BRIDGET'S GUIDE TO THE GREAT, NOT-S0-GREAT AND DOWNRIGHT ABOMINABLE AMERICAN PRESIDENTS

8) MARTIN VAN BUREN

President from 1837-41

A widower, he had no First Lady. The position was filled by his daughter, Angelica.

Claimed to find slavery immoral but fought steadfastly against abolition.

Fought against bringing Texas into the Union.

Was nicknamed Old Kinderhook which, some claim, to be the origin of the acronym OK.

Imposed sanctions on the nation's banks resulting in thousands of nervous customers withdrawing their money and causing mass unemployment among the banking community. This outbreak of financial ruin was known as the Panic of 1837. Van Buren was bitterly dubbed Van Ruin.

Inspired the Seinfeld episode where Kramer meets a gang called the Van Buren Boys and accidentally flashes their gang sign-eight fingers aloft--thus saving himself from a VB beatdown.