From class USSO 10100, here's my summary of all the presidents up til 2008. I will keep updating this project:
#1. George Washington (1789-1797), Federalist, 57 yr, VA
Wife: Martha, Children – none.
Started “So Help Me God” phrase at inauguration.
The only one unanimously elected.
Call me “Mr. President”
Wouldn’t shake hands.
Tall, athletic. Best horse (Nelson, his white horse) rider according to Jefferson. Great dancer.
Secretary of treasury - Alexander Hamilton.
The only president never serves in D.C.
Dealt with the Whiskey Rebellion.
#2. John Adams (1797 – 1801), Federalist, 61 yr, MA
Wife: Abigail, 4 children
Spoke with lisp. Poor people skill. Bipolar.
Did not accept counsel.
XYZ Affair (against French bribe), Alien & Sedition Act (speaking out against officials became a crime).
Created the navy.
Lost second term to Jefferson. Left office in the midst of the night.
John Adams & Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826 (50th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence).
#3. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809), Democratic-Republican, 58, VA
Widower, 6 children.
Greeted guests in house slippers. Master manipulator. Not a good public speaker, use writing more.
Affair with Sally Heming.
Louisiana Purchase $15,000,000. Federalists opposed him.
Embargo Act of 1807, foolish, no trade with the British and French.
Hated his presidency so much, left it off his grave stone (no mention of his presidency).
#4. James Madison (1809 – 1816), Democratic-Republican, 57, VA
Wife: Dolley, no children
Father of the Constitution.
Opposite of Jefferson – short, funnier: bawdy sense of humor.
Parties in the White House.
Dolley was important. Dolley’s favorite: Oysters.
1812 war. Pushed into war with England. First president to get Congress to declare war. Lost. America first enter world politics & wars.
1814 New England threatened to secede.
1814 British burned President’s Mansion. The only sitting president to face enemy fire.
Monroe sent to negotiate peace with England, ended war.
Dolly kept Washington’s portrait and Star Spangled Banner.
#5. James Monroe (1817 – 1825), Dem-Rep, 58, VA
Wife: Elizabeth, 2 children.
War hero, honest, patient.
Last of the revolutionary generation. Last of VA dynasty.
Easy presidency, second term unopposed.
1820 – Missouri Compromise. MO wanted statehood, but free or slave state. MO entered as slave state, Maine: Free state.
Returned slaves to Africa (Monrovia).
1818 – Indians raided Georgia encouraged by British privateers in Florida. General Andrew Jackson sent to invade Florida, hung British. Thus, 3 countries involved (US, Spain & Britain)
1819, Spanish ceded Florida to US.
Monroe Doctrine, written by John Quincy Adam (European stay out of colonization here)
1824 – Presidency by popular vote instead of serving as secretary of state as stepping stone. Competition: William Crawford, John C Calhoun, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson.
#6. John Quincy Adams (1825-1829), Dem-Rep, 57, MA
Son of John Adams. Wife: Louisa, 3 children.
Congress thwarted most of Adams’ goals.
Arrogant, humorless, inflexible manager
Skinny dip like Lyndon Johnson.
Like father like son.
1828, second term failed, lost to Andrew Jackson. Dirtiest campaign. Attack the character. Dirt on Rachel wife of Jackson (married Jackson before divorcing her ex officially). What Jackonians said about Adams were more lies than the other way around.
1828, Rachel died of heart attack. Jackson angry.
Later elected to the House of Representative, the only former president to do so. Fought against slavery as congressional leader. This became his legacy.
1843, the first president to have photograph taken.
#7. Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), Democrat, 61, TN
Wife: Rachel (died 1828), no children
“Jeffersonian Democrat”, “Old Hickory”
Iron-willed, intimidating manager. Passionate Indian Fighter. Duelist. Furious temper.
Call me “Gneral”.
Fired enemies, hired his friends when he took office.
Indians Removal Act of 1830. Cherokee Indians took Georgia to court instead of war. Supreme court favored Indian but Jackson ruled.
Opponent called him Jackass – Jackson liked it, mascot of democrat.
The only time U.S. was debt free!
The only president to be censured by Congress during the “Bank War”, for his rejection of the bank bill and dismantling the federal bank in order to find friendlier source of funds.
#8. Martin Van Buren (1837-1841), Dem, 54, NY
Widower, 4 children
Father of the Democratic Party
Poor decision maker. Elegant dresser.
Burdened by Jackson’s bank war. Economy crisis. Country in depression.
1840 – First public rally for presidential campaign.
