History UsefulNotes / ThePresidentsOfTheUnitedStates

# UsefulNotes/JamesMonroe (1817–25, Democratic-Republican). Former senator (1790–94) and governor (1799–1802 on a permanent basis, and on an acting basis in early 1811) of Virginia, then Secretary of State and War under Madison. Last president to be elected unopposed, presided over an "Era of Good Feelings" and be a Founding Father. Famous for his "Monroe Doctrine", a fairly vague statement that declared independent nations in the Western Hemisphere out of European jurisdiction that has influenced ''centuries'' of U.S. foreign policy. The capital of UsefulNotes/{{Liberia}}, Monrovia, is named after him due to his contributions to the American Colonization Society, which [[ValuesDissonance sought to return freed slaves to Africa]]. Last president of whom no photography exists and the last to wear a powdered wig/long hair in a ponytail. ''Also'' died on Independence Day, in 1831.

# UsefulNotes/JamesBuchanan (1857–61, Democrat). Consistently considered one of the worst to ever hold the office, if not ''the'' worst, since UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar started at the end of his tenure and he did little to try and stop it. Ironically selected as the Democratic nominee due to his ''distance'' from the slavery issue due to serving as ambassador to Britain during Pierce's administration. First president from Pennsylvania, which he had represented in both houses of Congress (1821–31 as a representative, 1834–45 as a senator), and the only one who's yet served while living in that state full-time. Last president born in the 18th century. Only president never to have been married; may have been secretly homosexual, with many biographers giving as much or more attention to his very close friendship with his roommate (and Pierce's short-lived vice-president) William R. King than to his actual political actions. First president since John Tyler to face a serious impeachment attempt; in this case, for corruption--it went as far as the investigative process, but the committee ultimately recommended against it while at the same time finding his administration the most corrupt yet.[[note]]It would remain so until the Harding Cabinet's wrongdoing was exposed after Harding's death in 1923, while Buchanan himself would go down in history as the single most corrupt pre-Nixon president.[[/note]] Died of pneumonia and a chest infection in 1868.

# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. He became third VP to inherit office after the president after the predecessor’s death,[[note]]One of John Wilkes Booth's henchmen named George Atzerodt did target him at the Kirkwood Hotel when Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theater, but Atzerodt got drunk and chickened out his duty.[[/note]] resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities. Three months after Booth’s ''own'' assassination by an overzealous sergeant named Boston Corbett, Johnson permitted the executions of George Atzerodt, Lewis Powell, David Herold and their landlady Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865. Because of his stubbornness and selfish egos, he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies, obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress' goals regarding Reconstruction and civil rights for freed slaves, ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]). First president to ''officially'' be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, he was the only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and lived there full-time through his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic that he struggled with, compared to other world leaders. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] Only sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's scheduled inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses S. Grant.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson and Richard Nixon did not attend the inaugurations of Warren Harding and Gerald Ford, but that was an non-scheduled, extraordinary inauguration as a result of Nixon's resignation.[[/note]] Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again''; this time, on the charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first and only president to have been impeached/acquitted ''twice'' and have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/JohnAdams (1797–1801, Federalist). An active member of the Continental Congress, an important foreign minister in the nation's early years, and the first vice president (and thus the first VP to be elected president). A rather different president than his predecessor in literal and figurative stature, but also set many precedents: First president from Massachusetts, first to receive the oath of office from a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Oliver Ellsworth), first to live in the Executive Mansion (now known as TheWhiteHouse), first to be part of a political party, first without a military background, first who did not own slaves, and first to veto no bills while in office. Saw the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts passed in response to the undeclared "Quasi War" with the French, leading to accusations of despotism that lost him the 1800 election to Thomas Jefferson, which also made him the first incumbent president to lose re-election. Resentfully but gracefully returned home after his loss, and in doing so quietly instituted the tradition of peaceful transitions of power that (mostly) remained the standard. Died on the Fourth of July (Independence Day) of 1826, the same day as...
# UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson (1801–09, Democratic-Republican). Wrote the Declaration of Independence before serving as governor of Virginia, first Secretary of State under Washington, and second vice president under Adams (and thus the second VP elected to the presidency, though he actually ran ''against'' Adams). Though normally an advocate for a smaller federal government, actually ''expanded'' its power while president, most notably by ratifying the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the size of the nation's territory claims. Also the first wartime president, having declared the First Barbary War. As a public and vocal UsefulNotes/{{Deis|m}}t, arguably the only non-UsefulNotes/{{Christian|ity}} president; indeed, he explored a wide variety of religions in his lifetime, most notably UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}; to this day, many Muslim Congressmen have opted to be sworn in on his copy of the Qu'ran. Invented the swivel chair. While normally considered one of the better--or at least most important--presidents, his gravestone ''omits'' his presidency in favor of other accomplishments, such as writing the Declaration and his work in his home state, which also included founding the University of Virginia. Is condemned by many today for fathering many children with an enslaved woman, Sally Hemmings, without acknowledging his patronage and claiming all of them as his slaves. Featured on the $2 bill and the nickel.
# UsefulNotes/JamesMadison (1809–17, Democratic-Republican). Shortest president[[note]]Five feet, four inches (163 cm).[[/note]] and the last who was a Founding Father. Drafted the Virginia Plan, which became the basis of the Constitution, wrote several of the Federalist Papers, and helped get Virginia to agree to the Constitution. Served as a representative and later Secretary of State under Jefferson. [[UsefulNotes/WarOf1812 First wartime president on U.S. soil]]; the British burnt the White House down during his second term. Post-presidency, succeeded Jefferson once again as Chancellor of the University of Virginia and was one of the last living Founding Fathers before he passed away in 1836.
# UsefulNotes/JamesMonroe (1817–25, Democratic-Republican). Former senator (1790–94) and governor (1799–1802 on a permanent basis, and on an acting basis in early 1811) of Virginia, then Secretary of State and War under Madison. Last president to be elected unopposed, presided over an "Era of Good Feelings". Famous for his "Monroe Doctrine", a fairly vague statement that declared independent nations in the Western Hemisphere out of European jurisdiction that has influenced ''centuries'' of U.S. foreign policy. The capital of UsefulNotes/{{Liberia}}, Monrovia, is named after him due to his contributions to the American Colonization Society, which [[ValuesDissonance sought to return freed slaves to Africa]]. Last president of whom no photography exists and the last to wear a powdered wig/long hair in a ponytail. ''Also'' died on Independence Day, in 1831.

# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them in office (making him the only president to ever do so); first president to have a veto overridden and to be threatened with a serious, yet unsuccessful, impeachment attempt. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives (making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States, as in, the Union) but died in 1862 before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country, though nonetheless Tyler is the only president to die opposed to the United States government.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JamesBuchanan (1857–61, Democrat). Consistently considered one of the worst to ever hold the office, if not ''the'' worst, since UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar started at the end of his tenure and he did little to try and stop it. Ironically selected as the Democratic nominee due to his ''distance'' from the slavery issue due to serving as ambassador to Britain during Pierce's administration. First president from Pennsylvania, which he had represented in both houses of Congress (1821–31 as a representative, 1834–45 as a senator), and the only one who's yet served while living in that state full-time. Last president born in the 18th century. Only president never to have been married; may have been secretly homosexual, with many biographers giving as much or more attention to his very close friendship with his roommate (and Pierce's short-lived vice-president) William R. King than to his actual political actions. First president since John Tyler to face a serious impeachment attempt; in this case, for corruption--it went as far as the investigative process, but the committee ultimately recommended against it while at the same time finding his administration the most corrupt yet.[[note]]It would remain so until the Harding Cabinet's wrongdoing was exposed after Harding's death in 1923, while Buchanan himself would go down in history as the single most corrupt pre-Nixon president.[[/note]] Died in 1868.
# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance in reuniting the nation and abolishing slavery in America. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become ''the'' president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during his 1858 campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency. Despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. [[LargeAndInCharge Tallest president]][[note]]Six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] and first to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth, Lincoln was the first president to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.
# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. He became third VP to inherit office,[[note]]One of John Wilkes Booth's henchmen named George Atzerodt did target him at the Kirkwood Hotel when Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theater, but Atzerodt got drunk and chickened out.[[/note]] resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities. Three months after Booth’s ''own'' assassination by an overzealous sergeant named Boston Corbett, Johnson permitted the executions of George Atzerodt, Lewis Powell, David Herold and their landlady Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865. Because of his stubbornness and selfish egos, he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies, obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress' goals regarding Reconstruction and civil rights for freed slaves, ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]). First president to ''officially'' be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–53) and senator (1953–60) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president at just 43 years old, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Last president to be assassinated and to die in office; the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Commission Warren Commission]] and most investigations concluded that he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine and Marxist sympathizer who had acted alone, his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, Oswald is also the only accused Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later by a distraught nightclub owner named Jack Ruby.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and lived there full-time through his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic that he struggled with, compared to other world leaders. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] Only sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's scheduled inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses S. Grant.[[note]]Richard Nixon did not attend Gerald Ford's inauguration, but that was an non-scheduled, extraordinary inauguration as a result of Nixon's resignation.[[/note]] Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first and only president to have been impeached/acquitted ''twice'' and have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. He became third VP to inherit office,[[note]]One of John Wilkes Booth's henchmen named George Atzerodt did target him at the Kirkwood Hotel when Booth shot Lincoln at Ford’s Theater, but Atzerodt got drunk and chicken out his duty.[[/note]] resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities. Three months after Booth’s ''own'' assassination by an overzealous sergeant named Boston Corbett, Johnson permitted the executions of George Atzerodt, Lewis Powell, David Herold and their landlady Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865. Because of his stubbornness and selfish egos, he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies, obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress' goals regarding Reconstruction and civil rights for freed slaves, ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]). First president to ''officially'' be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JamesMonroe (1817–25, Democratic-Republican). Former senator (1790–94) and governor (1799–1802 on a permanent basis, and on an acting basis in early 1811) of Virginia, then Secretary of State and War under Madison. Last president to be elected unopposed, presided over an "Era of Good Feelings". Famous for his "Monroe Doctrine", a fairly vague statement that declared independent nations in the Western Hemisphere out of European jurisdiction that has influenced ''centuries'' of U.S. foreign policy. The capital of UsefulNotes/{{Liberia}}, Monrovia, is named after him due to his contributions to the American Colonization Society, which [[ValuesDissonance sought to return freed slaves to Africa]]. Last president of whom no photography exists. ''Also'' died on Independence Day, in 1831.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816–19 and in the Senate from 1825–28) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, a record that stood for 140 years until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated two weeks shy of turning 70 in 1981. Died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841, which was only one month after taking office and eight days after becoming ill; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.
# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them in office (making him the only president to ever do so); first president to have a veto overridden and to be threatened with an unsuccessful impeachment attempt. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives (making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States, as in, the Union) but died in 1862 before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country, though nonetheless Tyler is the only president to die opposed to the United States government.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JamesBuchanan (1857–61, Democrat). Consistently considered one of the worst to ever hold the office, if not ''the'' worst, since UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar started at the end of his tenure and he did little to try and stop it. Ironically selected as the Democratic nominee due to his ''distance'' from the slavery issue due to serving as ambassador to Britain during Pierce's administration. First president from Pennsylvania, which he had represented in both houses of Congress (1821–31 as a representative, 1834–45 as a senator), and the only one who's yet served while living in that state full-time. Last president born in the 18th century. Only president never to have been married; may have been secretly homosexual, with many biographers giving as much or more attention to his very close friendship with his roommate (and Pierce's short-lived vice-president) William R. King than to his actual political actions. First president to face a serious impeachment attempt for corruption--it went as far as the investigative process, but the committee ultimately recommended against it while at the same time finding his administration the most corrupt yet.[[note]]It would remain so until the Harding Cabinet's wrongdoing was exposed after Harding's death in 1923, while Buchanan himself would go down in history as the single most corrupt pre-Nixon president.[[/note]] Died in 1868.
# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance to reuniting the nation and abolishing slavery in America. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become ''the'' president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during his 1858 campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency. Despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. [[LargeAndInCharge Tallest president]][[note]]Six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] and first to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth, Lincoln was the first president to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.
# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. He became third VP to inherit office,[[note]]One of John Wilkes Booth's henchmen named George Atzerodt did target him, but he got drunk and chicken out his duty.[[/note]] resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities. Three months after Booth’s ''own'' assassination by an overzealous sergeant named Boston Corbett, Johnson permitted the executions of George Atzerodt, Lewis Powell, David Herold and their landlady Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865. Because of his stubbornness and selfish egos, he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies, obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress' goals regarding Reconstruction and civil rights for freed slaves, ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]). First president to be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. He became third VP to inherit office,[[note]]One of John Wilkes Booth's henchmen did target him, but he got drunk and missed his window.[[/note]] resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities. Three months after Booth’s ''own'' assassination by an overzealous sergeant named Boston Corbett, Johnson permitted the executions of Atzerodt, Powell, David Herold and their landlady Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865. Because of his stubbornness and selfish egos, he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies, obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress' goals regarding Reconstruction and civil rights for freed slaves, ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]). First president to be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnAdams (1797–1801, Federalist). An active member of the Continental Congress, an important foreign minister in the nation's early years, and the first vice president (and thus the first VP to be elected president). A rather different president than his predecessor in literal and figurative stature, but also set many precedents: First president from Massachusetts, first to receive the oath of office from a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Oliver Ellsworth), first to live in the Executive Mansion (now known as TheWhiteHouse), first to be part of a political party, first without a military background, first who did not own slaves, and first to veto no bills while in office. Saw the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts passed and ending of the undeclared Quasi War, leading to accusations of despotism that lost him the 1800 election to Thomas Jefferson, which also made him the first incumbent president to lose re-election. Resentfully but gracefully returned home after his loss, and in doing so quietly instituted the tradition of peaceful transitions of power that (mostly) remained the standard. Died on the Fourth of July (Independence Day) of 1826, the same day as...

# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance to the abolition of slavery in America, freedom of slaves in the South and reunite the union. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become ''the'' president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during his 1858 campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency. Despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. [[LargeAndInCharge Tallest president]][[note]]Six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] and first to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth, Lincoln was the first president to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.
# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. Was targeted in an assassination attempt by one of John Wilkes Booth’s henchmen George Atzerodt, who decided to get drunk while the other one, Lewis Powell, did not assassinate Secretary of State William Seward at his mansion, but did leave him seriously disfigured. Became third VP to inherit office, resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities. Three months after Booth’s ''own'' assassination by an overzealous sergeant named Boston Corbett, Johnson permitted the executions of Atzerodt, Powell, David Herold and their landlady Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865. Because of his stubbornness and selfish egos, he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies and obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]) in regards to Reconstruction and freed slaves. First president to be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–53) and senator (1953–60) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president at just 43 years old, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Last president to be assassinated and to die in office; the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Commission Warren Commission]] and most investigations concluded that he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine and Marxist sympathizer, and that he had acted alone,[[note]]supported by investigations from the Dallas Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Secret Service,[[/note]] his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, Oswald is also the only accused Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later by a distraught nightclub owner named Jack Ruby.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and lived there full-time through his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic that he struggled with, compared to other world leaders. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] Only sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's scheduled inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses S. Grant.[[note]]Richard Nixon did not attend Gerald Ford's inauguration, but that was an non-scheduled, extraordinary inauguration as a result of Nixon's resignation.[[/note]] Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first and only president to have been impeached and acquitted ''twice'' and that his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose re-election. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/JohnAdams (1797–1801, Federalist). An active member of the Continental Congress, an important foreign minister in the nation's early years, and the first vice president (and thus the first VP to be elected president). A rather different president than his predecessor in literal and figurative stature, but also set many precedents: First president from Massachusetts, first to receive the oath of office from a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Oliver Ellsworth), first to live in the Executive Mansion (now known as TheWhiteHouse), first to be part of a political party, first without a military background, first who did not own slaves, and first to veto no bills while in office. Saw the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts passed, leading to accusations of despotism that lost him the 1800 election to Thomas Jefferson, which also made him the first incumbent president to lose re-election. Resentfully but gracefully returned home after his loss, and in doing so quietly instituted the tradition of peaceful transitions of power that (mostly) remained the standard. Died on the Fourth of July (Independence Day) of 1826, the same day as...

# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them in office (making him the only president to ever do so); first president to have a veto overridden and to be threatened with an unsuccessful impeachment attempt. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives (making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States, as in, the Union) but died in 1864 year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country, though nonetheless Tyler is the only president to die opposed to the United States government.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance to the abolition of slavery in America. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become ''the'' president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during his 1858 campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency. Despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. [[LargeAndInCharge Tallest president]][[note]]Six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] and first to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth, Lincoln was the first president to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.
# UsefulNotes/AndrewJohnson (1865–69, National Union/de facto Democrat). A representative (1843–53), governor (1853–57), and senator (1857–62) of Tennessee and the only Southern senator to stick with the Union after secession; Lincoln subsequently made him military governor of his state and his running mate for his second election campaign on a unity platform. Became third VP to inherit office, resulting in a complete shift in executive priorities; he is a fixture of modern lists of "the worst presidents" due to his Southern sympathies and obstruction of the supermajority Republican Congress ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] [[TheAlcoholic alcoholism]]). First president to be impeached but was acquitted [[DecidedByOneVote by a single vote]]; his charge was mostly politically motivated, as he ignored (probably unconstitutional) laws that Congress passed just to limit his power that were repealed soon after he left office. Also oversaw improved relations with Britain and signed the Alaska Purchase. Despite his unpopularity, only former president to be elected to the Senate, though he died in 1875 soon after returning to Congress.[[note]]For the next two years, there were no living former presidents.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–53) and senator (1953–60) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president at just 43 years old, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Last president to be assassinated and to die in office; though the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Commission Warren Commission]] concluded that he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, a former U.S. Marine and Marxist sympathizer, and that he had acted alone,[[note]]supported by investigations from the Dallas Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Secret Service,[[/note]] his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, Oswald is also the only accused Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and lived there full-time through his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic that he struggled with, compared to other world leaders. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] Only sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's scheduled inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses S. Grant.[[note]]Richard Nixon did not attend Gerald Ford's inauguration, but that was an non-scheduled, extraordinary inauguration as a result of Nixon's resignation.[[/note]] Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose re-election. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816–19 and in the Senate from 1825–28) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, a record that stood for 140 years until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 in 1981. Died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841, which was only one month after taking office and eight days after becoming ill; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.

# UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan (1981–89, Republican). Previously governor of California (1967–75), and before that a cowboy actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, making him the TropeMaker for the "Celebrity President" (even if he was always a B-lister). A very divisive figure in retrospect but very popular while in office; was the last Republican to carry Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, and won the electoral vote against UsefulNotes/WalterMondale everywhere but DC and Mondale's home state of Minnesota when running for his second term. He was a strong believer in "supply-side" or "trickle-down" economics, and as such, oversaw substantial deregulation of the private sector. Credited with helping end the Cold War thanks to his diplomacy and military spending, even if its resolution came during his successor's tenure. Most commonly criticized for his poor handling of the AIDS crisis; similarly received criticism for escalating the War on Drugs and for continuing/instituting the economic policies that worsened later recessions. First president to survive being wounded in an assassination attempt while in office.[[note]]Theodore Roosevelt wasn't president when the attempt on his life occurred.[[/note]] Had several controversies towards the end of his run, possibly due to an undiagnosed onset of Alzheimer's; raised the profile of the disease in his post-presidency before dying from complications of it in 2004, making him the first president to die in the 21st century (just over a decade after Nixon's passing).

# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them in office (making him the only president to ever do so); first president to have a veto overridden and to be threatened with an unsuccessful impeachment attempt. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives (making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States, as in, the Union) but died in 1864 year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country, though it can be argued that nonetheless Tyler is the only president to die as a traitor to America.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them in office (making him the only president to ever do so); first president to have a veto overridden and to be threatened with an unsuccessful impeachment attempt. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives,[[note]] making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States (as in, the Union).[[/note]] but died in 1864 year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag and to die as a traitor to America, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–53) and senator (1953–60) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president at just 43 years old, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Supposedly assassinated by a Marxist named Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy was the last president to be assassinated and to die in office; though his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, his assassin was the only Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and lived there full-time through his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic that he struggled with, compared to other world leaders. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] Only sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Richard Nixon did not attend Gerald Ford’s inauguration. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose re-election. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816–19 and in the Senate from 1825–28) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, until Joe Biden was inaugurated at 78, 180 years later. Died of pneumonia on April 4, 1841, which was only one month after taking office and eight days after becoming ill; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.

# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them many in office (making him the only president to ever do so); first president to have a veto overridden and to be threatened with an unsuccessful impeachment attempt. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives,[[note]] making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States (as in, the Union).[[/note]] but died in 1864 year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag and to die as a traitor to America, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–53) and senator (1953–60) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president at just 43 years old, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Supposedly assassinated by a Marxist named Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy was the president to be assassinated and to die in office; though his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, his assassin was the only Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.

# UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams (1825–29, Democratic-Republican/National Republican). First president to be directly related to a previous officeholder (John Adams, his father); alongside UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush, one of the only two presidents to be the son of a previous president. Served as a foreign minister, senator of Massachusetts, and Secretary of State under Monroe. In contrast to his unanimously-elected-and-appointed predecessor, first president to lose the popular vote (twice!) and the only president to be elected by the House of Representatives.[[note]]For those unfamiliar with the UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem, when the people "vote" for president, they are actually voting for members of the Electoral College, a council of people who later meet to vote for president themselves, usually the candidate for whom the most people in their state voted. If said college deadlocks with no majority victor, the House (by states, with each state's delegation getting one vote) decides who becomes president while the Senate votes for the vice president. While Andrew Jackson won the plurality of the votes, none of the four leading candidates won the majority, and the House awarded the position to Adams after he struck a deal with the third-placed opponent, UsefulNotes/HenryClay.[[/note]] The only president elected to the House after his presidency, where he had a long and productive run as a vocal opponent of slavery and the invasion of Mexico, and successfully campaigned for the creation of the Smithsonian Institute. Earliest known president to be photographed, albeit several years after he left the presidency. Suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on the House floor in 1848 and died shortly after.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816–19 and in the Senate from 1825–28) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 140 years later. Died of pneumonia one month after taking office; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.
# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them once in office; first president to have a veto overridden. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (fifteen); despite dying over 150 years ago, he still has a living grandson. He sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives,[[note]]Making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States (as in, the Union).[[/note]] but died the following year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance to the abolition of slavery in America. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become ''the'' president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during his 1858 campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency. Despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. [[LargeAndInCharge Tallest president]][[note]]Six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] and first to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth and thus was the first president to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–53) and senator (1953–60) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president at just 43 years old, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Last president to be assassinated and to die in office; his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, his assassin was the only Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.

# UsefulNotes/RichardNixon (1969–74, Republican). First non-incumbent vice president to become president, having previously lost in the race against Kennedy after serving under Eisenhower. Only native-born Californian to be president; before being veep, he represented it in the House (1947–50) and the Senate (1950–53).[[note]]Hoover and Reagan had California as their home state at the time they were elected into office (the former ran a business out of San Francisco and the latter was a former governor of the state) but they were both born and grew up in the Midwest; Hoover in Iowa and Reagan in Illinois.[[/note]] Presided over the moon landing and the end of the Space Race. Passed some environmental and workplace regulatory legislation seen as fairly progressive by modern Republican standards. Opened relations with RedChina and sought "peace with honor" in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar while aiming to cool the Cold War. Definitely corrupt--er, [[MemeticMutation not a crook]], fueled in part by worsening paranoia regarding his political opponents. Did [[{{Scandalgate}} Watergate]] despite [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat easily winning reelection]] (becoming the last Republican to carry Minnesota) and decided to resign (the only president to do so) before impeachment proceedings could begin, which remains [[NeverLiveItDown all most remember about him]]. Last president to die during the 20th century, passing in 1994.

# UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush (1989–93, Republican). Was the CIA director (1976–77), U.S. ambassador to the UN (1971–73), and a U.S. representative (1967–71) before becoming vice president to Reagan. Despite being the last president born in Massachusetts, he lived in and represented Texas after his WWII service. Rode Reagan's popularity to victory; first sitting VP elected president since Van Buren 152 years prior; last incumbent VP to become president; last Republican President to win the popular vote for his first (and only, in his case) term; last Republican to carry California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, and Vermont. A notoriously bad public speaker, which immediately harmed his reputation as the successor to the charismatic Reagan. Oversaw the end of the Cold War and the entirety of the Gulf War. Vomited on the prime minister of Japan and consequently became a quintessential example of PersonAsVerb over there. Famously said "read my lips: no new taxes", which backfired when he had to raise taxes during a recession and probably cost him reelection. Died in 2018, making him the most recent former president who passed away.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and lived there full-time through his 2016 presidential campaign, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose re-election. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/JoeBiden (2021–present, Democrat). Incumbent. Most recent VP to become president, having served under Obama.[[note]]Second non-incumbent VP to become president, after Nixon; first since Bush Sr. to have previously served two full terms.[[/note]] Previously served for [[LongRunners 36 years]] (1973–2009) as a senator from Delaware. Only president to represent Delaware and the first born in Pennsylvania since Buchanan. Oldest person to win a presidential election and oldest president ever; at 78 years, 61 days upon taking office, he was older than the second oldest, Reagan, was upon ''leaving'' office (which he did at 77 years, 348 days). Currently the only member of the Silent Generation to be president.[[note]]In terms of generations, the presidential order goes from the Greatest Generation (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and H.W. Bush), skips the Silent Generation entirely, and goes to Boomers (Clinton, W. Bush, then, despite being on the younger side, Obama). Trump, born in 1946, when the Boomer generation began, is also one of the oldest Boomers, like Clinton and W. Bush, leaving Biden as the only true representative of the Silent Generation among presidents.[[/note]] First Catholic president since Kennedy;[[note]]He had also been the first Catholic VP under Obama.[[/note]] first president to win with a female running mate and, after Hoover, second with a non-White person (UsefulNotes/KamalaHarris, of Black and Indian descent). Had more popular votes cast for him than any other presidential candidate in history; won the largest percentage of the popular vote of any challenging candidate since FDR in 1932. First president since Lincoln not to come to power peacefully, with Trump supporters storming the Capitol building to attempt to stop his certification. His term, carrying over from the end of Trump's, has so far been defined by its response to COVID-19 and the accompanying recession marked by massive inflation.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816 to 1819 and in the Senate from 1825 to 1828) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 140 years later. Died of pneumonia one month after taking office; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.

# UsefulNotes/FranklinPierce (1853–57, Democrat). First and only president from New Hampshire. Chosen as a compromise candidate by the divided Democrats after a career as a Congressman (he represented the state in the House at large from 1833 to 1837 and in the Senate from 1837 to 1842) and general. A deeply unlucky man who suffered from deep depression and alcoholism for most of his life. Kicked the slavery can down the road one more time but contributed to mounting tensions by supporting the nullification of the Missouri Compromise; was immensely unpopular and not nominated by the Democrats to run for reelection. Died in 1869.

# UsefulNotes/CalvinCoolidge (1923–29, Republican). Second and latest president born in Vermont, first Massachusetts politician (culminating in service as governor from 1919 to 1921) to be president since the Adamses. [[TheQuietOne Often silent, to the point where he had the briefest oath of office on record ("I do").]] So far the only president to have been born on the Fourth of July (Independence Day). Second VP to inherit the office and then win re-election. First president to have his inauguration broadcast on radio. Died in 1933.

# UsefulNotes/HarrySTruman (1945–53, Democrat). The only president from Missouri, which he represented in the Senate from 1935 to 1945. Party leaders nominated him as vice president for Roosevelt's fourth campaign due to having more moderate views than predecessor Henry A. Wallace, then he inherited the boss' office three months after inauguration, becoming the seventh VP to do so and third to win re-election. Oversaw the end of WWII and authorized the [[UsefulNotes/AtomicBombingsOfHiroshimaAndNagasaki first and only use of nuclear weapons in war]]. Oversaw the creation of the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations and UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}, desegregated the military and the civil service. Was exempted from the 22nd Amendment[[note]]Which limits the president to two four-year terms in office at most, following FDR's controversially long tenure.[[/note]] through ex post facto (as it was ratified during his tenure) but decided to stick to just two terms anyway due to the waning popularity of his second term. Despite many decisions controversial both now and at the time, had a [[VindicatedByHistory better civil rights record]] than many of his contemporaries. Likely the poorest ever president; Congress doubled the president's salary and created a pension just to keep him financially afloat prior to his death in 1972. Also famous for the "S" in his name [[OneLetterName actually being his full middle name, not an initial]],[[note]]His parents gave him that S to commemorate his grandfathers, who were named Solomon and Shippe, on equal footing.[[/note]] giving him the distinction of having [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative the shortest middle name of any president, discounting those who had no middle names]].

# UsefulNotes/GeraldFord (1974–77, Republican). Only president who wasn't elected as either president or vice president; his predecessor as VP, UsefulNotes/SpiroAgnew, had to resign due to his own scandal, so Ford, the House minority leader, was appointed before Nixon's resignation. Controversially pardoned Nixon at the start of his term. Only president from Nebraska, where he was born, or Michigan, where he was raised and was a [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootball college football star]] before becoming a rep from 1949 to 1973. Only president whose would-be assassins were female. Oversaw the end of the Vietnam War and bolstered the period of détente with the Soviet Union. Marked the increasing involvement of Congress and decreasing involvement of the presidency in foreign policy procedure. Witnessed the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, which bled over into Carter's term. [[NeverLiveItDown Fell down steps of Air Force One]] and consequently became remembered by a generation of Americans for Creator/ChevyChase's caricaturing of him as TheKlutz on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.[[note]]Also first president to appear on ''SNL'', via a pre-recorded segment.[[/note]] Had the shortest presidency not cut off by death, at 895 days; conversely, had the third-longest retirement of any president, beaten out only by Hoover and Carter, before dying in 2006.

# UsefulNotes/BarackObama (2009–17, Democrat). Living. First African-American/interracial president. Only president born in Hawaii, but he moved to Chicago as a young man and served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004 and (briefly) represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate (from 2005–08) before his election. Led the country out of the Great Recession and passed what was regarded as groundbreaking health care reform; arguably the first president since Carter to fight for greater federal regulation and intervention to help the working class, though further legislative aims were mostly impeded by a conservative House for most of his presidency. Received a Nobel Peace Prize a few months into his presidency, which even he pointed out was a little strange, as U.S. military intervention in the Middle East continued throughout his presidency. Also frequently criticized for his inaction towards immigration reform, though he did try to circumvent Congress with executive action to offer protections to immigrant children. Still known as a constant source of (mostly) lighthearted MemeticMutation, thanks to both his charismatic and youthful persona and his presidency overlapping the Internet's expansion into the mainstream.

# UsefulNotes/JoeBiden (2021–present, Democrat). Incumbent. Most recent VP to become president, having served under Obama.[[note]]Second non-incumbent VP to become president, after Nixon; first since Bush Sr. to have previously served two full terms.[[/note]] Previously served for [[LongRunners 36 years]] (1973–2009) as a senator from Delaware. Only president to represent Delaware and the first born in Pennsylvania since Buchanan. Oldest person to win a presidential election and oldest president ever; at 78 years, 61 days upon taking office, he was older than the second oldest, Reagan, was upon ''leaving'' office (which he did at 77 years, 348 days). Currently the only member of the Silent Generation to be president.[[note]]In terms of generations, the presidential order goes from the Greatest Generation (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and H.W. Bush), skips the Silent Generation entirely, and goes to Boomers (Clinton, W. Bush, then, despite being on the younger side, Obama). Trump, born in 1946, when the Boomer generation began, is also one of the oldest Boomers, like Clinton and W. Bush, leaving Biden as the only true representative of the Silent Generation among presidents.[[/note]] First Catholic president since Kennedy;[[note]]He had also been the first Catholic VP under Obama.[[/note]] first president to win with a female running mate and, after Hoover, second with a non-White person (UsefulNotes/KamalaHarris, of Black and Indian descent). Had more popular votes cast for him than any other presidential candidate in history; won the largest percentage of the popular vote of any challenging candidate since FDR in 1932. First president since Lincoln not to come to power peacefully, with Trump supporters storming the Capitol building to attempt to stop his certification. His term, carrying over from the end of Trump's, has so far been defined by its response to COVID-19 and the accompanying recession.

# UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington (1789–97, independent/de facto Federalist). Led the Continental Army during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution. Often held up as a real-life case of FirstInstallmentWins, with only Lincoln ranking higher than him on popularity polls. Only one of two presidents -- the other being James Monroe -- to run unopposed and consequently one of the only two to be elected unanimously. Generally regarded as having made a lot of very good suggestions for the country's future upon his departure that nobody bothered to follow, such as advising against forming political parties -- he's the only president not to be a member of one. First president from Virginia. Only president to lead the U.S. Army in the field personally, during the Whiskey Rebellion, though it never escalated into actual combat. Set the two-term precedent that most of his successors would follow, though it wouldn't be until Franklin D. Roosevelt successfully and controversially defied that precedent--twice--that it was agreed that ThereShouldBeALaw for it (cue the 22nd Amendment). Also set the precedent of eschewing fancy titles; this is why the President is introduced domestically as "The President of the United States" and addressed as "Mr. President"[[note]]though "Excellency" is often used internationally and "Honorable" is an official domestic title[[/note]]. Died soon after leaving office in 1799, making him the only president to die in the 18th century. Featured on the $1 bill and the quarter.

# UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson (1801–09, Democratic-Republican). Wrote the Declaration of Independence before serving as governor of Virginia, first Secretary of State under Washington, and second vice president under Adams (and thus the second VP elected to the presidency, though he actually ran ''against'' Adams). Though normally an advocate for a smaller federal government, actually ''expanded'' its power while president, most notably by ratifying the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the size of the nation's territory claims. Also the first wartime president, having declared the First Barbary War. As a public and vocal UsefulNotes/{{Deis|m}}t, arguably the only non-Christian president; indeed, he explored a wide variety of religions in his lifetime, most notably Islam; to this day, many Muslim Congressmen have opted to be sworn in on his copy of the Qu'ran. Invented the swivel chair. While normally considered one of the better--or at least most important--presidents, his gravestone ''omits'' his presidency in favor of other accomplishments, such as writing the Declaration and his work in his home state, which also included founding the University of Virginia. Is condemned by many today for fathering many children with an enslaved woman, Sally Hemmings, without acknowledging his patronage and claiming all of them as his slaves. Featured on the $2 bill and the nickel.
# UsefulNotes/JamesMadison (1809–17, Democratic-Republican). Shortest president[[note]]Five feet, four inches (163 cm)[[/note]] and the last who was a Founding Father. Drafted the Virginia Plan, which became the basis of the Constitution, wrote several of the Federalist Papers, and helped get Virginia to agree to the Constitution. Served as a representative and later Secretary of State under Jefferson. [[UsefulNotes/WarOf1812 First wartime president on U.S. soil]]; the British burnt the White House down during his second term. Post-presidency, succeeded Jefferson once again as Chancellor of the University of Virginia and was one of the last living Founding Fathers before he passed away in 1836.
# UsefulNotes/JamesMonroe (1817–25, Democratic-Republican). Former senator and governor of Virginia, then Secretary of State and War under Madison. Last president to be elected unopposed, presided over an "Era of Good Feelings". Famous for his "Monroe Doctrine", a fairly vague statement that declared independent nations in the Western Hemisphere out of European jurisdiction that has influenced ''centuries'' of U.S. foreign policy. The capital of UsefulNotes/{{Liberia}}, Monrovia, is named after him due to his contributions to the American Colonization Society, which [[ValuesDissonance sought to return freed slaves to Africa]]. Last president of whom no photography exists. ''Also'' died on Independence Day, in 1831.
# UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams (1825–29, Democratic-Republican/National Republican). First president to be directly related to a previous officeholder (John Adams, his father); alongside UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush, one of the only two presidents to be the son of a previous president. Served as a foreign minister, senator of Massachusetts, and Secretary of State under Monroe. In contrast to his unanimously-elected-and-appointed predecessor, first president to lose the popular vote (twice!) and the only president to be elected by the House of Representatives.[[note]]For those unfamiliar with the UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem, when the people "vote" for president, they are actually voting for members of the Electoral College, a council of people who later meet to vote for president themselves, usually the candidate for whom the most people in their state voted. If said college deadlocks with no majority victor, the House (by states, with each state's delegation getting one vote) decides who becomes president while the Senate votes for the vice president. While Andrew Jackson won the plurality of the votes, none of the four leading candidates won the majority, and the House awarded the position to Adams after he struck a deal with opponent UsefulNotes/HenryClay.[[/note]] The only president elected to the House after his presidency, where he had a long and productive run as a vocal opponent of slavery and the invasion of Mexico, and successfully campaigned for the creation of the Smithsonian Institute. Earliest known president to be photographed, albeit several years after he left the presidency. Suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on the House floor in 1848 and died shortly after.
# UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson (1829–37, Democrat; creator of the Democratic Party and first Democratic president). Remembered largely for his violent temper, lack of sophistication, controversial policies, and reorienting of the presidency to a populist "agent of the people" role that still continues to this day. A popular general in the War of 1812 and senator from Tennessee (1797-98, 1823-25), and the first governor of the Florida Territory for most of 1821; the first president elected from outside of the original colonies, signifying the nation's westward shift.[[note]]Jackson was born on the Carolina frontier but spent most of his life in Tennessee.[[/note]] Broke the 28-year-long sequence of Democratic-Republican presidents who were the Secretary of State of their predecessor. Malicious slander regarding the circumstances of his marriage is credited with having broken his wife down and sent her to an early grave shortly after his election; Jackson never recovered from the loss. First president targeted in an AssassinationAttempt; only president to almost personally kill his attempted assassin after he failed (also killed at least one man in a duel, something he enjoyed bragging about). Infamously and illegally overruled the Supreme Court in his push to drive out the Native American population of the South. Threatened to use force to [[{{Foreshadowing}} keep South Carolina from nullifying federal law]]. Fought to shut down the national bank and deregulate the monetary system, which contributed to the subsequent financial panic after he left office; ironically, he is now featured on the $20 bill, though is planned to be shoved off to the back in favor of UsefulNotes/HarrietTubman in 2028. Died in 1845.
# UsefulNotes/MartinVanBuren (1837–41, Democrat). Former senator (1821–28) and (briefly in 1829) governor of New York, then Jackson's Secretary of State and vice president. First president to have been born an American citizen after America declared its independence;[[note]]UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution ended with Britain recognizing the former colonies as their own country the year after he was born.[[/note]] first president from New York; only president to have English as a second language (he came from a Dutch-speaking family). Had a pretty poor run at it due largely to having to clean up many of Jackson's messes, most notably the financial Panic of 1837, costing him reelection. Later became a prominent abolitionist and launched two failed attempts at re-election, failing to win the Democratic nomination in 1844 and running as a third-party "Free Soil" candidate in 1848. Died in 1862.
# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816-19 and in the Senate from 1825-28) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 140 years later. Died of pneumonia one month after taking office; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.
# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–27), and senator (1827–36), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them once in office; first president to have a veto overridden. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (15); despite dying over 150 years ago, still has a living grandson. Sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives,[[note]]Making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States (as in, the Union).[[/note]] but died the following year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country.[[/note]]

# UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor (1849–50, Whig). A popular Mexican-American War general from the South, pushed into office by the Whigs despite not being interested in it. First president to have held no prior political office and last to have been born before the ratification of the Constitution. Last president to have been a slave owner while in office. Died in office, possibly of gastroenteritis from eating spoiled cherries, possibly from [[MeatgrinderSurgery 19th-century medicine]].
# UsefulNotes/MillardFillmore (1850–53, Whig). Former U.S. Representative from upstate New York (1833-35 and 1837-43) and state Comptroller (1848-49). Made fun of for his name and remembered for pretty much nothing else. First president born in the 19th century. Second vice president to take office after his predecessor's death. Credited in his time with delaying the eventual Civil War thanks to the Compromise of 1850, nowadays seen as a counter-intuitive empowering of slave states. Sent Matthew Perry to Japan to make it open its borders and consequently can be considered responsible for Japan's entrance into the international political and economic theater. Later ran as a third-party presidential candidate in 1856 for the anti-immigrant and -Catholic American (or, more popularly, "Know Nothing") party. Founded the University of Buffalo the same year and acted as its first chancellor. Died in 1874.
# UsefulNotes/FranklinPierce (1853–57, Democrat). First and only president from New Hampshire. Chosen as a compromise candidate by the divided Democrats after a career as a Congressman (he represented the state in the House at large from 1833–37 and in the Senate from 1837–42) and general. A deeply unlucky man who suffered from deep depression and alcoholism for most of his life. Kicked the slavery can down the road one more time but contributed to mounting tensions by supporting the nullification of the Missouri Compromise; was immensely unpopular and not nominated by the Democrats to run for reelection. Died in 1869.
# UsefulNotes/JamesBuchanan (1857–61, Democrat). Consistently considered one of the worst to ever hold the office, if not ''the'' worst, since UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar started at the end of his tenure and he did little to try and stop it. Ironically selected as the Democratic nominee due to his ''distance'' from the slavery issue due to serving as ambassador to Britain during Pierce's administration. First president from Pennsylvania, which he had represented in both houses of Congress (1821–31 as a representative, 1834–45 as a senator). Last president born in the 18th century. Only president never to have been married; may have been secretly homosexual, with many biographers giving as much or more attention to his very close friendship with his roommate (and Pierce's short-lived vice-president) William R. King than to his actual political actions. First president to face a serious impeachment attempt for corruption--it went as far as the investigative process, but the committee ultimately recommended against it while at the same time finding his administration the most corrupt yet.[[note]]It would remain so until the Harding Cabinet's wrongdoing was exposed after Harding's death in 1923, while Buchanan himself would go down in history as the single most corrupt pre-Nixon president.[[/note]] Died in 1868.
# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance to the abolition of slavery in America. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become the president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during a later campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency. Despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. Tallest president[[note]]Six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] and first to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth and thus was the first president to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.

# UsefulNotes/JamesGarfield (March–September 1881, Republican). A long-time Ohio Representative (1863–80) with an impressive beard. Won nomination on the 36th ballot of the GOP convention against former President Grant and won the popular vote by just 2,000 votes out of some nine million cast.[[note]]Because of the concentration of the Democratic vote in the South at the time, this translated into a somewhat beefier 214–155 electoral triumph.[[/note]] Only sitting member of the House of Representatives to be elected president. Assassinated by a disgruntled office seeker and thus the second president to be assassinated.

# UsefulNotes/CalvinCoolidge (1923–29, Republican). Second and latest president born in Vermont, first Massachusetts politician (governor, 1919–21) to be elected president since the Adamses. [[TheQuietOne Often silent, to the point where he had the tersest oath of office on record ("I do").]] So far the only president to have been born on the Fourth of July (Independence Day). Second VP to inherit the office and then win re-election. First president to have his inauguration broadcast on radio. Died in 1933.
# UsefulNotes/HerbertHoover (1929–33, Republican). Second president to have not served in elected office or the military prior to taking the office; previously a mining engineer, then the director of the Food Administration during WWI and Secretary of Commerce under Harding and Coolidge before running for office. Frequently scorned by historians for his [[HeadInTheSandManagement inaction]] towards or compounding of problems during TheGreatDepression. First president to win with a non-White running mate (Charles Curtis, a member of Kaw Nation and the only person of Native American heritage to sit as vice president so far). Had the second-longest retirement of any president, living 31 more years and outliving Kennedy.
# UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt (1933–45, Democrat). Fifth cousin of Theodore Roosevelt and, like him, former governor of New York (1929–32) and assistant secretary of the Navy (1913–20); only president directly related to a previous one without being their descendant. Served [[LongRunners four terms]], two more than any other president (though he died a few months into the fourth), leading the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II. Introduced New Deal programs, especially Social Security, that were immensely popular with the working class and forever transformed American ideas of the role of government. Won the highest percentage of electoral votes out of any candidate in a non-unanimous election, at 98.5% in 1936, and had [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_dictatorship a significant movement]] among his supporters to try installing him as a dictator (back when such a position wasn't associated with brutal authoritarianism), but ultimately governed pretty much within the extent of his constitutionally-imposed limits. Only serving president to have a disability, being paralyzed from the waist down,[[note]]The exact cause of his paralysis has been debated; he was diagnosed with polio at the time, but a clinical reassesment found that it could have been [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain–Barré_syndrome Guillain–Barré syndrome]]; the debate led to the unspecified illness having [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralytic_illness_of_Franklin_D._Roosevelt its own article]] on Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}.[[/note]] though he kept this a well-dressed OpenSecret and refrained from using a wheelchair in public up until shortly before his death. First president to appear in a televised broadcast. First president to be inaugurated on January 20 (his second inauguration), owing to the 20th Amendment shifting Inauguration Day from March 4. Last president to die of natural causes while in office, only sitting president to die from {{Retirony}} (he had planned to resign due to declining health once World War II was over, but a cerebral hemorrhage did him in the month before), and the only sitting president to be listed a casualty of war while in office (it was said at the time that the years of responsibility had taken their toll on his health, culminating in said hemorrhage). Featured on the dime.
# UsefulNotes/HarrySTruman (1945–53, Democrat). The only president from Missouri, which he represented in the Senate from 1935–45. Party leaders nominated him as vice president for Roosevelt's fourth campaign due to having more moderate views than predecessor Henry A. Wallace, then inherited the office three months after inauguration, becoming the seventh VP to do so and third to win re-election. Oversaw the end of WWII and authorized the [[UsefulNotes/AtomicBombingsOfHiroshimaAndNagasaki first and only use of nuclear weapons in war]]. Oversaw the creation of the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations and UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}, desegregated the military and the civil service. Was exempted from the 22nd Amendment[[note]]Which limits the president to two four-year terms in office at most, following FDR's controversially long tenure.[[/note]] through ex post facto (as it was ratified during his tenure) but decided to stick to just two terms anyway due to the waning popularity of his second term. Despite many decisions controversial both now and at the time, had a [[VindicatedByHistory better civil rights record]] than many of his contemporaries. Likely the poorest ever president; Congress doubled the president's salary and created a pension just to keep him financially afloat prior to his death in 1972. Also famous for the "S" in his name [[OneLetterName actually being his full middle name, not an initial]], giving him the distinction of having [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative the shortest middle name of any president, discounting those who had no middle names]].

