This is an I-Heart podcast.

And we continue with our American stories.

Our next story comes from our regular contributor, Christopher Klein. Klein is the author of four

books and a frequent contributor to the History Channel. Did you know that there was an American

president before George Washington? Here's Christopher Klein with a story. The sky was as bright as George Washington's resplendid blue-dressed uniform as he

strode triumphantly into Independence Hall on November 28, 1781.

It was shortly afternoon in Philadelphia, but it was dawned throughout America.

Just weeks earlier, the British had surrendered at Yorktown,

and the newly christened government of the United States of America had convened to elect the fledgling

country's first president. No, it wasn't George Washington, but John Hanson of Maryland.

As Washington entered the chamber to receive the official recognition of

Congress, his gaze fell upon Hanson, the first man to hold the title, President of the United States

in Congress assembled. The man occupying what Washington called the most important seat in the United

States,

rose to his feet, and congratulated the general on his glorious success that effectively ended the American Revolution.

Although he held the nation's highest office nearly a decade before Washington,

don't expect to find John Hans' image along old George's familiar face on quarters,

one dollar bills, or use car ads on President's Day.

The man some historians argue was truly the country's first president,

was long ago swept into the dustbin of history.

While Washington has sparked countless tomes, Hansen has barely inspired footnotes.

However, both men led remarkably parallel lives, only on opposite sides of the Potomac River.

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