George Washington (1789-1797)
George Washington, the first president of the United States, established many precedents that would shape the presidency for centuries to come. Standing at 6’2", he was one of America’s tallest presidents and wore dentures made from hippopotamus ivory, not wood as popularly believed. Washington refused to accept a salary for his service as Commander-in-Chief during the Revolutionary War, only accepting reimbursement for his expenses.
An enthusiastic dog breeder, Washington developed his own breed of hunting hounds and gave them creative names like “Sweet Lips” and “Drunkard.” He was also the only president unanimously elected by the Electoral College, receiving all electoral votes in both of his presidential elections.
Washington delivered the shortest inaugural address in history at just 135 words. He established the two-term precedent by refusing a third term, setting a tradition that would last until Franklin D. Roosevelt and later be codified in the 22nd Amendment. At his death, Washington owned over 300 enslaved people, whom he freed in his will.
John Adams (1797-1801)
John Adams, America’s second president and first to live in the White House, moved in while the building was still unfinished on November 1, 1800. A brilliant thinker and founding father, Adams and his wife, Abigail, exchanged over 1,100 letters throughout their relationship, providing historians with invaluable insights into the revolutionary period.
Adams had a notable rivalry with Thomas Jefferson that culminated in a bitter election in 1800, after which they became estranged for many years. They later reconciled and maintained a correspondence in their elder years. In a remarkable historical coincidence, both Adams and Jefferson died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Adams was the first president to live in Washington, D.C., and the first whose son also became president (John Quincy Adams). He established the U.S. Navy in 1794 while serving as vice president and was the only Federalist president in American history.
Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, was a renaissance man with remarkable talents and contradictions. He was a skilled architect, inventor, scientist, farmer, and writer who spoke five languages fluently. Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and designed its campus, his home at Monticello, and contributed to the design of the U.S. Capitol.
Jefferson doubled the size of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, acquiring 828,000 square miles from France for $15 million. He sent Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition to explore this territory. Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
Despite writing that “all men are created equal,” Jefferson owned over 600 enslaved people during his lifetime and fathered multiple children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman on his plantation. This profound contradiction has complicated his legacy. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826—the same day as his friend-turned-rival-turned-friend John Adams.
James Madison (1809-1817)
James Madison, known as the “Father of the Constitution,” was the shortest president in American history, standing at just 5’4" and weighing around 100 pounds. Despite his small stature, Madison was a powerful intellectual force who co-authored the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, which were crucial in ratifying the Constitution.
During his presidency, Madison led the country through the War of 1812, during which the British burned the White House. When British troops marched on Washington in 1814, Madison’s wife Dolley famously saved a portrait of George Washington from the White House before fleeing.
Madison was the last founding father to serve as president and was the first president to wear long trousers instead of knee breeches. He was also a close friend of Thomas Jefferson and succeeded him as both president and as rector of the University of Virginia.
James Monroe (1817-1825)
James Monroe presided over the “Era of Good Feelings,” a period of national unity and partisan harmony following the War of 1812. He was the last president who was a founding father and a Revolutionary War veteran, having crossed the Delaware with Washington and been wounded at the Battle of Trenton.
Monroe established the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, declaring the Americas off-limits to European colonization and intervention. This foreign policy principle would guide American diplomacy for generations. He was the only president other than Washington to run essentially unopposed for re-election, winning all but one electoral vote in 1820.
Monroe conducted the first presidential tour of the country since Washington, helping to unify the nation. He was also the third president to die on July 4th (in 1831), following Jefferson and Adams. Monroe was the last president to dress in the Revolutionary style, complete with powdered wig and knee breeches.
John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
John Quincy Adams, son of the second president, was a child of the American Revolution who went on to become one of America’s greatest diplomats before his presidency. He witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill at age eight and later served as ambassador to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain.
Adams won the controversial “Corrupt Bargain” election of 1824, in which he placed second in both popular and electoral votes to Andrew Jackson but was selected by the House of Representatives after Henry Clay threw his support to Adams. As president, Adams advocated for an ambitious program of internal improvements and educational initiatives that Congress largely rejected.
After his presidency, Adams served 17 distinguished years in the House of Representatives, becoming a vocal opponent of slavery. He successfully argued the case of the Amistad slaves before the Supreme Court in 1841, winning their freedom. Adams was also an avid swimmer who regularly took naked dawn swims in the Potomac River during his presidency.
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Andrew Jackson, known as “Old Hickory” for his toughness, was the first president from humble origins and is considered the founder of the Democratic Party. A military hero who defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson survived an assassination attempt in 1835 when both of the would-be assassin’s pistols misfired. Jackson then beat the man with his cane.
