He's OK

Brought to you by former president Martin Van Buren, via Senor Editor.

Ever wonder where the expression "OK" comes from? Well, wonder no longer! I learned from Senor Editor today that Martin Van Buren, 8th president of the United States, brought this term into use. The phrase "OK" most likely was born during Marty's campaign for re-election as president in 1840. That same year, a Democratic organization was formed in New York that called itself the "O.K. Club," which was named for Marty's hometown of Kinderhook, New York, commonly referred to as Old Kinderhook.

The letters "OK" began appearing as slogans, written on posters and appearing in newspapers, with no one explaining what it stood for. Some claimed it stood for the old English words "Ole Kurrek," meaning "all correct," while opposition supporters made up meanings for it, like "Out of Kash." The campaign was effective enough that one newspaper preferred reversing the letters to "KO," since the campaign was said to be like a knock-out punch.

Van Buren lost the election, but the campaign slogan lived on and is now used in languages around the world.

Today around the world: March 3 is National Anthem Day here in the U.S., OK? It's also Martyr's Day in Malawi and Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) in Japan. OK.