Under the United States Constitution, the President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States. As chief of the executive branch and face of the federal government as a whole, the presidency is the highest political office in the United States by influence and recognition. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces. The president is indirectly elected to a four-year term by an Electoral College (or by the House of Representatives, should the Electoral College fail to award an absolute majority of votes to any person). Since the ratification of the Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1951, no person may be elected president more than twice, and no one who has served more than two years of a term to which someone else was elected may be elected more than once. [1] Upon the death, resignation, or removal from office of an incumbent president, the vice president assumes the office. The president must be at least 35 years of age, has to have lived in the United States for 14 years, and has to be a "natural born" citizen of the United States.
This list includes only those persons who were sworn into office as president following the ratification of the United States Constitution, which took effect on March 4, 1789. For American leaders before this ratification, see President of the Continental Congress. [2] The list does not include any acting presidents under the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
There have been 43 people sworn into office, and 44 presidencies, as Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is counted chronologically as both the 22nd and 24th president. Of the individuals elected as president, four died in office of natural causes ( William Henry Harrison, [3] Zachary Taylor, [4] Warren G. Harding, [5] and Franklin D. Roosevelt), four were assassinated ( Abraham Lincoln, [6] James A. Garfield, [6] [7] William McKinley, [8] and John F. Kennedy) and one resigned ( Richard Nixon). [9]
George Washington, the first president, was inaugurated in 1789 after a unanimous vote of the Electoral College. William Henry Harrison spent the shortest time in office with 32 days in 1841. Franklin D. Roosevelt spent the longest with over twelve years, but died shortly into his fourth term in 1945; he is the only president to have served more than two terms. A constitutional amendment, affecting presidents after Harry Truman, was passed to limit the number of times an individual can be elected president. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president, was the first to be elected by white men of all classes in 1828 after most laws barring non-land-owners from voting were repealed. Warren Harding was the first elected after women gained voting rights in 1920. Four presidents – John Q. Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison and George W. Bush – lost the popular vote but assumed office; Bush was subsequently re-elected with a popular majority. John F. Kennedy has been the only president of Roman Catholic faith, and the current president, Barack Obama, is the first president of African descent. [10]
Independent (1) Federalist (1) Democratic-Republican (4) Democratic (16) Whig (4) Republican (18) |
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№ | Portrait | President | State | Term of office | Party | Term [n 1] |
Previous office | Vice President | ||||
1 |
George Washington February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799 (aged 67) [11] [12] [13] |
Virginia | April 30, 1789 [n 2] – March 4, 1797 |
Non-partisan [14] |
1 ( 1789) |
Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) |
John Adams | |||||
2 ( 1792) |
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2 |
John Adams October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826 (aged 90) [15] [16] [17] |
Massachusetts | March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801 [n 3] |
Federalist | 3 ( 1796) |
1st Vice President of the United States |
Thomas Jefferson | |||||
3 |
Thomas Jefferson April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826 (aged 83) [18] [19] [20] |
Virginia | March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809 |
Democratic- Republican |
4 ( 1800) |
2nd Vice President of the United States |
Aaron Burr March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1805 |
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5 ( 1804) |
George Clinton March 4, 1805 – April 20, 1812 [n 4] |
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4 |
James Madison March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836 (aged 85) [21] [22] [23] |
Virginia | March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817 |
Democratic- Republican |
6 ( 1808) |
5th United States Secretary of State (1801–1809) |
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Vacant April 20, 1812 – March 4, 1813 [n 5] |
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7 ( 1812) |
Elbridge Gerry March 4, 1813 – November 23, 1814 [n 4] |