#9. William Harrison (March - April, 1841), Whig, 68, OH
Whig chose him instead of Clay for supporting the re-chartering of the bank of U.S., and resembling Andrew Jackson.
Died of illness.
No clear guideline for finding successor.
#10 John Tyler (1841-1845), Whig, 51, VA
Refused to have a vice president.
Expelled by his own party for vetoing 2 Whig bills.
Settled the border between US and Canada (still under British).
Annexed Texas
#11 James K. Polk (1845-1849), Dem, 49, TN (looks like Melgibson + Hugh Jackman)
Jackson wannabe. “More Jacksonian than Jackson”
Hardest working U.S. President. (very available to the people, just knock on White House door)
America’s Manifest Destiny (expand Westward)
Settle Oregon territory (US vs. Britain), Get California, setup independent treasury, lower tariffs on imports.
Completed the expansion into a continental nation: “Sea to Shining Sea”
North – Economically developed.
South – Political Power.
#12. Zachary Taylor (1849-1850), Whig, 64, LA
Wife: Margaret, 4 children
“Old Rough and Ready”
Poor speaker, slovenly, never registered to vote, relaxed manager
War hero from the Mexican War
Promised not to veto anything.
Compromise of 1850 by Henry Clay: CA as free state with some limits. Rejected by Taylor.
Some said he was poisoned. 1991, forensic found the cause to be a form of cholera.
#13. Millard Fillmore (1850-1853), Whig, 50, NY
Accidental president. “Gerald Ford” of his day.
Book worm, friendly.
Fired all of Taylor’s men.
Signed Compromise 1850 into law.
Supported slavery, important for southern economy.
Whigs wouldn’t renominate him.
12 presidents who were generals before being elected:
Washington, Jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Pierce, A. Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Ben Harrison, Eisenhower
#14. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) Dem, 48, NH
Wife: Jane, 3 children (all died in youth)
Charming, alcoholic, indecisive manager
11 year old son killed, Pierce may have been seriously affected by it.
Approved Kansas-Nebraska Act: repeal MO compromise of 1820 which bans slavery above southern border of MO. Let KA & NE decide themselves to be Free or Slave state. Angered many in the North, especially Lincoln who created Republican Party to oppose slavery.
1856, May 21, pro slavery forces burn abolition stronghold of Lawrence, Kansas.
Pierce own party rejected him for second term. Went home a drunk. Saddest of any presidential legacy.
#15. James Buchanan (1857-1861), Dem, 65, PA
Never married (America’s only bachelor president, first homosexual president? “Aunt Nancy”), niece was called “the first lady”.
Generous, procrastinator, engaging, consensus seeker.
Ranked bottom as worst president. Resulted in civil war.
Most accomplished politician: Congressman, foreign minister, senator, secretary of state.
Hard worker, stay up late for details.
Supporter of the South, traitor to the North.
1860, Dec. 20, SC seceded the union, anticipating anti-slavery president. Buchanan denied it, but did nothing to stop it. Later, 6 more states left the union. 8 States sat on the fence became border states.
1861, Feb 9, Confederate States of America (7 states), elected Jefferson Davis as their president. Buchanan’s presidency ended a month later.
Unknown to America at the time, Buchanan quietly purchased several slaves and sent them North for their freedom.
#16. Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865), Republican, 52, IL
Wife: Mary, 3 children
Excellent sense of humor, linked to be photographed, obsessed with military strategy, decisive manager.
Became the great emancipator against his own intention.
Young people followed him.
“If I could save the union without freeing a single slave, I would do that”
Civil War: Fort Sumter waiting for supply from Lincoln, Lincoln wrote Jefferson Davis for peaceful delivery of supply, but Davis attacked Fort Sumter before supply arrives, first shot fired and war begun. Motivated 4 border states to join Confederate States. Fort Sumter lost to South but Major Anderson saved American flag and brought it to NYC. (Shrewd calculation by Lincoln?) The only American Presidency defined by war.
Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday, first to pardon a turkey (Jack) at Thanksgiving.
Went to Library on Congress read books to learn military strategy and administration.
1861 Aug, Major General John C. Freemont, declared slaves of rebels in MO to be free, troubled Lincoln. Nullified Freemont’s action, relieved Freemont of duty, fearing the border states to join Confederacy.
1862 Feb, 11 yr son Willy, died of Typhoid Fever.
1862 April, Union won at Shiloh at great cost of 24,000 men.
1862 July, confided his cabinet he was prepared to surpass his presidential legal power and exploit his unique war time power as commander in chief. Intend to abolish slavery in rebellious states forever.
