List of presidents of the United States

List of presidents of the United States
Post	President
Body	the United States
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Presidential Seal
Incumbent	Joe Biden
Incumbentsince	January 20, 2021
Department	Executive Office of the President, White House Office
Style	Mr. President (informal), The Honorable (formal), His Excellency (diplomatic)
Residence	White House
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Appointer	Electoral College
Termlength	Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the United States
Formation	March 4, 1789
First	George Washington
Salary	$400,000 annually
Website	[https://www.whitehouse.gov whitehouse.gov]

List of presidents of the United States enumerates the individuals who have served as the head of state and head of government of the United States since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The presidency was established by Article II of the Constitution, with George Washington inaugurated as the first president in Federal Hall in New York City. The role has evolved significantly through historical events like the American Civil War, the Great Depression, and the Cold War, with the officeholder wielding considerable influence over domestic policy and foreign affairs.

List of presidents

As of 2024, there have been 46 presidencies and 45 individuals who have held the office, with Grover Cleveland serving two non-consecutive terms. The list begins with the Federalist George Washington, who set critical precedents, and includes early figures like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. The 19th century saw presidents from the Democratic-Republican Party, the Whig Party, and the Democratic Party, including Andrew Jackson, a founder of the Democratic movement, and Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, who led the nation during the American Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

The 20th century introduced transformative leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt, a Progressive Era trust-buster, Woodrow Wilson, who led during World War I and championed the League of Nations, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who guided the country through the Great Depression and World War II. The post-war era included Cold War presidents like Harry S. Truman, who authorized the use of the atomic bomb, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, who faced the Cuban Missile Crisis. More recent presidents include Ronald Reagan, associated with the end of the Cold War, Bill Clinton during the dot-com bubble, and Barack Obama, the first African-American president. The current president, Joe Biden, previously served as Vice President under Obama.

Election and succession

Presidents are elected indirectly through the Electoral College for a four-year term, as established by the Constitution and later refined by the Twelfth Amendment. The process begins with primary elections and nominating conventions held by major parties like the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The inauguration occurs on January 20 following the election year, as mandated by the Twentieth Amendment, typically at the United States Capitol.

The order of succession is detailed in the Presidential Succession Act and the Twenty-fifth Amendment, which stipulates that the Vice President assumes the presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president, as occurred with Lyndon B. Johnson after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Further succession proceeds to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate.

Post-presidency

Activities and stature of former presidents have varied widely since the early example set by George Washington, who retired to Mount Vernon. Many former chief executives have remained active in public life, such as John Quincy Adams, who served in the House of Representatives after his presidency, and William Howard Taft, who became Chief Justice of the United States. The modern post-presidency often involves establishing a presidential library administered by the National Archives, philanthropic work through foundations like the Clinton Foundation, and participation in diplomatic missions.

The Former Presidents Act provides former occupants of the office with a pension, office allowances, and Secret Service protection. Notable post-presidential writings include the memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant and Barack Obama. Some former presidents, like Jimmy Carter through the Carter Center, have engaged extensively in humanitarian and election monitoring work globally.

See also

* Vice President of the United States * First Lady of the United States * United States presidential line of succession * Historical rankings of presidents of the United States * List of vice presidents of the United States

References

* Category:Lists of American politicians Category:United States history-related lists