Presidential visits

President William Howard Taft's visit to Cape Girardeau on Oct. 26, 1909 was the only time a sitting president has been here on official business. But Cape Girardeau has played host to several campaign appearances by presidents and vice presidents, future presidents and presidential candidates.

Those visitors, and their reason for coming, compiled from the Southeast Missourian archives:

* Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt, Oct. 1, 1920; Democratic vice presidential candidate on a campaign visit.

* U.S. Sen. Harry S. Truman, Oct. 22, 1940; Senate re-election campaign visit.

* U.S. Sen. Robert A. Taft, April 26, 1952; campaign visit during bid for Republican presidential nomination.

* U.S. Sen. Richard M. Nixon, Oct. 21, 1952; Republican vice presidential candidate on a campaign visit.

* Vice President Alben Barkley, Oct. 28, 1952; campaign visit supporting the Democratic Party.

* U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, April 25, 1968; campaign visit during his bid for Democratic presidential nomination,

* Former Alabama Gov. George Wallace, Sept. 18, 1968; campaign visit during Independent campaign for president.

* Maryland Gov. Spiro T. Agnew, Oct. 3, 1968; Republican vice presidential candidate, campaign visit,

* U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, Oct. 18, 1976; Republican vice presidential candidate, campaign visit.

* U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, March 7, 1988; campaign visit during bid for Republican presidential nomination.

* Former President Gerald Ford, Sept. 15-16, 1980; Campaign visit in support of Republican Party.

* Vice President Walter Mondale, Nov. 1, 1980; campaign visit during re-election campaign.

* Vice President George Bush, Oct. 22, 1984; campaign visit during re-election campaign.

* U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt, Sept. 17, 1987; campaign visit during bid for Democratic presidential nomination.

* President Ronald Reagan, Sept. 14, 1988; campaign visit in support of Republican Party.

* U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, Oct. 24, 1988; Democratic vice presidential candidate, campaign visit.

* U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp, Oct. 31, 1988; campaign visit for Repulican ticket.

* Vice President Dan Quayle, Oct. 2, 1992; campaign visit in support of re-election.

* President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, Aug. 30, 1996; kick-off event for re-election bus tour.

* Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Aug. 11-12, 1999; campaign visit during bid for Republican presidential nomination.

* Former U.S. Rep. and Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, Sept. 21, 2000; campaign visit as Republican vice presidential nominee.

* Vice President Dick Cheney, Oct. 31, 2002; campaign visit in support of Republican ticket.

* U.S. Sen. John Edwards, Aug. 4-5, 2004; campaign visit during bid for Democratic presidential nomination.

* U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, May 13, 2008; campaign visit during bid for Democratic presidential nomination.

* Vice President Dick Cheney, Oct. 20, 2008; visit to private fundraiser for Republicans.

* Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Oct. 30, 2008: Republican vice presidential candidate, campaign visit.

Compiled by Sharon Sanders and Rudi Keller