1862 Sept. 22, Emancipation Proclamation issued to the public. “Lincoln reaches the level of the founding fathers where he fulfills the promise of the declaration of independence that had been so long denied to so many millions of individuals who had been denied freedom”.
1862-1863 However, though Union enjoyed victories in the West, East was devastated by great losses.
1863 June, Robert Lee’s rebel army marching towards PA after winning streak. Battle of Gettysburg very bloody. Photographs available.
1864 Lincoln run re-election against one of his former general (George B. McClellan) who promised to end war with negotiation.
Re-elected due to Union burned Atlanta. “Malice toward none and charity for all”.
1865 April 9th, Robert Lee surrendered to Grant. War nearly over.
Granting black men right to vote.
1865 April 14th, Good Friday, Ford’s Theatre Comedy: “Our American Cousin”. Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Secretary of State William Seward was stabbed, Grant was targeted but was out of town, Vice President Andrew Johnson was on hit list too (offered ticket to Ford’s Theatre but turned down). Booth assigned someone to go to Johnson’s suite at Kirkwood House, supposedly Johnson would answer a knock on the door at night and get stabbed, but never happened, the assassin lost his nerve, got drunk).
9 presidents who didn’t attend college:
Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland, Truman
#17. Andrew Johnson (1865-1869), Dem, 56, TN
Wife: Eliza, 5 children
Stubborn, principled, ambitious, uncompromising.
Trained to be a tailor.
Southerner, owned slaves. However, was the only senator from seceding state to remained with the Union during the Civil War.
Grew up from poverty like Lincoln. But followed his home state model: Andrew Jackson. The last Jacksonian.
Most racist president we ever had. “Blacks were savages, barbarians”. “Back to plantations, leave public spheres to whites”.
Favored his home people (the Confederacy), granted them amnesty. Freed slaves got little protection, no guarantee of citizenship nor right to vote.
Johnson kept vetoing Congress’ bills on slaves’ freedom.
Jackson vetoed 12, Johnson vetoed 29.
1866 Civil Rights Bill. Congress realized they had the votes to overwrite Johnson’s veto.
1867 March, Tenure of Office Act passed by Congress: President cannot remove appointees without Senates consent. Johnson fell for the trap, dismissed his secretary of war.
1868 Feb, House of Representatives, impeached president for violating the act. Trial in the Senate determines Johnson’s misdeed would remove him from office (if 2/3 of senators voted for it). Drawings of impeachment available. “It was a circus, just as it was in 1999 (Clinton’s impeachment)”. Johnson avoided removal by a single vote!
Passing the rest of his term quiet.
Later, became the only former president to be elected to the Senate.
Johnson never attended school, taught himself how to read.
President vs Congress resulted in weak presidents for 30 years.
#18. Ulysses Simpson Grant (1869-1877), Rep., 46, OH
Wife: Julia, 4 children
Short, loyal, humble, shy, governed like a military commander
at the time to be president: youngest, first Westpointer, first without majority of white votes – blacks in the south were allowed to cast votes for the first time, 700,000 blacks voted = 12% mostly for Grant.
Bathed in closed tent as soldier. Good artist – some of his paintings survived.
Smoking cigar habit – 20 a day. Adrenaline junkie (ride horse for need for speed).
1866, Won impromptu horse race through Central Park against coach carrying Andrew Johnson.
Got speeding for driving his horse drawn carriage too fast down M Street. Paid $20 fine.
Likes to appoint cronies.
“Let us have peace”. Turns out anything but peaceful. Blacks voted Republican governors in many southern states. Some North still wanted to punish the south, some South wanted to punish the blacks.
KKK was terrorist wing of the Democratic Party. Grant crushed them. South was peaceful for a while.
Troubled by scandals
1872 Re-elected.
1873 Depression in South caused trouble.
Tragic lost in Indian war.
Hated hunting, despised harsh treatment of animals, sick of sight of blood.
#19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) Rep., 54, OH
Wife: Lucy, 8 children
Honest, Intellectual, optimistic, governed by compromise.
Election of 1876 Hayes vs. Tilden-NY Governor: “Last battle of the civil war”.
Hayes lost popular votes (like Bush in 2000). After recounts, Hayes won. “His Fraudulency”, “the Great Usurper”, “Rutherfraud Hayes”.
First to be sworn in the White House. First president who have telephone installed in White House.
“Lemonade Lucy” – she banned liquor from the White House.
Gave up control of the South by removing Federal troops from SC & LA. Supposed to end reconstruction of the South. Didn’t work in the south, blacks continued to be discriminated.
