Presidents of the United States

 

The power of the executive branch is vested in the President, who also serves as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The President appoints the Cabinet and oversees the various agencies and departments of the federal government. In order for a person to become President, he or she must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, be at least 35 years of age, and have resided in the United States for at least 14 years. Once elected, the President serves a term of four years and may be re-elected only once.

 

Here is an overview of basic facts about five of America’s Presidents throughout a critical time period.

 

 

·        Franklin D. Roosevelt

·        32 President of the United States.

·        Was the only president to be elected for a fourth term, however he died before completing his final term.

·        Major highlights include WWII, declaration of war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor, declaration of war on Germany and the famous meeting at Yalta to discuss final drives of European and Pacific war and post-war operations.

 

 

·        Harry S. Truman

·        33 President of the United States.

·        Was FDR’s vice president and successor after he passed away.

·        Major highlights include the development and drop of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending of WWII,  Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan and NATO. Truman’s relationship with the Soviets contributed to the early development of the Cold War. Truman declared war on Korea.

 

 

·        Dwight D. Eisenhower

·        34 President of The United States.

·        Was a commanding general during WWII and helped lead forces to victory.

·        Major highlights include the diffusion of hostile tension between America and the Soviets during the Cold War, continued the Truman policy of containing Communism in Asia and ordered troops to help enforce the desegregation of southern schools.

 

 

·        Richard M. Nixon

·        37 President of The United States.

·        August 8th, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from his presidency.

·        Major highlights during his presidency include his 1972 trips to Moscow and Beijing to help reduce tension between the America and communist countries, ended the Vietnam War, the infamous Watergate scandal and produced a treaty to reduce nuclear weaponry.

 

 

 

President Nixon

·        George W. Bush

·        43 and current President of the United States.

·        Was sworn into office on January 20, 2001, re-elected November 2, 2004 and sworn into office for a second term on January 20, 2005.

·        Major highlights during his presidency include September 11th  attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s presidency and the war against the Taliban.

 

Last Modified: March 8, 2006              By Diana Lis

For more information on American presidents and government facts, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/