Jackson’s presidency was marked by the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the Southeastern United States, resulting in the Trail of Tears on which thousands died—a dark legacy of his administration. He was also known for his intense opposition to the Second Bank of the United States in what became known as the “Bank War.”
A notorious duelist, Jackson killed a man named Charles Dickinson in 1806 after Dickinson insulted Jackson’s wife. Jackson allowed Dickinson to shoot first (the bullet lodged near Jackson’s heart where it remained for the rest of his life) before taking careful aim and killing his opponent. Jackson is estimated to have participated in as many as 100 duels.
Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
Martin Van Buren was the first president born after the United States declared independence, making him the first “American-born” president (his predecessors had been born as British subjects). He was also the only president whose first language was not English—he grew up speaking Dutch in the Dutch community of Kinderhook, New York.
Van Buren’s presidency was dominated by the Panic of 1837, a severe economic depression that began shortly after he took office. Despite his efforts, the economy remained in crisis throughout his term, contributing to his defeat in 1840. Van Buren was nicknamed “The Little Magician” for his political skill and “Old Kinderhook” (OK) for his hometown, which some believe is the origin of the expression “OK.”
Van Buren served as Andrew Jackson’s Secretary of State and Vice President before becoming president, and he was instrumental in building the modern Democratic Party and its political machine. He ran for president four times: winning in 1836, losing in 1840, failing to secure his party’s nomination in 1844, and running as the Free Soil candidate in 1848.
William Henry Harrison (1841)
William Henry Harrison holds the distinction of having both the longest inaugural address and the shortest presidency in American history. His two-hour speech, delivered without a coat on a cold, wet day in March 1841, consisted of 8,445 words. He died of pneumonia just 32 days after taking office.
Before becoming president, Harrison was a military hero known for his victory over Native American forces at the Battle of Tippecanoe and his role in the War of 1812. His campaign in 1840 used the slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler too,” referencing both this battle and his running mate, John Tyler.
Harrison was the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan, taking office at age 68. He was also the first president to die in office, setting off a constitutional crisis about presidential succession that was resolved when Vice President Tyler asserted his right to the full powers of the presidency rather than just acting as president.
John Tyler (1841-1845)
John Tyler was the first vice president to become president due to the death of his predecessor, earning him the nickname “His Accidental Excellency.” His insistence on assuming the full powers and title of president established an important precedent that was later codified in the 25th Amendment.
Tyler was a states’ rights advocate who found himself at odds with his own Whig Party, becoming the first president to have a veto overridden by Congress. He was expelled from his party while in office and governed without party affiliation for much of his term. His entire cabinet, except for Secretary of State Daniel Webster, resigned in protest during his administration.
Tyler fathered more children than any other president—15 with two wives. His last child was born when Tyler was 70 years old. Tyler also has a living grandson (as of 2023) despite being born in 1790, a remarkable fact made possible by the Tyler men having children late in life. After his presidency, Tyler supported the Confederacy and was elected to the Confederate Congress, though he died before taking his seat.
James K. Polk (1845-1849)
James K. Polk accomplished all of his major campaign goals in a single term, expanding U.S. territory by over one-third through the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Treaty with Britain, and the Mexican-American War. This territorial expansion extended the United States to the Pacific Ocean, fulfilling the vision of Manifest Destiny.
Polk was a workaholic known for his methodical approach and grueling schedule. He rarely delegated authority and worked long hours, likely contributing to his poor health. Polk pledged to serve just one term and kept this promise, leaving office exhausted. He died just three months after leaving the White House, the shortest post-presidency of any president who did not die in office.
Polk was the first “dark horse” candidate to win the presidency, securing the Democratic nomination despite being relatively unknown nationally. During his presidency, he secretly purchased enslaved children for his Mississippi cotton plantation, revealing the stark contradiction between his public accomplishments and personal actions regarding slavery.
Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
Zachary Taylor, nicknamed “Old Rough and Ready,” was a Mexican-American War hero who had never voted in a presidential election before being elected president himself. A career military officer, Taylor owned plantations and enslaved people but opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, putting him at odds with Southern interests despite being a Southerner himself.
Taylor died suddenly after only 16 months in office, possibly from gastroenteritis after consuming contaminated food and milk at a July 4th celebration. His death at a crucial moment in the national debate over slavery may have altered the course of American history, as his successor Millard Fillmore was more amenable to compromise with pro-slavery factions.
Despite being a slaveholder, Taylor was the last Whig president and took relatively moderate positions on the divisive issues of slavery and states’ rights that were tearing the country apart in the years before the Civil War. He threatened to personally lead the army against any states that attempted to secede during the secession crisis of 1850.
Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
Millard Fillmore, who assumed the presidency after Zachary Taylor’s death, was the last Whig president before the party’s collapse. Born in a log cabin to poor parents, Fillmore was largely self-educated and rose from poverty to the presidency, embodying the American dream of upward mobility.
Fillmore signed the controversial Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act requiring Northerners to return escaped slaves to the South. This decision is often viewed as appeasing Southern interests and delaying but not preventing the Civil War. After leaving office, Fillmore ran again in 1856 as the candidate of the anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic Know-Nothing Party.
Fillmore helped found the University at Buffalo and served as its first chancellor. He also installed the first bathtub and kitchen stove in the White House. After leaving the presidency, Fillmore refused an honorary degree from Oxford University because he could not read the Latin text and felt it would be dishonest to accept it.
Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
Franklin Pierce, a handsome and charming politician from New Hampshire, entered the White House under tragic circumstances. Just two months before his inauguration, Pierce, his wife, and their 11-year-old son were in a train accident. Pierce and his wife survived, but they witnessed their son being crushed to death. His wife believed this was divine punishment for Pierce’s political ambitions and spent much of his presidency in mourning.
Pierce’s administration was dominated by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed new states to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery. This led to violent confrontations in “Bleeding Kansas” and further divided the nation on the path to Civil War. Pierce defended the act, alienating many Northerners in his own Democratic Party.
Pierce struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, and his drinking worsened after his presidency. He is generally ranked among the worst presidents for his failure to address the growing sectional crisis over slavery and his support for pro-slavery policies despite being from a free state. After leaving office, Pierce became even more unpopular in the North when he criticized Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
James Buchanan (1857-1861)
James Buchanan remains the only bachelor president in American history. He is widely considered one of the worst presidents for his failure to address the secession crisis that led to the Civil War. During his presidency, seven Southern states seceded from the Union, and Buchanan did little to stop them, claiming he had no constitutional authority to act against secession.
Before becoming president, Buchanan had an impressive diplomatic career, serving as minister to Russia and Great Britain. In 1854, as minister to Great Britain, he helped draft the Ostend Manifesto, a document advocating for the United States to acquire Cuba by purchase or force, which created controversy when it was leaked.
Historians have speculated about Buchanan’s sexuality, noting his close relationship with William Rufus King, a senator from Alabama with whom Buchanan lived for many years. Andrew Jackson referred to them as “Miss Nancy and Aunt Fancy.” As president, Buchanan interfered with the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred Scott case, which declared that African Americans could not be citizens—an action that further inflamed sectional tensions.
Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
Abraham Lincoln, widely regarded as America’s greatest president, guided the nation through its greatest crisis—the Civil War—and abolished slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment. He was the first president born outside the original 13 colonies and largely self-educated, having less than one year of formal schooling.
Standing at 6’4", Lincoln was the tallest president and may have suffered from Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder causing unusual height and long limbs. He was also the first president with a beard, having grown it at the suggestion of an 11-year-old girl named Grace Bedell who wrote him a letter during his campaign. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865, just days after the Civil War ended.
Lincoln suffered from depression throughout his life, once saying, “I am now the most miserable man living.” Despite this, he was known for his sense of humor and storytelling ability. He was also the only president to hold a patent, for a device to lift boats over shoals. Lincoln was the first president to include African Americans in his inaugural parade.
Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
Andrew Johnson, who became president after Lincoln’s assassination, was a Democrat who had been chosen as Lincoln’s running mate to balance the ticket in 1864. Born into extreme poverty, Johnson never attended school and was taught to read by his wife. He was the only Southern senator to remain loyal to the Union when his state seceded.
Johnson’s presidency was dominated by conflicts with the Radical Republicans in Congress over Reconstruction policies. He favored a lenient approach toward the defeated Southern states, vetoing civil rights legislation and opposing the 14th Amendment. This led to his impeachment in 1868 on charges of violating the Tenure of Office Act by removing Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. He was acquitted in the Senate by a single vote.
Johnson was known for his personal eccentricities, including his fondness for feeding the White House mice, which he called “the little fellows.” After leaving the presidency, Johnson later returned to Washington as a senator from Tennessee in 1875, making him the only former president to serve in the Senate. He died a few months after taking office.
Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
Ulysses S. Grant, the commanding general who led Union forces to victory in the Civil War, brought his military efficiency to the presidency. Though his administration was marred by scandals involving his cabinet members, Grant himself remained personally honest. He was an advocate for civil rights and used federal troops to suppress the Ku Klux Klan and enforce Reconstruction in the South.