Didn’t want second term.
Later worked on Civil Rights, education reformed.
3 presidents occupied White House in 1881: Rutherford Hayes, James Garfield, Chester Arthur.
Grant wanted back in. But failed.
#20 James A. Garfield, Rep (1881), 49, OH
Wife: Lucretia, 7 Children
Outgoing, well-read, baseball fan, policy wonk
First formal college president, Only preacher to hold the office.
1881, July 2, stalked by Charles Guiteau (wanted Arthur to be president) to Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station, got shot twice. Garfield didn’t die immediately. Not certain if medical effort could have been better, but Garfield died 79 days later in Sept 19.
Legacy: Battle against NY political machine. Bold enough to stand against “the boss” of his time.
#21. Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885), Rep., 51, NY
Wife: Ellen (deceased), 3 children
Bon vivant, clothes horse, fisherman, relaxed management style. Bought latest fashion.
Looked down on White House, renovated it by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Wife died in 1880, his sister acted as social hostess.
Seen as a product of corrupt NY machine, Arthur painfully broke with his old faction, dear friend: leader Ruscoe Conkling.
Improved Navy for Spanish American war in 1888.
Industrial Revolution. By 1880s, presidents aren’t seen as powerful. That title is seen in the likes of JP Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie.
#22. Grover Cleveland, Dem, (1885-1889), 47, NY
Wife: Frances, 5 children
Son of Presbyterian minister.
The only President to get married in the White House.
Honest, self-reliant, hard worker, inflexible manager
Answers his own phone, door bell in White House. Wrote his own speeches.
414 vetoes in first term.
Had illegitimate child.
“People should support the gov, the gov should not support the people”
1888: hottest political issue: tariffs.
Though won the popular vote, lost second term to Harrison (Rep) who won in the electoral college.
Frances told White House staffs to take good care of the place, they’d be back.
#23. Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893), Rep, 55, IN
Wife: Caroline, 3 children
Civil war veteran, great public speaker, stand-offish, judicious administrator
The only Grandfather-Grandson presidents (William Harrison)
Did right by his fellow veterans, but nearly bankrupt the treasury – 1st comprehensive pension legislation (for civil war veterans), 14 yr girls married 70-yr veterans for Money.
McKinley Tariff: high tariff on imports, no one wants to export to America. American companies gained monopoly. Consumer products sky rocketed due to absence of foreign competition. Common people dislike Harrison.
First to put electricity in the White House, but the couple were too afraid to touch the switches.
#24. Grover Cleveland (1893-1897), Dem, 55, NY
The only president to win 2 non-consecutive terms: Grover Cleveland
Reduced McKinley Tariff.
1893: Economy depression. Monetary debate: Eastern industrialists insisted on gold; populists (farmers, westerners, etc.) Bimetallism (allows silver and gold) – which Cleveland opposed, thought gold would end depression, seen as industrialist supporter. Failed to heal economy crisis.
#25. William McKinley, rep, (1897-1901), 54, OH
Wife: Ida Saxton, 2 children
Backed by big money. Religious, calm demeanor, last civil war veteran to be president, efficient executive.
Figured out how to keep the press informed.
Theodore Roosevelt wants to expand. Push war against Spain. Reluctant to go to war, but Cuba suffered under Spain. Sent warship to Cuba to protect American interest there.
1888, Feb 15th, USS Maine exploded mysteriously, killed 267 service men. It was probably sunk by accidental engine room explosion, instead of Spanish mine.
1888, Feb 25th, America declared war on Spain.
Roosevelt resigned as executive position in Navy, organized “rough riders” to fight in the war.
America easily took over Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines. Became imperial power.
War bolstered economy.
McKinley competed for second term with the more popular Roosevelt. Rep. wanted to neutralized McKinley’s rising power.
Frank Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz, probably fashioned after his role model McKinley.
1901 Sept, assassinated in Buffalo, NY.
#26. Theodore Roosevelt, Rep., (1901-1909), 42, NY
Wife: Edith, 6 children
Energetic/exciting, contradictory, shrewd, charismatic leader, impossibly energetic.
Hunter, halted war. Won Nobel Peace prize.
Kind of more of a Democrat than Republican.
His personality very pronounced in everything.
Against monopoly. Took on Tycoons like JP Morgan, etc. Crushed Morgan’s business.
Dealt with coal strike.
Officially named the Executive Mansion “The White House”, and added the “West Wing”.
Caused Panama Canal to happen. Nation of Panama formed against Columbia.