# UsefulNotes/RichardNixon (1969–74, Republican). First non-incumbent vice president to become president, having previously lost in the race against Kennedy after serving under Eisenhower. Only native-born Californian to be president; before being veep, he represented it in the House (1947-50) and the Senate (1950-53).[[note]]Hoover and Reagan had California as their home state at the time they were elected into office (the former ran a business out of San Francisco and the latter was a former governor of the state) but they were both born and grew up in the Midwest; Hoover in Iowa and Reagan in Illinois.[[/note]] Presided over the moon landing and the end of the Space Race. Passed some environmental and workplace regulatory legislation seen as fairly progressive by modern Republican standards. Opened relations with RedChina and sought "peace with honor" in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar while aiming to cool down the Cold War. Definitely corrupt--er, [[MemeticMutation not a crook]], fueled in part by worsening paranoia regarding his political opponents. Did [[{{Scandalgate}} Watergate]] despite [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat easily winning reelection]] (becoming the last Republican to carry Minnesota) and decided to resign (the only president to do so) before impeachment proceedings could begin, which remains [[NeverLiveItDown all most remember about him]]. Last president to die during the 20th century, passing in 1994.
# UsefulNotes/GeraldFord (1974–77, Republican). Only president who wasn't elected as either president or vice president; his predecessor as VP, UsefulNotes/SpiroAgnew, had to resign due to his own scandal, so Ford, the House minority leader, was appointed before Nixon's resignation. Controversially pardoned Nixon at the start of his term. Only president from Nebraska, where he was born, or Michigan, where he was raised and was a [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootball college football star]] before becoming a rep from 1949–73. Only president whose would-be assassins were female. Oversaw the end of the Vietnam War and bolstered the period of détente with the Soviet Union. Marked the increasing involvement of Congress and decreasing involvement of the presidency in foreign policy procedure. Witnessed the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, which bled over into Carter's term. [[NeverLiveItDown Fell down steps of Air Force One]] and consequently became remembered by a generation of Americans for Creator/ChevyChase's caricaturing of him as TheKlutz on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.[[note]]Also first president to appear on ''SNL'', via a pre-recorded segment.[[/note]] Had the shortest presidency not cut off by death, at 895 days; conversely, had the third-longest retirement of any president, beaten out only by Hoover and Carter, before dying in 2006.
# UsefulNotes/JimmyCarter (1977–81, Democrat). Living. Was a FarmBoy from Georgia, where he served as governor (1971–75) and was [[NeverLiveItDown attacked by a bunny]]; his Washington-outsider image and wholesome persona helped him win election after the backlash against Nixon's corruption. Last Democrat to carry Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Made some progress towards resolving the UsefulNotes/ArabIsraeliConflict and kept the US out of foreign wars, but could not get a handle on the stagflating economy and had several things go wrong abroad in 1979, most notably the Nicaraguan and Iranian revolutions and especially the hostage crisis that followed the latter (which only ended mere minutes after his successor's inauguration). Only president to admit to filing a UFO report (though he suspected the object of being a military project, not aliens). Infinitely more popular as a former president due to his charity work, which got him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002; longest-lived president, longest post-presidency of any president, and first to live at least 40 years after being inaugurated.

# UsefulNotes/BarackObama (2009–17, Democrat). Living. First African-American/interracial president. Only president born in Hawaii, but he moved to Chicago as a young man and (briefly) represented Illinois in the Senate (from 2005–08) before his election. Led the country out of the Great Recession and passed what was regarded as groundbreaking health care reform; arguably the first president since Carter to fight for greater federal regulation and intervention to help the working class, though further legislative aims were mostly impeded by a conservative House for most of his presidency. Received a Nobel Peace Prize a few months into his presidency, which even he pointed out was a little strange, as U.S. military intervention in the Middle East continued throughout his presidency. Also frequently criticized for his inaction towards immigration reform, though he did try to circumvent Congress with executive action to offer protections to immigrant children. Still known as a constant source of (mostly) lighthearted MemeticMutation, thanks to both his charismatic and youthful persona and his presidency overlapping the Internet's expansion into the mainstream.
# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose reelection. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.
# UsefulNotes/JoeBiden (2021–present, Democrat). Incumbent. Most recent VP to become president, having served under Obama.[[note]]Second non-incumbent VP to become president, after Nixon; first since Bush Sr. to have previously served two full terms.[[/note]] Previously served for [[LongRunners 36 years]] (1973–2009) as senator of Delaware. Only president to represent Delaware and the first born in Pennsylvania since Buchanan. Oldest person to win a presidential election and oldest president ever; at 78 years, 61 days upon taking office, was older than the second oldest, Reagan, was upon ''leaving'' office (which he did at 77 years, 348 days). Currently the only member of the Silent Generation to be president.[[note]]In terms of generations, the presidential order goes from the Greatest Generation (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and H.W. Bush), skips the Silent Generation entirely, and goes to Boomers (Clinton, W. Bush, then, despite being on the younger side, Obama). Trump, born in 1946, when the Boomer generation began, is also one of the oldest Boomers, like Clinton and W. Bush, leaving Biden as the only true representative of the Silent Generation among presidents.[[/note]] First Catholic president since Kennedy;[[note]]He had also been the first Catholic VP under Obama.[[/note]] first president to win with a female running mate and, after Hoover, second with a non-White person (UsefulNotes/KamalaHarris, of Black and Indian descent). Had more popular votes cast for him than any other presidential candidate in history; won the largest percentage of the popular vote of any challenging candidate since FDR in 1932. First president since Lincoln to lack a peaceful transition of power to his administration, with Trump supporters storming the Capitol building to attempt to stop his certification. His term has so far been defined by its response to COVID-19 and the accompanying recession.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice and the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose reelection. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson (1829–37, Democrat; creator of the Democratic Party and first Democratic president). Remembered largely for his violent temper, lack of sophistication, controversial policies, and reorienting of the presidency to a populist "agent of the people" role that still continues to this day. A popular general in the War of 1812 and senator from Tennessee from 1797-98 and 1823-25, and the first governor of the Florida Territory for most of 1821; the first president elected from outside of the original colonies, signifying the nation's westward shift.[[note]]Jackson was born on the Carolina frontier but spent most of his life in Tennessee.[[/note]] Broke the 28-year-long sequence of Democratic-Republican presidents who were the Secretary of State of their predecessor. Malicious slander regarding the circumstances of his marriage is credited with having broken his wife down and sent her to an early grave shortly after his election; Jackson never recovered from the loss. First president targeted in an AssassinationAttempt; only president to almost personally kill his attempted assassin after he failed (also killed at least one man in a duel, something he enjoyed bragging about). Infamously and illegally overruled the Supreme Court in his push to drive out the Native American population of the South. Threatened to use force to [[{{Foreshadowing}} keep South Carolina from nullifying federal law]]. Fought to shut down the national bank and deregulate the monetary system, which contributed to the subsequent financial panic after he left office; ironically, he is now featured on the $20 bill, though is planned to be shoved off to the back in favor of UsefulNotes/HarrietTubman in 2028. Died in 1845.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816-19 and in the Senate from 1825-28, serving in the Ohio state Senate inbetween from 1819-21) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 140 years later. Died of pneumonia one month after taking office; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much else if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time.

# UsefulNotes/ChesterAArthur (1881–85, Republican). First president born in Vermont and fourth vice president to inherit office; previously, he was the customs collector of the Port of New York from 1871–78. Democrats alleged that he was born a British subject, first in Ireland and later in Canada. Despite coming from the corrupt New York political machine, [[{{Irony}} finally gave civil service meaningful reform]], likely influenced by Garfield's assassination. Had crazy facial hair. Installed an elevator in the White House. Died of a cerebral hemorrhage barely a year after his term, giving him the second-shortest post-presidency.

# UsefulNotes/BenjaminHarrison (1889–93, Republican). William Henry Harrison's grandson and the first president to be grandson of a former president. Born and raised in Ohio but later became the first and only Indiana politician (in his case, senator, having been so from 1881–87) to become president. Third president to lose the popular vote and the second to do so twice. A major technophile: he installed electricity in the White House, was the first to put a lighted Christmas tree in the White House, and was the first president to have his voice recorded. Died in 1901.

# UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson (1913–21, Democrat). First Southerner elected president since before the Civil War;[[note]]Born in Virginia, the last president ever born there, but lived in several other Southern states in his youth, most notably Georgia, making him also the first from that state.[[/note]] later served as the president of [[UsefulNotes/IvyLeague Princeton]] before being elected governor of New Jersey (an office he held from 1911–13), making him also the only Jersey politician to be elected president; only president with a doctorate, a [=Ph.D.=] (though nobody ever invoked the title when referring to him, in part because "Mr. President" had already been set-in-stone tradition for 124 years). Was re-elected for keeping America out of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, but sent men to Europe--with popular support--less than a year later in part due to the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram by British intelligence and German attacks on American merchant ships; helped set up the UsefulNotes/LeagueOfNations after the war but couldn't get a newly hostile Congress on board. Had a stroke and his wife secretly ran the country for the last few months of his second term. A fairly popular president during most of his tenure but lost most of said popularity by the end, and his reputation spiraled even further downward in later decades thanks to increased awareness of his overt racism; was notably responsible for re-segregating federal agencies and enabling the racially tense environment that led to the revival of the UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan. Died in 1924.

# UsefulNotes/CalvinCoolidge (1923–29, Republican). Second and latest president born in Vermont, first Massachusetts politician (he was governor from 1919–21) to be elected president since the Adamses. [[TheQuietOne Often silent, to the point where he had the tersest oath of office on record ("I do").]] So far the only president to have been born on the Fourth of July (Independence Day). Second VP to inherit the office and then win re-election. First president to have his inauguration broadcast on radio. Died in 1933.

# UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson (1963–69, Democrat). [[EverythingIsBigInTexas Very Texan]], very aggressive, [[BunnyEarsLawyer very odd]], and very different from Kennedy, but tried his best to continue his legacy after his assassination, becoming the eighth VP to inherit the office. The first president from the Lone Star State,[[note]]Eisenhower was born there but grew up in Kansas.[[/note]] becoming vice president after a long career in the Senate. Won election to a full term in a landslide carried by national unity after Kennedy's death and his opponent UsefulNotes/BarryGoldwater being viewed as an extremist (an interpretation Johnson himself encouraged). Last Democrat to carry Alaska, the Dakotas, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. Used this support to pass landmark Civil Rights legislation at the cost of splitting the Democratic Party by encouraging many White Southerners to leave. Tried to launch a "War on Poverty" to expand social welfare but ultimately diverted funds towards escalating UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar (though he tried unsuccessfully to sue for peace). Chose not to run for re-election in 1968, despite being allowed to under the 22nd Amendment,[[note]]Under the amendment, vice presidents who ascend to the presidency during the first half of somebody else's term are only allowed to pursue one full term of their own, but those who do so in the second half are allowed to bid for two full terms. Kennedy was nearly three-quarters of the way through his term when he was assassinated.[[/note]] due to his unpopular handling of the war in Vietnam. Died in 1973.

# UsefulNotes/GeraldFord (1974–77, Republican). Only president who wasn't elected as either president or vice president; his predecessor as VP, UsefulNotes/SpiroAgnew, had to resign due to his own scandal, so Ford, the House minority leader, was appointed before Nixon's resignation. Controversially pardoned Nixon at the start of his term.[[note]]He himself regretted this almost immediately, though historians tend to view the decision in a better light nowadays.[[/note]] Only president from Nebraska, where he was born, or Michigan, where he was raised and was a [[UsefulNotes/CollegiateAmericanFootball college football star]] before becoming a rep from 1949–73. Only president whose would-be assassins were female. Oversaw the end of the Vietnam War and bolstered the period of détente with the Soviet Union. Marked the increasing involvement of Congress and decreasing involvement of the presidency in foreign policy procedure. Witnessed the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, which bled over into Carter's term. [[NeverLiveItDown Fell down steps of Air Force One]] and consequently became remembered by a generation of Americans for Creator/ChevyChase's caricaturing of him as TheKlutz on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.[[note]]Also first president to appear on ''SNL'', via a pre-recorded segment.[[/note]] Had the shortest presidency not cut off by death, at 895 days; conversely, had the third-longest retirement of any president, beaten out only by Hoover and Carter, before dying in 2006.
# UsefulNotes/JimmyCarter (1977–81, Democrat). Living. Was a FarmBoy from Georgia, where he served as governor from 1971–75) and was [[NeverLiveItDown attacked by a bunny]]; his Washington-outsider image and wholesome persona helped him win election after the backlash against Nixon's corruption. Last Democrat to carry Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Made some progress towards resolving the UsefulNotes/ArabIsraeliConflict and kept the US out of foreign wars, but could not get a handle on the stagflating economy and had several things go wrong abroad in 1979, most notably the Nicaraguan and Iranian revolutions and especially the hostage crisis that followed the latter (which only ended mere minutes after his successor's inauguration). Only president to admit to filing a UFO report (though he suspected the object of being a military project, not aliens). Infinitely more popular as a former president due to his charity work, which got him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002; longest-lived president, longest post-presidency of any president, and first to live at least 40 years after being inaugurated.

# UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush (1989–93, Republican). Was the CIA director from 1976–77, U.S. ambassador to the UN from 1971–73, and a U.S. representative from 1967–71 before becoming vice president to Reagan. Despite being the last president born in Massachusetts, he lived in and represented Texas after his WWII service. Rode Reagan's popularity to victory; first sitting VP elected president since Van Buren 152 years prior; last incumbent VP to become president; last Republican President to win the popular vote for his first (and only, in his case) term; last Republican to carry California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, and Vermont. A notoriously bad public speaker, which immediately harmed his reputation as the successor to the charismatic Reagan. Oversaw the end of the Cold War and the entirety of the Gulf War. Vomited on the prime minister of Japan and consequently became a quintessential example of PersonAsVerb over there. Famously said "read my lips: no new taxes", which backfired when he had to raise taxes during a recession and probably cost him reelection. Died in 2018, making him the most recent former president who passed away.

# UsefulNotes/BarackObama (2009–17, Democrat). Living. First African-American/interracial president. Only president born in Hawaii, but he moved to Chicago as a young man and (briefly) represented Illinois in the Senate (from 2005 to 2008; he was also a state senator there from 1997 to 2004) before his election. Led the country out of the Great Recession and passed what was regarded as groundbreaking health care reform; arguably the first president since Carter to fight for greater federal regulation and intervention to help the working class, though further legislative aims were mostly impeded by a conservative House for most of his presidency. Received a Nobel Peace Prize a few months into his presidency, which even he pointed out was a little strange, as U.S. military intervention in the Middle East continued throughout his presidency. Also frequently criticized for his inaction towards immigration reform, though he did try to circumvent Congress with executive action to offer protections to immigrant children. Still known as a constant source of (mostly) lighthearted MemeticMutation, thanks to both his charismatic and youthful persona and his presidency overlapping the Internet's expansion into the mainstream.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Fifth president to lose the popular vote and third to lose it twice.[[note]]Paradoxically, also the holder of the second most popular votes of any candidate, behind only his second opponent, Joe Biden.[[/note]] Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment, with his campaign coinciding with the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice and the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, Trump is the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose reelection. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/HerbertHoover (1929–33, Republican). Second president to have not served in elected office or the military prior to taking the office; previously a mining engineer, then humanitarian ([[ImAHumanitarian not that kind]]) who had served as the director of the Food Administration during WWI and later as Secretary of Commerce under Harding and Coolidge before running for office. Frequently scorned by historians for his [[HeadInTheSandManagement inaction]] towards or compounding of problems during TheGreatDepression. First president to win with a non-White running mate (Charles Curtis, a member of Kaw Nation and the only person of Native American heritage to sit as vice president so far). Had the second-longest retirement of any president, living 31 more years and outliving Kennedy.
# UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt (1933–45, Democrat). Fifth cousin of Theodore Roosevelt and, like him, former governor of New York (1929–32) and assistant secretary of the Navy (1913–20); only president directly related to a previous one without being their descendant. Served [[LongRunners four terms]], two more than any other president (though he died a few months into the fourth), leading the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II. Introduced New Deal programs, especially Social Security, that were immensely popular with the working class and forever transformed American ideas of the role of government. Won the highest percentage of electoral votes out of any candidate in a non-unanimous election, at 98.5% in 1936, and had [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_dictatorship a significant movement]] among his supporters to try installing him as a dictator (back when such a position wasn't associated with brutal authoritarianism), but ultimately governed pretty much within the extent of his constitutionally-imposed limits. Only serving president to have a disability, being paralyzed from the waist down,[[note]]The exact cause of his paralysis has been debated; he was diagnosed with polio at the time, which was believed to be the reason for years, but a clinical reassesment found that it could have been [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain–Barré_syndrome Guillain–Barré syndrome]]; the debate led to the unspecified illness having [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralytic_illness_of_Franklin_D._Roosevelt its own article]] on Wiki/{{Wikipedia}}.[[/note]] though he kept this a well-dressed OpenSecret and refrained from using a wheelchair in public up until shortly before his death. First president to appear in a televised broadcast. Last president to die of natural causes while in office. First president to be inaugurated on January 20 (his second inauguration), owing to the 20th Amendment shifting Inauguration Day from March 4. Only sitting president to die from {{Retirony}} (he had planned to resign due to declining health once World War II was over, but a cerebral hemorrhage did him in the month before), and the only sitting president to be listed a casualty of war while in office (it was said at the time that the years of responsibility had taken their toll on his health, culminating in said hemorrhage). Featured on the dime.
# UsefulNotes/HarrySTruman (1945–53, Democrat). The only president from Missouri, which he represented in the Senate from 1935 to 1945. Party leaders nominated him as vice president for Roosevelt's fourth campaign due to having more moderate views than predecessor Henry A. Wallace, then inherited the office three months after inauguration, becoming the seventh VP to do so. Oversaw the end of WWII and authorized the [[UsefulNotes/AtomicBombingsOfHiroshimaAndNagasaki first and only use of nuclear weapons in war]]. Oversaw the creation of the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations and UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}, desegregated the military and the civil service. Third VP to inherit office to win re-election. Was exempted from the 22nd Amendment[[note]]Which limits the president to two four-year terms in office at most, following FDR's controversially long tenure.[[/note]] through ex post facto (as it was ratified during his tenure) but decided to stick to just two terms anyway due to the waning popularity of his second term. Despite many decisions controversial both now and at the time, had a [[VindicatedByHistory better civil rights record]] than many of his contemporaries. Likely the poorest ever president; Congress doubled the president's salary and created a pension just to keep him financially afloat prior to his death in 1972. Also famous for the "S" in his name [[OneLetterName actually being his full middle name, not an initial]], giving him the distinction of having [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative the shortest middle name of any president, discounting those who had no middle names]].

# UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy (1961–63, Democrat). A representative (1947–1953) and senator (1953–1960) from Massachusetts, and a member of one of the state's [[BlueBlood most prominent political families]]. Youngest elected president, with many associating his successful campaign with his good looks and stirring oratory, especially during the televised presidential debates (the first of their kind). First non-WASP, non-Old Stock, White-ethnic, and Catholic president, and last Northeastern president until Trump. A notorious womanizer, which is still a popular subject of parody to this day, alongside his distinctively thick New England accent. Oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis, instigated the mission to put a man on the moon (which would take the rest of the decade to fulfill), and voiced support of the burgeoning UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement. Last president to be assassinated and last to die in office; his death is still plagued by conspiracy theories, to the point where it has [[WhoShotJFK its own trope]], and the fact that it was [[UsefulNotes/ZapruderFilm caught on film]] gives him the odd distinction of being the only president to ever be the subject of a SnuffFilm.[[note]]Coincidentally, his assassin was the only Presidential assassin to be the subject of a snuff film, being himself assassinated live on television two days later.[[/note]] Due to the aforementioned trope, earliest-appointed president to have his own trope on this wiki and only one of two (alongside Trump) to hold such a distinction. Featured on the half dollar.
# UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson (1963–69, Democrat). [[EverythingIsBigInTexas Very Texan]], very aggressive, [[BunnyEarsLawyer very odd]], and very different from Kennedy, but tried his best to continue his legacy after his assassination, becoming the eighth VP to inherit the office. The first president from the Lone Star State,[[note]]Eisenhower was born there but grew up in Kansas.[[/note]] becoming vice president after a long career in the Senate. Won election to a full term in a landslide carried by national unity after Kennedy's death and his opponent UsefulNotes/BarryGoldwater being viewed as an extremist (an interpretation Johnson himself encouraged). Last Democrat to carry Alaska, the Dakotas, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming. Used this support to pass landmark Civil Rights legislation at the cost of splitting the Democratic Party -- it encouraged most of the Democratic officeholders and voters in the South who didn't die or retire to flip to the Republicans. Tried to launch a "War on Poverty" to expand social welfare but ultimately diverted funds towards escalating UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar (though he tried unsuccessfully to sue for peace). Chose not to run for re-election in 1968, despite being allowed to under the 22nd Amendment,[[note]]Under the amendment, vice presidents who ascend to the presidency during the first half of somebody else's term are only allowed to pursue one full term of their own, but those who do so in the second half are allowed to bid for two full terms. Kennedy was nearly three-quarters of the way through his term when he was assassinated.[[/note]] due to his unpopular handling of the war in Vietnam. Died in 1973.
# UsefulNotes/RichardNixon (1969–74, Republican). First non-incumbent vice president to become president, having previously lost in the race against Kennedy after serving under Eisenhower. Only native-born Californian to be president; before being veep, he represented it in the House (1947-1950) and the Senate (1950-1953).[[note]]Hoover and Reagan had California as their home state at the time they were elected into office (the former ran a business out of San Francisco and the latter was a former governor of the state) but they were both born and grew up in the Midwest; Hoover in Iowa and Reagan in Illinois.[[/note]] Presided over the moon landing and the end of the Space Race. Passed some environmental and workplace regulatory legislation seen as fairly progressive by modern Republican standards. Opened relations with RedChina and sought "peace with honor" in UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar while aiming to cool down the Cold War. Definitely corrupt--er, [[MemeticMutation not a crook]], fueled in part by worsening paranoia regarding his political opponents. Did [[{{Scandalgate}} Watergate]] despite [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat easily winning reelection]] (becoming the last Republican to carry Minnesota) and decided to resign (the only president to do so) before impeachment proceedings could begin, which remains [[NeverLiveItDown all most remember about him]] despite having a fairly solid record prior to that. Last president to die during the 20th century, passing in 1994.
# UsefulNotes/GeraldFord (1974–77, Republican). Only president who wasn't elected as either president or vice president; his predecessor as VP, UsefulNotes/SpiroAgnew, had to resign due to his own scandal, so Ford, the House minority leader, was appointed before Nixon's resignation. Controversially pardoned Nixon at the start of his term.[[note]]He himself regretted this almost immediately, though historians tend to view the decision in a better light nowadays.[[/note]] Only president from Nebraska, where he was born, or Michigan, where he was raised and from where he was a U.S. representative from 1949 until 1973. Only president whose would-be assassins were female. Oversaw the end of the Vietnam War and bolstered the period of détente with the Soviet Union. Marked the increasing involvement of Congress and decreasing involvement of the presidency in foreign policy procedure. Witnessed the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, which bled over into Carter's term. [[NeverLiveItDown Fell down steps of Air Force One]] and consequently became remembered by a generation of Americans for Creator/ChevyChase's caricaturing of him as TheKlutz on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.[[note]]Also first president to appear on ''SNL'', via a pre-recorded segment.[[/note]] Had the shortest presidency not cut off by death, at 895 days; conversely, had the third-longest retirement of any president, beaten out only by Hoover and Carter, before dying in 2006.
# UsefulNotes/JimmyCarter (1977–81, Democrat). Living. Was a FarmBoy from Georgia (a state senator from 1963 to 1967 and governor from 1971 to 1975) and was [[NeverLiveItDown attacked by a bunny]]; his Washington-outsider image and wholesome persona helped him win election after the backlash against Nixon's corruption. Last Democrat to carry Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Made some progress towards resolving the UsefulNotes/ArabIsraeliConflict and kept the US out of foreign wars, but could not get a handle on the stagflating economy and had several things go wrong abroad in 1979, most notably the Nicaraguan and Iranian revolutions and especially the hostage crisis that followed the latter (which only ended mere minutes after his successor's inauguration). Only president to admit to filing a UFO report (though he suspected the object of being a military project, not aliens). Infinitely more popular as a former president due to his charity work, which got him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002; longest-lived president, longest post-presidency of any president, and first to live at least 40 years after being inaugurated.
# UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan (1981–89, Republican). Previously governor of California (1967–75), and before that a cowboy actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, making him the TropeMaker for the "Celebrity President" (even if he was always a B-lister). A very divisive figure in retrospect but very popular while in office; was the last Republican to carry Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, and won the electoral vote against UsefulNotes/WalterMondale everywhere but DC and Mondale's home state of Minnesota when running for his second term. He was a strong believer in "supply-side" or "trickle-down" economics, and as such, oversaw substantial deregulation of the private sector. Credited with helping end the Cold War thanks to his diplomacy and military spending, even if its resolution came during his successor's tenure. Most commonly criticized for his poor handling of the AIDS crisis; similarly he received criticism for escalating the War on Drugs as well as for continuing/instituting the economic policies that worsened later recessions. First president to survive being wounded in an assassination attempt while in office.[[note]]Theodore Roosevelt wasn't president when the attempt on his life occurred.[[/note]] Had several controversies towards the end of his run, possibly due to an undiagnosed onset of Alzheimer's; raised the profile of the disease in his post-presidency before dying from complications of it in 2004, making him the first president to die in the 21st century (just over a decade after Nixon's passing).
# UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush (1989–93, Republican). Was the CIA director from 1976 to 1977, U.S. ambassador to the UN from 1971 to 1973, and a U.S. representative from 1967 to 1971 before becoming vice president to Reagan. Despite being the last president born in Massachusetts, he lived in and represented Texas after his WWII service. Rode Reagan's popularity to victory; first sitting vice president elected president since Van Buren 152 years prior; last incumbent vice president to become president; last Republican President to win the popular vote for his first (and only, in his case) term; last Republican to carry California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, and Vermont. A notoriously bad public speaker, which immediately harmed his reputation as the successor to the charismatic Reagan. Oversaw the end of the Cold War and the entirety of the Gulf War. Vomited on the prime minister of Japan and consequently became a quintessential example of PersonAsVerb over there. Famously said "read my lips: no new taxes", which backfired when he had to raise taxes during a recession and probably cost him reelection. Died in 2018, making him the most recent former president who passed away.