Grant was invited to attend Ford’s Theatre with President Lincoln on the night of his assassination but declined because he and his wife had plans to visit their children. After leaving office, Grant lost his entire savings in a financial fraud scheme and was diagnosed with throat cancer. He spent his final months writing his memoirs to provide for his family. Published by Mark Twain, Grant’s memoirs became a critical and financial success, earning his family about $450,000.
Grant’s reputation as president suffered for many years due to corruption scandals in his administration, but modern historians have reassessed his presidency more favorably, particularly for his civil rights record. Grant’s birth name was Hiram Ulysses Grant, but due to a clerical error at West Point, he became known as Ulysses S. Grant and adopted the name.
Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881)
Rutherford B. Hayes became president through the controversial “Compromise of 1877,” which resolved the disputed election of 1876. Though Samuel Tilden won the popular vote, disputed electoral votes were awarded to Hayes in exchange for the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending Reconstruction. This earned Hayes the nicknames “Rutherfraud” and “His Fraudulency.”
Hayes was wounded in combat five times during the Civil War and had his horse shot out from under him on four occasions. He pledged to serve only one term as president and kept this promise. Hayes banned alcohol from White House functions at the insistence of his wife, Lucy, who was nicknamed “Lemonade Lucy” for her temperance advocacy.
Hayes was the first president to have a telephone installed in the White House (in 1877) and the first to celebrate Easter with an egg roll on the White House lawn, a tradition that continues today. He was also a champion of civil service reform, education for all children, and prison reform.
James A. Garfield (1881)
James A. Garfield’s presidency lasted only 200 days before he was assassinated, the second-shortest tenure after William Henry Harrison. A brilliant scholar who could write in Greek with one hand and Latin with the other simultaneously, Garfield was the first left-handed president and the last president born in a log cabin.
Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disappointed office seeker, on July 2, 1881, just four months into his presidency. He lingered for 80 days before dying on September 19. Modern medical experts believe he might have survived if doctors had used sterilized instruments and hands; instead, infection from their probing for the bullet likely contributed to his death.
Before becoming president, Garfield served nine terms in the House of Representatives. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1880 but never served because he won the presidential nomination. As a young man, Garfield worked as a canal boat driver, and he was also a college president and a brigadier general in the Civil War.
Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885)
Chester A. Arthur, who became president after Garfield’s assassination, was a dandy known for his elegant wardrobe that included 80 pairs of pants. He was part of the corrupt New York political machine but surprised everyone by becoming a reformer as president, championing the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which created a merit-based system for government jobs.
Arthur was named after Chester Abell, the doctor who delivered him. Before becoming vice president, Arthur had never held elected office. He had been collector of the Port of New York, one of the most lucrative patronage positions in government, and was removed by President Hayes for running a corrupt operation.
Arthur suffered from Bright’s disease, a fatal kidney ailment, during his presidency but kept his condition secret. Due to his illness, he made only a token effort to win nomination for a second term. He sold many White House artifacts at auction and used the proceeds to commission Louis Comfort Tiffany to redesign the interior, creating an opulent Victorian design.
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897)
Grover Cleveland is unique in American history as the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, making him both the 22nd and 24th president. He won the popular vote three times (1884, 1888, and 1892) but lost the electoral college in 1888 to Benjamin Harrison despite receiving more votes.
Cleveland was known for his honesty and principles, often opposing his own party when he felt they were wrong. He vetoed more bills than all previous presidents combined. During his first campaign, he admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock when confronted with the allegation, instructing his supporters to “tell the truth” rather than deny it.
During his second term, Cleveland secretly underwent surgery for oral cancer on a yacht to avoid public panic about his health. The operation removed much of his upper left jaw and palate, and he was fitted with a rubber prosthesis that allowed him to speak normally. The public did not learn about this until 1917, nine years after his death.
Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
Benjamin Harrison, grandson of ninth president William Henry Harrison, was the only president from Indiana and the last with a full beard. Despite winning the presidency in the electoral college, he lost the popular vote to Grover Cleveland by about 90,000 votes.
Harrison’s administration saw significant legislative achievements, including the Sherman Antitrust Act to combat monopolies, the Sherman Silver Purchase Act, and the McKinley Tariff. He also advocated for African American voting rights and federal education funding. Harrison admitted six states to the Union—the most of any president since George Washington.
Harrison was the first president to have electricity in the White House, but he and his wife were so afraid of being electrocuted that they reportedly never touched the light switches. He was also the first president to hire a female White House staffer who wasn’t a maid or cook. After leaving office, Harrison represented Venezuela in a boundary dispute with British Guiana and served as an attorney for the Republic of Hawaii.
William McKinley (1897-1901)
William McKinley led the United States to victory in the Spanish-American War in 1898, acquiring territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, and annexing Hawaii. His presidency marked America’s emergence as a global power. McKinley also presided over a return to prosperity after the depression of the 1890s.