“Big stick diplomacy” – policing the Western sphere.
Upton Sinclair’s book “The Jungle” – bad conditions for immigrants in meat packing industry. Food related act passed.
1906 Antiquity’s Act – preserve American landscape. Stopped destruction of the Grand Canyons.
Wanted to do more after 2nd term. But as promised, did not run for re-election of 1908.
First president to fly in an airplane, own an automobile, and dive in a submarine.
Hand picked his successor, Taft.
#27. William Howard Taft (1909-1913), Rep, 52, OH
Wife: Nellie, 3 Children
Did not enjoy politics, heaviest president in history, excellent legal mind, delegated responsibility.
Reluctant to be president, wife push. But Nellie suffered stroke after inauguration, couldn’t enjoy it as she wanted so badly, ironic.
Lawyer by trade, ambition: Supreme court justice.
355 lbs. Bathtub in White House replaced.
Roosevelt saw how Taft dismantled his previous hard works, angry. Challenged Taft in next election, Taft even broke down in tears. Calling Taft names. Republicans prefer Taft and his conservative politics. TR joined progressive Bull Moose Party. Democratic challenger Woodrow Wilson took the victory instead.
Taft lost weight after presidency, became Chief justice of the US.
Taft actually did more to regulate monopoly than TR.
#28. Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) Dem, 56, NJ
1st Wife: Ellen (died 1914), 2nd Wife: Edith, 3 children
Principled, outwardly cold, masterful orator, collegial leader
The only president with PhD. President of Princeton University (1902-1910)->Governor of NJ->President.
Not the boss, discuss with all freely.
1914: WW1. Ellen died. Wilson pledged neutrality.
1915: Remarried, Edith.
Barely won second term, 2nd Democrat incumbent to win since Andrew Jackson.
1917: German threatened American ships. Wilson get Congress to declare war.
League of Nations – peaceful solution as much as possible.
Sedition and Espionage Act of 1918 – Criticize the government is a crime.
Germany surrendered. Wilson went to EU for peace treaty, a hero.
1919: Suffered stroke. Edith covered for him.
League of Nations did not get US support, failed. However, began U.S. relation in the world.
Wilson appeared on $100,000 bill. Largest American denomination printed. Never circulated, used only by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department.
1920: Americans tired of war.
#29 Warren G. Harding (1921-1923), Rep, 55, OH
Wife: Florence, no children
Extrovert, gambler, alleged womanizer, ineffective leader, Sousaphone player.
The only president elected on his birthday.
Important: Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 – Greater control of federal spending, first time required president to submit annual budget to Congress.
Washington Naval Conference – Reduction of Naval powers of the world.
1923: First sitting president to visit Alaska. July 29, heart attack in San Francisco. Died 4 days later.
Some scandals followed Harding’s legacy. Thus, famously known for scandals.
Harding often hosted poker games at the White House, and once gambled away a set of presidential china from Benjamin Harrison’s administration.
#30 Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929), Rep, 52, MA
Wife: Grace, 2 Children
Quiet, dry wit, believed in limited government, delegated much to his cabinet
Hobby: fishing. Very quiet.
1925: Full term of his own (he was replacing Harding before) Sworn in by Taft, former president. First time former president gave office to president.
Kill pay raises to postal workers & bonuses for WW1 veterans. Lower taxes twice. Goal: Keep government small & business booming. However, great depression ahead is missed.
Not to run for second term.
#31 Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), Rep, 54, CA
First president born west of Mississippi. Orphan (taken in by relatives), millionaire (mining company), tendency towards melancholy, managed like a CEO. Fishing. Hoover Ball (sport-share idea). Workaholic.
Misfortune to be in office during depression, Oct 1929. Hoover’s solution: Volunteerism, companies volunteer to help.
Americans angry with Hoover. Marches on D.C. Hoover asked for General Douglas MacArthur’s help, who burned the camps by exceeding his authority. Hoover took the blame. Challenger FDR: “This elects me!”.
Hoover was first president to have a telephone on his Oval Office desk, first to hire an executive staff.
#32 Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), Dem, 51, NY
Wife: Eleanor, 6 Children
Charming, loner, “C” student, unorthodox manager, 5th cousin of TR. Master radio broadcaster.
Polio at 39, had to use wheelchair, but tried to keep it from the media.
New deals against depression, via mainly Eleanor’s help. Solution was not really working until industrial mobilization of WW2. Only succeeded public confidence in him.
1936: 61% voted for FDR’s second term. Increased the number of Justices fearing they would overturn his previous legislations, he failed in this power grab.
