U.S. President Facts That Will Make You See Them Differently

Martin Van Buren’s nickname “Old Kinderhook” became a rallying slogan for supporters who shortened it to “OK.” Whether he invented the phrase or simply boosted it, the connection stuck, helping one of the world’s most recognizable words spread through American culture.

It’s wild to think a president helped popularize something we now say dozens of times a day. Van Buren didn’t leave a huge political legacy, but linguistically? He’s everywhere. Every “OK” text is basically a tiny shoutout to him.