McKinley was the last Civil War veteran to become president and was known for always wearing a carnation in his lapel for good luck. He was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, on September 6, 1901, by anarchist Leon Czolgosz and died eight days later. He was the third president to be assassinated.
McKinley’s face appears on the $500 bill, which was discontinued in 1969. His 1896 presidential campaign was groundbreaking for its organization and funding, establishing a model for modern campaigns. McKinley’s campaign manager, Mark Hanna, pioneered techniques such as focus groups, voter targeting, and large-scale fundraising from businesses.
Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
Theodore Roosevelt, who became president at 42 after McKinley’s assassination, remains the youngest person ever to become president. A larger-than-life figure known for his energetic personality and “speak softly and carry a big stick” foreign policy, Roosevelt expanded executive power and championed conservation, establishing 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, and 5 national parks.
Roosevelt was the first American to win a Nobel Prize, receiving the Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War. He was also the only president to receive the Medal of Honor (awarded posthumously in 2001 for his actions in the Spanish-American War). After being shot in the chest during a 1912 campaign speech, Roosevelt continued speaking for 90 minutes before seeking medical attention.
An avid outdoorsman and adventurer, Roosevelt led an expedition to the Amazon after his presidency and nearly died from tropical diseases. He practiced jujitsu and boxed in the White House until a blow detached his retina and blinded him in one eye. Roosevelt was also a prolific author who wrote 38 books on topics ranging from naval history to outdoor life.
William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
William Howard Taft, Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor, weighed over 330 pounds and once got stuck in the White House bathtub, requiring six men to extricate him. A special oversized tub was subsequently installed. After his presidency, Taft achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—the only person to serve in both positions.
Taft continued Roosevelt’s trust-busting efforts, actually bringing more antitrust cases than his predecessor. He also established the federal income tax through the 16th Amendment. However, Taft’s conservative approach alienated progressive Republicans, causing a split in the party when Roosevelt ran as a third-party candidate in 1912, enabling Democrat Woodrow Wilson’s victory.
An avid baseball fan, Taft began the tradition of the president throwing out the first pitch at baseball’s Opening Day in 1910. He was also the last president to keep a cow on the White House grounds—Pauline Wayne, who provided milk for the first family. After leaving office, Taft lost nearly 80 pounds and improved his health significantly.
Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
Woodrow Wilson, the only president with a Ph.D., led the United States through World War I with his idealistic vision of “making the world safe for democracy.” He established the Federal Reserve, the Federal Trade Commission, and signed the Clayton Antitrust Act. Wilson also supported the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, though he initially opposed it.
Wilson suffered a severe stroke in 1919 that left him partially paralyzed. His wife, Edith, essentially ran the government for the remainder of his term, deciding which matters required his attention and which could be handled by others. This effective “secret presidency” remains one of the most significant cases of presidential disability in American history.
Despite his progressive domestic policies, Wilson was a racial segregationist who allowed federal agencies to be segregated and screened the racist film “Birth of a Nation” at the White House. Wilson established Mother’s Day as a national holiday in 1914. After his presidency, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to establish the League of Nations, though the U.S. Senate rejected American membership.
Warren G. Harding (1921-1923)
Warren G. Harding, known for his good looks and charisma, is often ranked among the worst presidents due to scandals that emerged after his death, including the Teapot Dome scandal in which his Secretary of the Interior leased federal oil reserves to private companies in exchange for bribes. Harding himself was not personally corrupt but appointed friends who were.
Harding died suddenly in 1923, likely from a heart attack or stroke, while on a cross-country speaking tour. Rumors of poisoning by his wife persisted for years but were unfounded. Harding was known for his love of poker, often playing twice a week with members of his cabinet in what he called the “poker cabinet.”
Harding was the first president to speak on the radio, the first to ride to his inauguration in an automobile, and the first sitting senator to be elected president. He pardoned socialist Eugene V. Debs who had been imprisoned for opposing World War I. Harding also supported anti-lynching legislation, though it failed to pass Congress.
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
Calvin Coolidge, known as “Silent Cal” for his taciturn nature, took office after Harding’s death and restored integrity to the presidency following the scandals of his predecessor’s administration. Coolidge was sleeping when he received news of Harding’s death and was sworn in by his father, a justice of the peace, by lamplight at 2:47 a.m. in the family homestead in Vermont.
Coolidge presided over the “Roaring Twenties,” a period of economic prosperity. He was a fiscal conservative who reduced government spending, lowered taxes, and paid down the national debt. Famous for his dry wit, when told at a dinner party that someone had bet they could get him to say more than two words, Coolidge reportedly replied, “You lose.”