First president to select a woman for his cabinet, Labor Secretary Frances Perkins.
Losing support, but thanks to WW2.
1940: France fell to Nazis, battle over Britain began. FDR broke Washington’s tradition by being elected for the 3rd term. Now comes Pearl Harbor. Hired famous military leaders.
1942 Feb 19th : ordered Internment of more than 100,000 Japanese Americans due to Anti-Japanese.
Criticized for not helping Jews under Nazis.
5 months after D-day, elected for 4th term, but 62 years old, health failing.
Fulfill Wilson’s vision, formed the United Nations (with FDR, Churchill, Stalin)
1945, April 12, died of Cerebral hemorrhage. Longest presidency, one of the greatest: faced depression, WW2.
#33. Harry S. Truman (1945-1953), Dem, 60, MO
Wife: Bess, one child
Plain spoken, blunt, confident, decisive. Former farmer, businessman.
Dropped first atomic bomb.
1945 May 7, Germany surrendered, War in EU over. But US not done with Japan.
1945 Aug 15, Japanese surrendered.
Truman Doctrine: against communism around the world.
1948: Executive order to end racial segregation in arm forces and civil service.
Though problem with labor strikes. Fierce campaign won second election. But problems followed:
American former war time ally China lost to communism, Chinese revolution. North Korea communists invade South -> Korean War -> early successes turned stalemate when China involved. Ho Chi Ming asked Truman for help in Vietnam against French, France asked Truman to support them instead. Nothing went right. Popularity sank all time low.
Remembered for his past success.
Truman was so nearsighted, that he cheated by memorizing the army’s eye exam chart to enlist during WW1.
#34 Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961), Rep, 62, KS
Wife: Mamie, 2 Children
Likeable, honorable, shrewd politician, inspirational leader
Legendary master mind of D-Day. General who pursued by both Rep & Dem. Join Rep and run for office.
Rather play golf than govern.
Ended Korean war. Downsize military, spend money on infrastructure & quality of life: Federal Highway Act.
1954: Supreme court banned racial segregation in public schools in Brown vs. Board of Education. But Eisenhower thought it wasn’t time for de-segregation, hence distanced from the issue. More attention in foreign affair: Support South Vietnam over communist north. Send lots of $$$ to Vietnam.
1956: Peace and soaring economy won Eisenhower second term.
However, heart attack in 1955 and aloof reaction towards civil rights unrest, made him seem weak.
Soviets seems to gained ahead over U.S.:
1957: Soviet launched Sputnik. Americans panic.
1959: Fidel Castro ceased power in Cuba.
Truman only wanted peace.
In honor of his grandson, Eisenhower changed the name of the presidential retreat in Maryland from “Shangri-La” to “Camp David” in 1953.
#35 John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), Dem, 43, MA
Wife: Jacqueline, 3 Children
Charismatic, witty, intelligent, “open door” manager. Youngest man ever elected president.
Hidden health problem, sexual appetite. However, “open door” policy made him lead effectively.
Okayed CIA against Cuba -> disaster. Took responsibility, earned nation’s trust.
Created Peace corps, planted war on poverty – made him great.
CIA showed Kennedy maps of Soviet’s nuclear facilities in Cuba, announced we may go to Nuclear War. But cold warrior at heart, rejected military advice of launching airstrike on Cuba. Forged peace with Soviet.
1963 MLK lead protest march. Kennedy appreciate but not so much into civil rights.
1963 Nov 1, Kennedy approved the assassination of South Vietnam president -> US owned Vietnam.
1963 Nov 22, Assassinated in Dallas. Lots of hope in him died. Vice president sworn in on Air Force One.
Only two men have been elected president while holding seats in the US Senate: Warren G. Harding and John F. Kennedy.
#36 Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), Dem, 55, TX
From poverty. Volcanic personality. In-your-face management style, 6 ft 2”, intimidating height (“Johnson Treatment”).
Skinny dipping in White House pool while in conference with his aides for his Great Society Proposal. Gained the upper hand in unconventional meeting style.
Great Society: Voting Rights Act, Medicaid, Federal Aid for Education, Environmental Protection Laws, food stamps, Headstart, NPR, PBS, Consumer Protection Laws & Civil Rights Act. The only president who did most for African Americans.
Continued Kennedy’s war on poverty -> cutting % of those in poverty by half.
1965 June: General Westmoreland warned LBJ of risking losing the war unless mobilize the reserves: More firepower, double troops (65,000 to 125,000). Johnson authorized sending 100,000 more troops, but still failed. Anti-war movement gained momentum. LBJ really didn’t want war. Tried to negotiate peace with Vietnam but fail.
