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When Was Presidents Day Put Into Law ?
George Washington's birthday is an official federal holiday in the United States. This day is celebrated on the third Monday of February each year. It is also this day that is known as President's Day. In addition, Washington's Birthday or President's Day is also a state holiday that is celebrated in many states on the same day. |
The holiday, Washington's Birthday, was originally made into a federal holiday by the US Congress in 1880. Initially the holiday was only in the District of Columbia, but in 1885, the holiday was for all federal offices. Since this holiday was meant to celebrate and honor Washington, it was initially held on his actual birthday, which is on February 22. However, on January 1, 1971, the holiday was moved from February 22 to the third Monday in February. This was done under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. A Uniform Holiday Bill was proposed in 1968 to rename the federal holiday as President's Day so that both Washington and Lincoln could be honored. However, the overseeing committee did not agree to it. The Bill was finally voted and made into a law on June 28, 1968 and the original name was retained.
The first try to have a President's Day initially occurred in 1951 with the formation of the President's National Committee with Harold Stonebridge Fischer at its helm. The reason for having this holiday was not to honor any particular president. Rather it was to honor the office of the presidency.
The Committee initially thought that March 4 would be good day to hold the President's Day as it was the day of the original inauguration. However, the Senate Judiciary Committee that oversees national holidays did not pass it since the day was too close to both Washington and Lincoln's birthdays. At the same time, governors of many states passed a proclamation that March 4 would be taken as President's Day.
However, at a later date, Washington's Birthday also became known as the President's Day.
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