The Coolidges kept an unusual menagerie of pets at the White House, including a raccoon named Rebecca, a hippo, two lions, a goose, a bobcat, and more conventional animals like dogs and canaries. Coolidge was the only president born on July 4th (1872). He declined to run for reelection in 1928, simply announcing, “I do not choose to run.”
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
Herbert Hoover, a successful mining engineer and business executive, was known as the “Great Humanitarian” for his relief work during and after World War I, saving millions from starvation. Before becoming president, Hoover had never held elected office but served as Secretary of Commerce under Harding and Coolidge.
Hoover’s presidency was defined by the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression that followed. Despite implementing some relief measures, his belief in limited government intervention and “rugged individualism” made his response seem inadequate to many Americans. Homeless encampments during the Depression were nicknamed “Hoovervilles” in his dishonor.
Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry, were both proficient in Mandarin Chinese and would sometimes speak it in the White House when they wanted privacy. They had lived in China as newlyweds and witnessed the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. After his presidency, Hoover rehabilitated his reputation somewhat through humanitarian work and service to presidents Truman and Eisenhower.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), the only president elected to more than two terms, served for 12 years and led the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II. He implemented the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms that fundamentally transformed the role of the federal government in American life, establishing Social Security, banking reforms, and numerous public works projects.
Stricken with polio in 1921, Roosevelt was paralyzed from the waist down and used a wheelchair, though he took great pains to appear standing in public with the help of leg braces and support from aides. The press cooperated in maintaining this image, rarely photographing him in his wheelchair.
FDR was the first president to appear on television (at the 1939 World’s Fair), the first to fly in an airplane while in office, and the first to build a presidential library. He began the tradition of regular press conferences and “Fireside Chats” on the radio to communicate directly with Americans. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage on April 12, 1945, just months before World War II ended.
Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)
Harry S. Truman assumed the presidency upon FDR’s death, famously keeping a sign on his desk that read “The Buck Stops Here.” He made the momentous decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II. Truman also established the Truman Doctrine to contain Soviet expansion, implemented the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, and desegregated the U.S. military by executive order.
Despite having no college education, Truman was well-read and a student of history. The “S” in his name doesn’t stand for anything; his parents couldn’t decide on a middle name but wanted to honor both his grandfathers, Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young.
Truman survived an assassination attempt in 1950 when two Puerto Rican nationalists tried to storm Blair House, where he was staying during White House renovations. He won the 1948 election despite polls predicting his defeat, leading to the famous photograph of him holding up the Chicago Tribune with the incorrect headline “Dewey Defeats Truman.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the five-star general who commanded Allied forces in Europe during World War II, brought his leadership skills to the presidency. During his two terms, he created the interstate highway system, established NASA, signed the first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, and warned against the “military-industrial complex” in his farewell address.
Eisenhower was an avid golfer who played more than 800 rounds while president and had a putting green installed on the White House lawn. His other hobbies included painting and cooking. As a young man, Eisenhower dreamed of playing professional baseball and even played in the minor leagues before attending West Point. In one college football game, he tackled the legendary Jim Thorpe.
During his presidency, Eisenhower suffered several serious health issues, including a heart attack in 1955 and a stroke in 1957, but recovered from both. He was the first president limited to two terms by the 22nd Amendment, though it didn’t apply to him as it was passed after he had been elected. Eisenhower was also the last president born in the 19th century.
John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
John F. Kennedy, at 43, was the youngest person elected president and the first Catholic to hold the office. His short presidency was marked by significant events including the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the establishment of the Peace Corps, and early civil rights initiatives. His assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, shocked the nation and remains a defining moment in American history.
Kennedy was a decorated naval officer who commanded PT-109 in World War II. When his boat was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, Kennedy helped his surviving crew members to safety, towing one injured sailor by clenching the man’s life jacket strap between his teeth as he swam. Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroism.
Kennedy won the Pulitzer Prize for his book “Profiles in Courage” in 1957, though historians later questioned how much of it he actually wrote. Kennedy suffered from chronic health problems throughout his life, including Addison’s disease and severe back pain, which he concealed from the public. His signature is on a plaque left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) assumed the presidency after Kennedy’s assassination and won election in his own right by a landslide in 1964. His “Great Society” domestic agenda transformed American society with landmark legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and environmental protections.
Johnson was a master legislative strategist known for the “Johnson Treatment”—his persuasive technique of physical closeness, flattery, and intimidation to get his way. Standing at 6’4", Johnson would often invade others’ personal space, leaning in close and speaking softly to make his point. Johnson sometimes held meetings while sitting on the toilet with the door open.