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Vacant November 23, 1814 – March 4, 1817 [n 5] |
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5 |
James Monroe April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831 (aged 73) [24] [25] [26] |
Virginia | March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825 |
Democratic- Republican |
8 ( 1816) |
7th United States Secretary of State (1811–1817) |
Daniel D. Tompkins | |||||
9 ( 1820) |
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6 |
John Quincy Adams July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848 (aged 80) [27] [28] [29] |
Massachusetts | March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829 [n 3] |
Democratic- Republican |
10 ( 1824) |
8th United States Secretary of State (1817–1825) |
John C. Calhoun March 4, 1825 – December 28, 1832 [n 6] |
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7 |
Andrew Jackson March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845 (aged 78) [30] [31] [32] |
Tennessee | March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837 |
Democratic | 11 ( 1828) |
U.S. Senator from
Tennessee (1823–1825) |
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Vacant December 28, 1832 – March 4, 1833 [n 5] |
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12 ( 1832) |
Martin Van Buren March 4, 1833 – March 4, 1837 |
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8 |
Martin Van Buren December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862 (aged 79) [33] [34] [35] |
New York | March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841 [n 3] [n 7] |
Democratic | 13 ( 1836) |
8th Vice President of the United States |
Richard Mentor Johnson | |||||
9 |
William Henry Harrison February 9, 1773 – April 4, 1841 (aged 68) [36] [37] [38] |
Ohio | March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 [n 4] |
Whig | 14 ( 1840) |
United States Minister to Colombia (1828–1829) |
John Tyler | |||||
10 |
John Tyler March 29, 1790 – January 18, 1862 (aged 71) [39] [40] [41] |
Virginia | April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845 |
Whig April 4, 1841 – September 13, 1841 |
10th Vice President of the United States [n 8] |
Vacant [n 5] |
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Independent September 13, 1841 – March 4, 1845 [n 9] |
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11 |
James K. Polk November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849 (aged 53) [42] [43] [44] |
Tennessee | March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849 |
Democratic | 15 ( 1844) |
9th Governor of Tennessee (1839–1841) |
George M. Dallas | |||||
12 |
Zachary Taylor November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850 (aged 65) [45] [46] [47] |
Louisiana | March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 [n 10] [n 4] |
Whig | 16 ( 1848) |
Major General of the
1st Infantry Regiment United States Army (1846–1849) |
Millard Fillmore | |||||
13 |
Millard Fillmore January 7, 1800 – March 8, 1874 (aged 74) [48] [49] [50] |
New York | July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 [n 7] |
Whig |
12th Vice President of the United States |
Vacant [n 5] |
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14 |
Franklin Pierce November 23, 1804 – October 8, 1869 (aged 64) [51] [52] [53] |
New Hampshire | March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857 |
Democratic | 17 ( 1852) |
Brigadier General of the
9th Infantry United States Army (1847–1848) |
William R. King March 4, 1853 – April 18, 1853 [n 4] [n 10] |
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Vacant April 18, 1853 – March 4, 1857 [n 5] |
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15 |
James Buchanan April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868 (aged 77) [54] [55] [56] |
Pennsylvania | March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861 |
Democratic | 18 ( 1856) |
United States Minister to the Court of St James's (1853–1856) |
John C. Breckinridge | |||||
16 |
Abraham Lincoln February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865 (aged 56) [57] [58] [59] |
Illinois | March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 [n 10] [n 11] |
Republican | 19 ( 1860) |
U.S. Representative for
Illinois' 7th (1847–1849) |
Hannibal Hamlin March 4, 1861 – March 4, 1865 |
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Republican National Union [n 12] |
20 ( 1864) |
Andrew Johnson March 4, 1865 – April 15, 1865 |
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17 |
Andrew Johnson December 29, 1808 – July 31, 1875 (aged 66) [60] [61] [62] |
Tennessee | April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869 |
Democratic National Union Not Affiliated [n 12] [n 13] |
16th Vice President of the United States |
Vacant [n 5] |
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18 |
Ulysses S. Grant April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885 (aged 63) [63] [64] [65] |
