were like huge concerts. The concerts were so big they gained the name Tylerpalooza (Greek for outrageously enormous gathering in honor of Tyler). These gatherings are what inspired today’s rock festival Lollapalooza. These speeches/concerts were filled with stage diving, crowd surfing, beach ball throwing, and water bottle throwing patriots. Actually a little known fact, they use to record John Tyler’s speeches on records and sell them. Three of Tyler’s State of the Union addresses went platinum and in 1844 Tyler won the Grammy for record of the year. Elvis Presley is the only American artist to top John Tyler for most number one hits.
Parting with the traditional black and white suits most US Presidents wore, John Tyler wore pink and blue tuxedos with aviator sunglasses in public while, like Thomas Jefferson, he wore overalls while working in the White House. Just a hint into what a good looking man John Tyler was, he was voted People’s Sexiest Man a record setting five times! Now try telling me he isn’t good looking.
After his presidency, he continued to be a huge sensation. For the first time in 1846 he toured Europe where he was meet with so much more than just open arms. Even though the motorcycle wouldn’t technically be invented for another 80 years, he rode from country to country on a motorcycle prototype that the C.I.A. had made for him. During this period, the relationship between England and the United States had never been better. It is rumored that the Queen of England was considering divorcing her husband to marry John Tyler, after which he would be declared the king of both England and the United States (if this would have happened, the U.S. would have to turn into a monarchy according to the Constitution). Alas, it never happened and we continue to be a democracy.
Tyler returned to the states around 1851. There slowly faded from the limelight. He continued to put out best selling records and even wrote a few books. Because of so much attention due to his attractiveness, he faked his own death in 1862 and quietly moved into the foothills of the Appalachian in southern Ohio. There he continued to write books, developed a close relationship with Ernest Hemingway in 1920’s and finally died in 1941 at the age of 151 years old. His legacy will forever live.
So do you see what I’m talking about, Rebekkah? This is something that should be celebrated! I’m sure that once you look up a picture of John Tyler on Google images you’ll find that your boyfriend is actually pretty attractive. As for the rest of the readers, don’t forget to join the facebook group Love & Relations Relating To Relationships. Keep on loving, you lovers!