Challenged by own party: Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy. Decided not to run for second.
Johnson had a soda fountain installed in the Oval Office that dispensed only Fresca (which he loved).
#37. Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974), Rep, 56, CA
Wife: Thelma Catherine “Pat”, 2 children
Insecure, secretive, brooding loner, managed by intimidation
Nixon wanted Vietnam war to keep going, though he schemed for presidency by announced a “secret plan” to end the war in Vietnam in 1968. Led on to South Vietnamese to hold on for something better from Nixon -> Hence, LBJ’s peace negotiation failed. Nixon privately escalated the war by bombing Cambodia and send marines to invade Laos. Intensified war in Vietnam.
Gained many enemies. Need to prove himself, obsessed with power. Bypassed Secretary o f State & Defense, so that he & national security advisor Henry Kissinger could control foreign policy.
1969 May: NY Times revealed the secret bombings (Cambodia), Nixon gone ballistic, ordered wide scale wiretapping of government officials & journalists to trace the leak. The beginning of Watergate. All secret illegal doings of Nixon & Kissinger & others.
Nixon & Kissinger’s plan: Triangular Diplomacy: Disengage in Vietnam while playing Russia & China off against each other, because the key to peace in Vietnam is good relationship with China (Vietnam’s ally). Nixon forged relationship with China, brokered an agreement with Hanoi (1973, January). The way to pull out of Vietnam.
Crowning achievements: Visit to China (1972 Feb), stetegic arms limitation treaty with the Soviets (1972 May). Hence, landslide success in re-election
1973 Jan: official cease fire in Vietnam (North vs. South). But secretly and without Congress consent, Nixon promised South Vietnam President that US would restart bombing North if Hanoi violated the accord.
1973: Wiretapping of reporters, infiltration of student movement/black panther movement, possible overthrow of Chilean government -> Watergate Scandal.
1974 July: after 14 months of congressional hearing on Watergate, passing impeachment charging Nixon of obstructing justice. Nixon resigned on Aug 9th, before House could vote to impeach. Nixon announced Vice President Ford would be sworn in.
Watergate Scandal: Locks in Watergate DC were taped, found 5 men trying to wiretap the office, traces funding and secret organization to Nixon, further investigation (FBI informant: Deep Throat) found other illegal acts and caused Congress questioning. Found out Nixon secretly tapped almost all White House conversations. Tapes were ordered to turn over. Nixon resigned before impeachment.
Brilliant strategist tarnished by Watergate. The only president to resign.
#38. Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977) Rep, 61, MI
Wife: Betty, 4 children
Amiable, straightforward, decent, consensus builder, open and honest, much needed after Nixon.
Burdened too much with Watergate -> pardoned Nixon.
North Vietnam broke peace accord launched offensive into South Vietnam. Ford asked Congress for military & economic aid, but was rejected (not trusting Ford after Nixon), unleashed great terrors in Vietnam, Saigon fell to the communists on April 19th, 1975. Gave America bad image.
Americans wanted to get Watergate and Vietnam behind them, elected Jimmy Carter (true Washington outsider).
#39 Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), Dem, 52, GA
Wife: Rosalynn, 4 children
Nuclear engineer, tenacious, virtuous, micromanager, southern baptist->deeply religious (secret service code name: “Deacon”), very idealistic (not go along with politicians)
Peanut farmer, 1 term governor of Georgia, promised to never tell a lie to Americans. Graduate of US Naval academy, served in the nuclear submarine program.
DC not used to president with deeply sincere religious beliefs.
Hardworking, He “Digest memos like eating hotdogs”.
Foreign policy: Human Rights
1978 Camp David Accords: Brokered between Egyptian president (Anwar Sadat) & Israeli Prime minister (Menachem Begin). Took on role as peacemaker in Middle East, despite skepticism from the rest of Americans, Carter proved to be right, the rest wrong. Bible teacher since 18 years old. Had some knowledge of the holy land. Took 13 days.
However, 1970s economy & energy crisis dropped Carter’s approval rating. 1979 Summer, Long line at gas station (“Limit $4 purchase”).
1979 Oct, Islamic militants stormed US Embassy in Iran, 52 Americans hostages. Carter resisted calls for (swift) military response, preferred diplomacy (slow). Seen as too weak to lead, didn’t care. Military rescue failed. Carter lost in a landslide to Ronald Reagan. Apparently the 52 hostages was waiting to be released after Carter was no longer president (Why?), but that’s all Carter cared about.