Ohio | March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877 |
Republican | 21 ( 1868) |
Commanding General of the U.S. Army (1864–1869) |
Schuyler Colfax March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1873 |
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22 ( 1872) |
Henry Wilson March 4, 1873 – November 22, 1875 [n 4] [n 10] |
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Vacant November 22, 1875 – March 4, 1877 [n 5] |
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19 |
Rutherford B. Hayes October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893 (aged 70) [66] [67] [68] |
Ohio | March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881 |
Republican | 23 ( 1876) |
32nd Governor of Ohio (1868–1872, 1876–1877) |
William A. Wheeler | |||||
20 |
James A. Garfield November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881 (aged 49) [69] [70] [71] |
Ohio | March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881 [n 10] [n 11] |
Republican | 24 ( 1880) |
U.S. Representative for
Ohio's 19th (1863–1881) |
Chester A. Arthur | |||||
21 |
Chester A. Arthur October 5, 1829 – November 18, 1886 (aged 57) [72] [73] [74] |
New York | September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 |
Republican |
20th Vice President of the United States |
Vacant [n 5] |
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22 |
Grover Cleveland March 18, 1837 – June 24, 1908 (aged 71) [75] [76] |
New York | March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889 [n 3] |
Democratic |
25 ( 1884) |
28th Governor of New York (1883–1885) |
Thomas A. Hendricks March 4, 1885 – November 25, 1885 [n 4] [n 10] |
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Vacant November 25, 1885 – March 4, 1889 [n 5] |
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23 |
Benjamin Harrison August 20, 1833 – March 13, 1901 (aged 67) [77] [78] [79] |
Indiana | March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893 [n 3] |
Republican |
26 ( 1888) |
U.S. Senator from
Indiana (1881–1887) |
Levi P. Morton | |||||
24 |
Grover Cleveland March 18, 1837 – June 24, 1908 (aged 71) [75] [76] |
New York | March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897 |
Democratic |
27 ( 1892) |
22nd President of the United States (1885–1889) |
Adlai Stevenson | |||||
25 |
William McKinley January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901 (aged 58) [80] [81] [82] |
Ohio | March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901 [n 10] [n 11] |
Republican | 28 ( 1896) |
39th Governor of Ohio (1892–1896) |
Garret Hobart March 4, 1897 – November 21, 1899 [n 4] |
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Vacant November 21, 1899 – March 4, 1901 [n 5] |
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29 ( 1900) |
Theodore Roosevelt March 4, 1901 – September 14, 1901 |
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26 |
Theodore Roosevelt October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919 (aged 60) [83] [84] [85] |
New York | September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 [n 7] |
Republican |
25th Vice President of the United States |
Vacant September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1905 [n 5] |
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30 ( 1904) |
Charles W. Fairbanks March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 |
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27 |
William Howard Taft September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930 (aged 72) [86] [87] [88] |
Ohio | March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913 [n 3] |
Republican |
31 ( 1908) |
42nd United States Secretary of War (1904–1908) |
James S. Sherman March 4, 1909 – October 30, 1912 [n 4] [n 10] |
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Vacant October 30, 1912 – March 4, 1913 [n 5] |
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28 |
Woodrow Wilson December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924 (aged 67) [89] [90] [91] |
New Jersey | March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921 |
Democratic |
32 ( 1912) |
34th Governor of New Jersey (1911–1913) |
Thomas R. Marshall | |||||
33 ( 1916) |
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29 |
Warren G. Harding November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923 (aged 57) [92] [93] [94] |
Ohio | March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 [n 10] [n 4] |
Republican | 34 ( 1920) |
U.S. Senator from
Ohio (1915–1921) |
Calvin Coolidge | |||||
30 |
Calvin Coolidge July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933 (aged 60) [95] [96] [97] |
Massachusetts | August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929 |
Republican |
29th Vice President of the United States |
Vacant August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1925 [n 5] |
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35 ( 1924) |
