David Rice Atchinson was President of the United States for exactly one day. This happened due to a glitch in American law at the time. This type of thing should have made David Rice Atchinson, very wary of the honor forced on him when James Polk left his elected office as President. While he departed on the appointed day, it was a Sunday, and Zachary Taylor was unable to take the oath of office that day. According to law, Rice as the pro tempore leader of the Senate, took office for the whole day, and left without either regret, or a pension, on Monday.