Despite his domestic accomplishments, Johnson’s presidency was undone by the Vietnam War. Facing mounting opposition, he stunned the nation by announcing in March 1968 that he would not seek reelection. Johnson retired to his Texas ranch where he grew his hair long. He died of a heart attack in 1973, two days before the signing of the Paris Peace Accords that ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
Richard Nixon is the only president to resign from office, doing so in 1974 to avoid certain impeachment over the Watergate scandal. Despite this ignominious end, Nixon’s presidency had significant achievements, including opening relations with China, détente with the Soviet Union, creating the Environmental Protection Agency, ending the draft, and beginning the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Vietnam.
Before becoming president, Nixon served as Eisenhower’s vice president for eight years. In 1960, he lost one of the closest presidential elections in history to Kennedy. Nixon then lost a bid for California governor in 1962, famously telling reporters, “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.” He made a remarkable political comeback to win the presidency in 1968.
Nixon was a talented pianist who composed and played his own music. His signature appears on the plaque left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts. Despite his conservative reputation, Nixon proposed a universal basic income and a national health insurance plan that would have been more comprehensive than later proposals. After resigning, Nixon gradually rehabilitated his reputation as an elder statesman focused on foreign policy.
Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
Gerald Ford, the only person to serve as both vice president and president without being elected to either office, assumed the presidency after Nixon’s resignation. Ford pardoned Nixon for any crimes he might have committed as president, a controversial decision that may have cost him the 1976 election but was later recognized as an act that helped heal the nation.
Before entering politics, Ford turned down offers to play professional football with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers to attend Yale Law School. He was a star center on the University of Michigan football team, playing on two national championship teams. Ford remained physically active as president and was known for occasional falls on the White House steps that were famously parodied by comedian Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live.
Ford was attacked by two different women in separate assassination attempts in California, both in September 1975. In the first attempt, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, pointed a gun at Ford but was stopped by Secret Service. Seventeen days later, Sara Jane Moore fired a shot at Ford that was deflected when a bystander grabbed her arm. Ford was also the longest-lived president, reaching 93 years and 165 days.
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer and former governor of Georgia, brought a moral emphasis and focus on human rights to the presidency. His administration’s achievements included the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, the Panama Canal Treaties, establishing diplomatic relations with China, and creating the Departments of Energy and Education.
Carter’s presidency was challenged by economic problems including “stagflation”—a combination of high inflation, high unemployment, and slow economic growth—and the Iran hostage crisis, in which 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days. The hostages were released minutes after Reagan was inaugurated, undermining Carter’s final efforts to secure their freedom.
After leaving office, Carter has had perhaps the most accomplished post-presidency in history. He founded the Carter Center to advance human rights and alleviate suffering, built houses with Habitat for Humanity well into his 90s, monitored elections worldwide, and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter is also a published poet and accomplished woodworker and painter. In 2023, at age 98, Carter entered hospice care but continued to surpass expectations for longevity.
Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
Ronald Reagan, a former actor and governor of California, was the oldest person elected president (at 69) until Joe Biden. Reagan’s presidency was defined by his conservative economic policies (known as “Reaganomics”), military buildup, and Cold War rhetoric toward the Soviet Union, which he famously called an “evil empire.” Later, he worked with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to reduce nuclear arsenals.
Reagan survived an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. just 69 days into his presidency. When brought to the hospital, he quipped to his surgeons, “I hope you’re all Republicans,” and told his wife Nancy, “Honey, I forgot to duck.” The bullet missed his heart by less than an inch. Reagan was known for his communication skills, earning him the nickname “The Great Communicator.”
In his second term, Reagan’s administration was tarnished by the Iran-Contra scandal, in which senior officials secretly sold arms to Iran (under an arms embargo) and used the proceeds to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua despite a congressional prohibition. After leaving office, Reagan disclosed in 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, raising questions about whether he had experienced cognitive decline during his presidency.
George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
George H.W. Bush brought extensive government experience to the presidency, having served as vice president under Reagan, CIA director, ambassador to the United Nations, envoy to China, and congressman. His presidency saw the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the successful Gulf War, in which he assembled a broad international coalition to repel Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
Bush broke his famous “read my lips: no new taxes” campaign pledge when he compromised with Democrats on a budget deal that included tax increases, alienating many conservatives. Despite a 90% approval rating after the Gulf War, Bush lost his reelection bid to Bill Clinton in 1992, in part due to an economic recession and the third-party candidacy of Ross Perot.