Won Nobel Peace Prize after post-presidency peacemaking activities.
Learned that he had to work with others.
Jimmy Carter is distantly related to Elvis Presley and June Carter Cash.
#40 Ronald Reagan ( 1981-1989), Rep, 69, CA
1st Wife: Jane (divorced), 2nd wife: Nancy (great influence on him, sometimes based on astrology), 4 children
Great communicator, emotionally detached, good sense of humor, disengaged manager
Former movie actor. Oldest president elected.
Ronald Reagan beat Jimmy Carter in 44 states.
Challenger Disaster – Reagan = Chief Soother
Calmly faced bullet of would be assassin, and reassured Americans in hospital. Humor around doctors: “I hope they were all republicans”.
Run office like a Hollywood star. Falls asleep in cabinet meetings: wrote fun line to himself “Dear Jim, see I don’t sleep in all the cabinet meetings! Sometimes I do this -…” [drawings].
Problem: Iran-Contra Affair. Response: “I did not trade arms for hostages”.
Goal: Shrinking government, lowering taxes, building up military?
Reaganomics: boom in 80s, record deficits in 90s.
American loves him, re-elected.
Overlooked: AIDS, women’s rights, homelessness. (Reagan doesn’t believe in using government for social engineering).
Ended cold war for America. Made communism an evil empire. Negotiated 4 summit conferences/meetings with Soviets => Soviet Union collapse (1989/90).
1983: Announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) – Star Wars Defense, Reagan’s imagination, bizarre. Shocked everyone, impractical. But now Soviets took it seriously => ended cold war.
1987 June 12, Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall! (referring to the Berlin wall).
1989, Berlin wall fell. Reagan had retired to CA.
Though the epitome of a conservative republican, Reagan’s role model for presidency was Dem. FDR.
#41. George Herbert Walker Bush (1989-1993), Rep, 64, TX
Wife: Barbara, 6 children
Loyal, intelligent, competitive, patient & skilled diplomat
First sitting Vice president to win presidential election since Martin Van Buren.
Former head of CIA.
Slogan “Read my lips, no new taxes”
Not wimp, war hero.
Defined by end of Cold War & Gulf War against Saddam Hussein (Iraq invaded Kuwait).
1991: Go to war to protect energy reserves for the West in Persian Gulf. Got Iraq out of Kuwait, but left Saddam still in power. Victory boost Bush’s approval rating (84%) for re-election.
However, the deficits from Reagan’s forced Bush to raise taxes. Cost his re-election, but good for the country. Economy growth in 1990s.
1974: George Bush, as chairman of the Republican National Committee, formally asked Richard Nixon to resign.
#42. Bill Clinton (1993-2001), Dem, 46, AR
Wife: Hillary, 1 child
Rhodes scholar, empathetic, policy wonk, chaotic manager
First Rock & Roll president, plays saxophone.
Hillary was first presidential spouse to have an office in the West Wing, as if there were two presidents.
Health Care Reformed failed. NAFTA signed.
Problems: Travelgate, Whitewater, Paula Jones’ sexual harassment lawsuit, 1994 Rep gained control on both houses of Congress first time in 40 years.
Clinton vs. Newt Gingrich (Rep) budget issues. Clinton refused concession on Medicare & education spending, successfully blamed Republicans on government shutdown – forcing budget compromise.
Government shutdown -> White House staffs sent home -> Monica Lewinsky (unpaid intern) got unusually close to the president.
2nd term, economy booming, able to steer Congress to balance the federal budget for the first time since Andrew Jackson’s presidency.
1998 Aug, Lewinsky testified in Paula Jones’ sexual harassment case.
1998 Dec 19th, second president impeached. But the US Senates & American public found Clinton’s lying about his sex life not adequate reason for his removal. Clinton free from impeachment.
1994 Baseball strike, Clinton ordered representatives of players and owners to meet and resolve the strike, both sides ignored the presidential order.
Al Gore vs. GW Bush: Gore won popular vote, but electoral college vote yet to be seen until Florida count (25 disputed votes in FL). Crazy recounts, supreme court decisions, etc.
#43. George W. Bush (2001-2008), 53, TX
Wife: Laura, two children
Affable, lacking curiosity, decisive, delegates to advisors, cowboy ethics.
The only father-son presidents (John Quincy Adams & GW Bush).
Clinton White House: everything runs late; Bush White House: Everything on time, orderly.
2001, 9/11
Centralized domestic security => Department of Homeland Security