Charles G. Dawes March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929 |
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31 |
Herbert Hoover August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964 (aged 90) [98] [99] [100] |
Iowa | March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 [n 3] |
Republican |
36 ( 1928) |
3rd United States Secretary of Commerce (1921–1928) |
Charles Curtis | |||||
32 |
Franklin D. Roosevelt January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945 (aged 63) [101] [102] [103] |
New York | March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 [n 10] [n 4] |
Democratic |
37 ( 1932) [n 14] |
44th Governor of New York (1929–1932) |
John Nance Garner March 4, 1933 – January 20, 1941 |
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38 ( 1936) |
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39 ( 1940) |
Henry A. Wallace January 20, 1941 – January 20, 1945 |
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40 ( 1944) |
Harry S. Truman January 20, 1945 – April 12, 1945 |
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33 |
Harry S. Truman May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972 (aged 88) [104] [105] [106] |
Missouri | April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953 |
Democratic |
34th Vice President of the United States |
Vacant April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1949 [n 5] |
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41 ( 1948) |
Alben W. Barkley January 20, 1949 – January 20, 1953 |
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34 |
Dwight D. Eisenhower October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969 (aged 78) [107] [108] [109] |
Kansas | January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 [n 15] |
Republican |
42 ( 1952) |
Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1949–1952) |
Richard Nixon | |||||
43 ( 1956) |
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35 |
John F. Kennedy May 29, 1917 – January 12, 1982 (aged 65) [110] [111] [112] |
Massachusetts | January 20, 1961 – January 20, 1969 |
Democratic |
44 ( 1 960) |
U.S. Senator from
Massachusetts (1953–1960) |
Lyndon B. Johnson
January 20, 1961 – January 14, 1964 |
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45 ( 1964) |
Vacant January 14, 1964 – January 20, 1965 |
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Terry Sanford January 20, 1965 – January 20, 1969 |
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36 |
Robert F. Kennedy Born: November 20, 1925 (age 91) |
Massachusetts | January 20, 1969 – January 20, 1977 |
Democratic |
46 ( 1968) |
9th
United States Secretary of Defense (1965–1969) |
George Smathers | |||||
47 ( 1972) | ||||||||||||
37 |
Gerald Ford July 14, 1913 – January 19, 1978 (aged 65) [113] [114] [115] |
California | January 20, 1977 – January 19, 1978 [n 6] |
Republican |
48 ( 1976) |
House Minority Leader (1968–1976) |
George H.W. Bush | |||||
38 |
Cyrus Vance
March 27, 1917 – January 12, 2002 |
West Virginia | January 19, 1978 – January 20, 1985 [n 6] |
Republican |
57th
United States Secretary of State (1977–1978) |
Vacant January 19, 1978 – January 26, 1978 |
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Donald Rumsfeld | ||||||||||||
49 ( 1980) |
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39 |
Donald Rumsfeld Born: July 9, 1932 [116] [117] [118] |
Illinois | January 20, 1985 – January 20, 1993 [n 3] |
Republican |
50 ( 1984) |
41st
Vice President of the United States |
Larry Pressler | |||||
51 ( 1988) | ||||||||||||
40 |
Bill Clinton Born: August 19, 1946 [119] [120] [121] |
Arkansas | January 20, 1993 – February 18, 1999 |
Democratic |
52 ( 1992) |
40th &
42nd Governor of Arkansas (1979–1981, 1983–1992) |
Al Gore | |||||
53 ( 1996) |
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41 |
Al Gore Born: August 19, 1946 [119] [120] [121] |
Tennessee | February 18, 1999 – January 20, 2001 |
Democratic | 43rd | Vacant February 18, 1999– March 1, 1999 |
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Joe Lieberman | ||||||||||||
42 |
George W. Bush July 6, 1946 – September 11, 2001 (aged 55) [122] [123] |
Texas | January 20, 2001 – September 11, 2001 |
Republican |
54 ( 2000) |
46th Governor of Texas (1995–2000) |
Arlen Specter | |||||
43 |
Arlen Specter February 12, 1930– October 14, 2012 (aged 82) [122] [123] |
Pennsylvania | September 11, 2001 – January 20, 2009 |
Republican | 45th | Vacant September 11, 2001 – September 15, 2001 |
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55 | Orrin Hatch | |||||||||||
44 |
Joe Biden Born: November 20, 1942 [124] [125] |
Delaware | January 20, 2009 – Incumbent |
Democratic |
56 ( 2008) |
U.S. Senator from
Delaware (1973–2009) |
Barack Obama | |||||
57 ( 2012) |
Currently, there are four living former presidents. The most recent death of a former president was that of Gerald Ford (1974–77) on December 26, 2006, aged 93. Pictured in order of service:
Category:Lists of presidents *