An avid sportsman, Bush played baseball at Yale and was known for his quick-paced golf games. On his 75th, 80th, 85th, and 90th birthdays, Bush celebrated by skydiving. He and his wife Barbara were married for 73 years, the longest marriage of any presidential couple. Bush was also the father of another president, George W. Bush, making them only the second father-son presidential pair after John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
Bill Clinton, a Rhodes Scholar and former Arkansas governor, was the first president from the Baby Boomer generation. His presidency was marked by economic prosperity, with the creation of 22 million jobs, the lowest unemployment in 30 years, and the first federal budget surplus since 1969. Clinton signed major legislation including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Brady Bill, and welfare reform.
Clinton’s presidency was nearly derailed by scandal when he had an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and lied about it under oath. This led to his impeachment by the House of Representatives in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, though he was acquitted by the Senate and completed his term. Clinton left office with a 66% approval rating despite the scandal.
A saxophonist who once considered a music career, Clinton was known for his love of fast food despite efforts to eat healthier. Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 and later adopted a vegan diet to address his heart problems. After his presidency, Clinton established the Clinton Foundation, which has raised billions for global health initiatives, economic development, and disaster relief.
George W. Bush (2001-2009)
George W. Bush, son of the 41st president, became president after one of the closest and most contested elections in American history, decided by a Supreme Court ruling in Bush v. Gore. His presidency was transformed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, after which he launched the global War on Terror, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Bush’s domestic agenda included tax cuts, the No Child Left Behind education reform, and Medicare prescription drug benefits. His presidency also saw the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005 and the beginning of the Great Recession in 2008. Bush left office with a 34% approval rating, among the lowest in modern times, though his reputation has improved somewhat since then.
Before entering politics, Bush was managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. He is the only president to have earned an MBA (from Harvard Business School). After his presidency, Bush became an avid painter, producing portraits of veterans wounded in the wars he initiated. These were collected in a book titled “Portraits of Courage.” Bush is also known for his close friendship with Michelle Obama, formed during official ceremonies where they often sat together.
Barack Obama (2009-2017)
Barack Obama made history as the first African American president. A former constitutional law professor and senator from Illinois, Obama campaigned on themes of hope and change. His presidency was marked by efforts to address the Great Recession, passage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), the killing of Osama bin Laden, normalization of relations with Cuba, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, just nine months into his first term, a decision that surprised many including Obama himself. During his presidency, he faced significant opposition from the Republican-controlled Congress, leading to government shutdowns and budget standoffs. His use of executive orders on immigration and other issues sparked criticism about presidential overreach.
An avid basketball player, Obama had a court installed at the White House and regularly played with cabinet members, staff, and professional players. He created an annual tradition of publicly sharing his NCAA tournament bracket predictions. Obama was also known for his oratorical skills and his relatively measured social media presence compared to his successor. His marriage to Michelle Obama and his role as a father to daughters Malia and Sasha were central to his public image.
Donald Trump (2017-2021)
Donald Trump, a businessman and reality television star with no prior political or military experience, won a surprise victory in 2016 to become president. His unconventional presidency was marked by tax cuts, deregulation, conservative judicial appointments including three Supreme Court justices, criminal justice reform, the establishment of Space Force, and efforts to restrict immigration, including attempts to build a wall on the Mexican border.
Trump’s presidency was controversial and polarizing, with unprecedented use of Twitter to communicate directly with the public, frequent staff turnover, and an adversarial relationship with the media. He was impeached twice by the House—first for pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, and second for inciting the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot—but was acquitted by the Senate both times.
Before entering politics, Trump built a real estate empire and starred in the reality show “The Apprentice.” He is the only president to have been banned from major social media platforms. Trump did not attend Biden’s inauguration, breaking a long tradition of peaceful transitions. He was also the only president never to achieve a 50% approval rating during his term. In 2023, Trump became the first former president to be indicted on criminal charges.
Joe Biden (2021-Present)
Joe Biden, who was elected at 78, became the oldest person to assume the presidency, breaking the record previously held by Trump. Before becoming president, Biden served as vice president under Obama for eight years and represented Delaware in the Senate for 36 years. His long political career made him one of the most experienced presidents ever to take office.
Biden’s presidency began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and his early priorities included accelerating vaccinations and passing the American Rescue Plan to stimulate economic recovery. His administration also focused on infrastructure investment, climate change, and rebuilding international alliances. Biden oversaw the controversial withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war.
Known for his empathy and personal connection with voters, Biden has experienced significant personal tragedy, losing his first wife and infant daughter in a 1972 car accident and his son Beau to brain cancer in 2015. Biden is the second Catholic president after Kennedy. He has a well-documented love for ice cream and classic cars, particularly his vintage Corvette, which he’s occasionally driven during his presidency. Biden has also set records for the number of executive orders signed in his first days in office.