# UsefulNotes/FranklinPierce (1853–57, Democrat). First and only president from New Hampshire. Chosen as a compromise candidate by the divided Democrats after a career as a Congressman (he represented the state in the House at large from 1833 to 1837 and in the Senate from 1837 until 1842) and general. A deeply unlucky man who suffered from deep depression and alcoholism for most of his life. Kicked the slavery can down the road one more time but contributed to mounting tensions by supporting the nullification of the Missouri Compromise; was immensely unpopular and not nominated by the Democrats to run for reelection. Died in 1869.
# UsefulNotes/JamesBuchanan (1857–61, Democrat). Consistently considered one of the worst to ever hold the office, if not ''the'' worst, since UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar started at the end of his tenure and he did little to try and stop it. Ironically selected as the Democratic nominee due to his ''distance'' from the slavery issue due to serving as ambassador to Britain during Pierce's administration. First president from Pennsylvania, which he had represented in both houses of Congress (1821–31 as a representative, 1834–45 as a senator). Last president born in the 18th century. Only president never to have been married; may have been secretly homosexual, with many biographers giving as much or more attention to his very close friendship with his roommate (and Pierce's short-lived vice-president) William R. King than to his actual political actions. First president to face a serious impeachment attempt for corruption--it went as far as the investigative process, but the investigating committee ultimately recommended against it while at the same time finding his administration the most corrupt yet.[[note]]It would remain so until the Harding Cabinet's wrongdoing was exposed after Harding's death in 1923, while Buchanan himself would go down in history as the single most corrupt pre-Nixon president.[[/note]] Died in 1868.
# UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln (1861–65, Republican/National Union; first Republican president). Consistently ranked in polls as the greatest president in US history, above even Washington, because of his successful leadership during the Civil War and his vital importance to the abolition of slavery in America. Born in Kentucky, but he moved with his family to Illinois as a boy and would become the president from that state. Only served a single term as a representative (1847–49), during which he had witnessed the passing of former President John Quincy Adams on the House floor, and had not won an election for over a decade before winning the presidency, but his exemplary oratory performance in the debates during a later campaign for the Senate (and his relative distance from Congress' last decade of fighting) set him up to win the presidency; despite being a moderate, his party's anti-slavery platform led seven Southern states to secede after his election, making him the first president not to experience a peaceful transition of power. Only President to have busted a quorum during his Congressional career, albeit unsuccessfully. Greatly expanded the power of the federal government and executive branch as part of the war effort, becoming in some ways the first "modern" president. Tallest president.[[note]]He was six feet, four inches (193 cm), with only LBJ tying him.[[/note]] First president to have facial hair in office. Assassinated by Confederate sympathizer UsefulNotes/JohnWilkesBooth and thus was the first to be ''successfully'' assassinated and third to die in office. Featured on the penny and the $5 bill.

# UsefulNotes/RutherfordBHayes (1877–81, Republican). A former representative (1865–67) from and governor (1868–72 and 1876–77) of Ohio and Civil War general. Won the closest (and potentially most fraudulent) election in American history, winning by literally '''[[DecidedByOneVote one electoral vote]]'''; second president to lose the popular vote, only president to win despite his opponent having over 50% of the popular vote. As part of the compromise that made him president, agreed not to run for re-election and to end Reconstruction in the South that had ramped up in earnest under Grant. Died in 1893.
# UsefulNotes/JamesGarfield (March–September 1881, Republican). A long-time Ohio Representative (1863–80) with an impressive beard. Won nomination on the 36th ballot of the GOP convention against former President Grant and won the popular vote by just 2,000 votes out of some nine million cast;[[note]]Because of the concentration of the Democratic vote in the South at the time, this translated into a somewhat beefier 214–155 electoral triumph.[[/note]] only sitting member of the House of Representatives to be elected president. Assassinated by a disgruntled office seeker and thus the second president to be assassinated.
# UsefulNotes/ChesterAArthur (1881–85, Republican). First president born in Vermont and fourth vice president to inherit office; previously, he was the customs collector of the Port of New York from 1871 to 1878. Democrats alleged that he was born a British subject, first in Ireland and later in Canada. Despite coming from the corrupt New York political machine, [[{{Irony}} finally gave civil service meaningful reform]], likely influenced by Garfield's assassination. Had crazy facial hair. Installed an elevator in the White House. Died of a cerebral hemorrhage barely a year after his term, giving him the second-shortest post-presidency.

# UsefulNotes/BenjaminHarrison (1889–93, Republican). William Henry Harrison's grandson and the first president to be grandson of a former president. Born and raised in Ohio but later became the first and only Indiana politician (in his case, senator, having been so from 1881 to 1887) to become president. Third president to lose the popular vote and the second to do so twice. A major technophile: he installed electricity in the White House, was the first to put a lighted Christmas tree in the White House, and was the first president to have his voice recorded. Died in 1901.
# UsefulNotes/GroverCleveland (1893–97, Democrat). Only president to serve two non-consecutive terms; although folks tend to prefer his first term. Became the first president to be captured on motion picture film during this term, while inaugurating William [=McKinley=]. Died in 1908.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHowardTaft (1909–13, Republican). First president to be elected without having served in the military or been elected to a prior office; was a judge, the appointed civilian governor of the Philippines (and, briefly, Cuba), and Roosevelt's Secretary of War. The heaviest president and last to sport facial hair in office; [[NeverLiveItDown most frequently remembered]] for getting stuck in the White House bathtub, which never actually happened. Placed ''third'' in the 1912 election when Teddy Roosevelt came out of retirement and split the Republican vote. The only president to have been [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative born in September]]. Only president to serve on the US Supreme Court (as Chief Justice, no less, from 1921 until his retirement due to poor health 33 days before his death in 1930), thereby being the only person to have been head of two branches.[[note]]He wanted to be chief justice but not president, and only accepted the 1908 presidential nomination at TR's insistence.[[/note]]
# UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson (1913–21, Democrat). First Southerner elected president since before the Civil War;[[note]]Born in Virginia, the last president ever born there, but lived in several other Southern states in his youth, most notably Georgia, making him also the first from that state.[[/note]] later served as the president of [[UsefulNotes/IvyLeague Princeton]] before being elected governor of New Jersey (an office he held from 1911 to 1913), making him also the only Jersey politician to be elected president; only president with a doctorate, a [=Ph.D.=] (though nobody ever invoked the title when referring to him, in part because "Mr. President" had already been set-in-stone tradition for 124 years). Was re-elected for keeping America out of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI, but sent men to Europe--with popular support--less than a year later in part due to the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram by British intelligence and German attacks on American merchant ships; helped set up the UsefulNotes/LeagueOfNations after the war but couldn't get a hostile Congress on board (after the Democrats held both houses for his first six years, the Republicans flipped them in 1918). Had a stroke and his wife secretly ran the country for the last few months of his second term. A fairly popular president during most of his tenure, lost most of said popularity by the end, and his reputation spiraled even further downward in later decades thanks to increased awareness of his overt racism; was notably responsible for re-segregating federal agencies and enabling the racially tense environment that led to the revival of the UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan. Died in 1924.
# UsefulNotes/WarrenGHarding (1921–23, Republican). Former Senator from Ohio (1915–21; the first president elected as such directly from the Senate), ran on a "Return to Normalcy" platform after WWI. An infamously bad public speaker, to the extent where contemporaries referred to his phrasing as if it were another language entirely. Notorious for corruption under his administration, especially after it ended with his early death from a heart attack or stroke midway through his term, though some believe his wife poisoned him for his many infidelities; the only president proven to have fathered a child from an extramarital affair.[[note]]Jefferson is widely believed to have done so too, but in Harding's case it was confirmed via direct DNA testing.[[/note]]
# UsefulNotes/CalvinCoolidge (1923–29, Republican). Second and latest president born in Vermont, first Massachusetts politician (he was a member of the state house from 1907 to 1909, the state senate from 1912 to 1915, lieutenant governor from 1916 to 1919, and governor from 1919 to 1921) to be elected president since the Adamses. [[TheQuietOne Often silent, to the point where he had the tersest oath of office on record ("I do").]] First president to have his inauguration broadcast on radio. So far the only president to have been born on the Fourth of July (Independence Day). Second VP to inherit the office and then win re-election. Died in 1933.

# UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington (1789–97, independent/de facto Federalist). Led the [[UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution Continental Army]]. Only president not to be a member of any political party (even advising against them, not that anybody listened). Only one of two presidents -- the other being James Monroe -- to run unopposed and consequently one of the only two to be elected unanimously. Often held up as a real-life case of FirstInstallmentWins, with only Lincoln ranking higher than him on popularity polls. Generally regarded as having made a lot of very good suggestions for the country's future upon his departure that nobody bothered to follow. First president from Virginia. Only president to lead the U.S. Army in the field personally, during the Whiskey Rebellion, though it never escalated into actual combat. Set the two-term precedent that most of his successors would follow, though it wouldn't be until Franklin D. Roosevelt successfully and controversially defied that precedent--twice--that it was agreed that ThereShouldBeALaw for it and it went from being a recommendation to legislation via the 22nd Amendment. Also set the precedent of eschewing fancy titles; this is why the President is introduced domestically as "The President of the United States" and addressed as "Mr. President" (though "Excellency" is often used internationally and "Honorable" is an official domestic title). Died soon after leaving office in 1799, making him the only president to die in the 18th century. Featured on the $1 bill and the quarter.
# UsefulNotes/JohnAdams (1797–1801, Federalist). An active member of the Continental Congress, an important foreign minister in the nation's early years, and the first vice president (and thus the first VP to be elected president). A rather different president than his predecessor in literal and figurative stature, but also set many precedents: First president from Massachusetts, first to receive the oath of office from a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Oliver Ellsworth), first to live in the Executive Mansion (now known as TheWhiteHouse), first to be part of a political party; first without a military background, first who did not own slaves, and first to veto no bills while in office. Saw the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts passed, leading to accusations of despotism that lost him the 1800 election to Thomas Jefferson, which also made him the first incumbent president to lose re-election to a second term. Resentfully but gracefully returned home after his loss, and in doing so quietly instituted the tradition of peaceful transitions of power that would (mostly) remain standard for the remainder of America's history. Died on the Fourth of July (Independence Day) of 1826, the same day as...
# UsefulNotes/ThomasJefferson (1801–09, Democratic-Republican). Wrote the Declaration of Independence before serving as governor of Virginia, first Secretary of State under Washington, and second vice president under Adams (and thus the second VP elected to the presidency, though he actually ran ''against'' Adams). Though normally an advocate for a smaller federal government, notably expanded its power while president, most notably by ratifying the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the size of the nation's territory claims. Also the first wartime president, having declared the First Barbary War. As a public and vocal UsefulNotes/{{Deis|m}}t, arguably the only non-Christian president; indeed, he explored a wide variety of religions in his lifetime, including, most notably, Islam; to this day, many Muslim Congressmen have opted to be sworn in on his copy of the Qu'ran. Invented the swivel chair. While normally considered one of the better--or at least most important--presidents, his gravestone ''omits'' his presidency in favor of other accomplishments, such as writing the Declaration and his work in his home state, which also included founding the University of Virginia. Remains condemned by many for fathering many children with an enslaved woman, Sally Hemmings, without acknowledging his patronage and claiming all of them as his slaves. Featured on the $2 bill and the nickel.
# UsefulNotes/JamesMadison (1809–17, Democratic-Republican). Shortest president[[note]]He was five feet, four inches (163 cm).[[/note]] and the last who was a Founding Father. Drafted the Virginia Plan, which became the basis of the Constitution, wrote several of the Federalist Papers, and helped get Virginia to agree to the Constitution. Served as a representative and later Secretary of State under Jefferson. [[UsefulNotes/WarOf1812 First wartime president on U.S. soil]]; the British burnt the White House down during his second term. Post-presidency, succeeded Jefferson once again as Chancellor of the University of Virginia and was one of the last living Founding Fathers before he passed away in 1836.
# UsefulNotes/JamesMonroe (1817–25, Democratic-Republican). Former senator and governor of Virginia, then Secretary of State and War under Madison. Last president to be elected unopposed, presided over an "Era of Good Feelings". Famous for his "Monroe Doctrine", a fairly vague declaration that declared independent nations in the Western Hemisphere out of European jurisdiction that has influenced ''centuries'' of U.S. foreign policy. The capital of UsefulNotes/{{Liberia}}, Monrovia, is named after him due to his contributions to the American Colonization Society, which [[ValuesDissonance sought to return freed slaves to Africa]]. Last president of whom no photography exists. ''Also'' died on Independence Day, in 1831.
# UsefulNotes/JohnQuincyAdams (1825–29, Democratic-Republican/National Republican). First president to be directly related to a previous officeholder (John Adams, his father); alongside UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush, one of the only two presidents to be the son of a previous president. Served as a foreign minister, senator of Massachusetts, and Secretary of State under Monroe. In contrast to his unanimously-elected-and-appointed predecessor, first president to lose the popular vote (twice!) and the only president to be elected by the House of Representatives.[[note]]For those unfamiliar with the UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem, when the people "vote" for president, they are actually voting for members of the Electoral College, a council of people who later meet to vote for president themselves, usually the candidate for whom the most people in their state voted. If said college deadlocks with no majority victor, the House (by states, with each state's delegation getting one vote) decides who becomes president while the Senate votes for the vice president. While Andrew Jackson won the plurality of the votes, none of the four leading candidates won the majority, and the House awarded the position to Adams after he struck a deal with opponent UsefulNotes/HenryClay.[[/note]] Had a long and rather productive stint in the House of Representatives after his presidency, the only president to be elected to that chamber post-presidency; he was a vocal opponent of slavery, protested the invasion of Mexico, and successfully campaigned for the creation of the Smithsonian Institute. Earliest known president to be photographed, albeit several years after he left the presidency. Suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on the House floor in 1848 and died shortly after.
# UsefulNotes/AndrewJackson (1829–37, Democrat; creator of the Democratic Party and first Democratic president). Remembered largely for his violent temper, lack of sophistication, controversial policies, and reorienting of the presidency to a populist "agent of the people" role that still continues to this day. A popular general in the War of 1812 and senator from Tennessee from 1797 to 1798 and 1823 to 1825, and the first governor of the Florida Territory for most of 1821; the first president elected from outside of the original colonies, signifying the nation's westward shift.[[note]]Jackson was born on the Carolina frontier but spent most of his life in Tennessee.[[/note]] Malicious slander regarding the circumstances of his marriage is credited with having broken his wife down and sent her to an early grave shortly after his election; Jackson never recovered from the loss. Broke the 28-year-long sequence of Democratic-Republican presidents who were the Secretary of State of their predecessor. First president targeted in an AssassinationAttempt; only president to almost personally kill his attempted assassin after he failed (also killed at least one man in a duel, something he enjoyed bragging about). Infamously and illegally overruled the Supreme Court in his push to drive out the Native American population of the South. Threatened to use force to [[{{Foreshadowing}} keep South Carolina from nullifying federal law]]. Fought to shut down the national bank and deregulate the monetary system, which contributed to the subsequent financial panic after he left office; ironically, he is now featured on the $20 bill, though is planned to be shoved off to the back in favor of UsefulNotes/HarrietTubman in 2028. Died in 1845.

# UsefulNotes/WilliamHenryHarrison (March–April 1841, first Whig president). A Virginia native, former frontier general/governor, and first Ohio politician (he served in the House from 1816 to 1819 and in the Senate from 1825 to 1828, serving in the Ohio state Senate inbetween from 1819 to 1821) to be elected president. Oldest president inaugurated at the time, at 68 years old, until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated at 69 140 years later. Died of pneumonia one month after taking office; first president to die in office and had the shortest presidency, which is the only reason people remember him (can't really be remembered for much as a president if the only noteworthy thing you did while in office was get sick and ''die''). Last president to have been born before America declared independence. First president to be photographed while in office, though the photo has been lost to time (which only further contributes to his death being the only commonly remembered thing about him).
# UsefulNotes/JohnTyler (1841–45, Whig/Independent). A former Virginia representative (1816–1821), governor (1825–1827), and senator (1827–1836), and last from that state to serve.[[note]]Woodrow Wilson was born in Virginia but left with his family when he was two and lived most of his life in Georgia and New Jersey, with the latter being his home state at the time he was elected into office.[[/note]] First president to have been born after the ratification of the Constitution. First vice president to inherit the presidency, setting a precedent that was contested and wouldn't be codified until the 25th Amendment over a century later, and had the longest administration of a non-elected president. Only joined the Whigs due to opposing Andrew Jackson and got kicked out of the party for constantly impeding them once in office; first president to have a veto overridden. First president to marry in office and fathered most children of any president (15); despite dying over 150 years ago, still has a living grandson. Sided with the Confederacy when UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar began in 1861, served in the unelected Confederate Provisional Congress and won election to the Confederate House of Representatives,[[note]]Making him the only former president ever to run for an office outside the United States (as in, the Union).[[/note]] but died the following year before being seated; he was buried with the Confederate flag, making him the [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers only president not laid to rest under the flag of the United States]].[[note]]It has been posited that this makes Tyler the only president to be laid to rest under a foreign flag, but it's unclear if the Confederate States count as a "foreign country" since no foreign government ever recognized it as an independent country, although Great Britain and France granted it belligerent status.[[/note]]
# UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk (1845–49, Democrat). Former Tennessee representative (1825–39) and governor (1839–41); only president to have been Speaker of the House, which he was from December 1835 until he went back to state politics. Pledged to serve just one term and in that time did everything he said he would: namely, vastly expand the country to the Pacific by annexing the Republic of Texas, settling border disputes with Britain in the Northwest, and [[UsefulNotes/MexicanAmericanWar going to war with Mexico]] to conquer and claim vast tracts of that country's territory, including UsefulNotes/{{California}}. Despite the importance of his administration, is only slightly less obscure than the other presidents between Jackson and Lincoln, potentially because of the brevity of his run. Died of cholera barely over 100 days after leaving office and had the shortest natural lifespan of any president, dying at age 53.
# UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor (1849–50, Whig). A popular Mexican-American War general from the South, pushed into office by the Whigs despite not being interested in it; first president to have held no prior political office and last to have been born before the ratification of the Constitution. Last president to have been a slave owner while in office. Died in office, possibly of gastroenteritis from eating spoiled cherries, possibly from [[MeatgrinderSurgery 19th-century medicine]].
# UsefulNotes/MillardFillmore (1850–53, Whig). Former U.S. Representative from upstate New York (1833 to 1835 and from 1837 to 1843) and state Comptroller from 1848 to 1849. Made fun of for his name and remembered for pretty much nothing else. First president born in the 19th century. Second vice president to take office after his predecessor's death. Credited in his time with delaying the eventual Civil War thanks to the Compromise of 1850, nowadays seen as a counter-intuitive empowering of slave states. Sent Matthew Perry to Japan to make it open its borders and consequently can be considered responsible for Japan's entrance into the international political and economic theater. Later ran as a third-party presidential candidate in 1856 for the anti-immigrant and -Catholic American (or, more popularly, "Know Nothing") party. Founded the University of Buffalo the same year and acted as its first chancellor. Died in 1874.

# UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan (1981–89, Republican). Previously governor of California (1967–75), and before that a cowboy actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, making him the TropeMaker for the "Celebrity President" (even if he was always a B-lister). A very divisive figure in retrospect but very popular while in office; was the last Republican to carry Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, and won the electoral vote against UsefulNotes/WalterMondale everywhere but DC and Mondale's home state of Minnesota when running for his second term. He was a strong believer in "supply-side" or "trickle-down" economics, and as such, oversaw substantial deregulation of the private sector. Credited with helping end the Cold War thanks to his diplomacy and military spending, even if its resolution came during his successor's tenure. Most commonly criticized for his poor handling of the AIDS crisis; similarly he received criticism for escalating the War on Drugs as well as for continuing/instituting the economic policies that worsened later recessions. First president to survive being wounded in an assassination attempt while in office.[[note]]Theodore Roosevelt wasn't president when the attempt on his life occurred.[[/note]] Had several controversies towards the end of his run, possibly due to an undiagnosed onset of Alzheimer's; raised the profile of the disease in his post-presidency before dying from complications of it in 2004, making him the first president to die in the 21st century (just over exactly a decade after Nixon's passing).

# UsefulNotes/BillClinton (1993–2001, Democrat). Living. Last Democrat to carry Montana, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and his home state of Arkansas, where he had served as governor (1979–81 and 1983–92) and attorney general (1977–79). A centrist who favored continued deregulation (it was he, not Reagan, who signed the laws that made the large-scale deregulation of America's financial sector possible); last president to sign a budget with a surplus. Often called "the first Black president" in his time, despite being White, due to his background of lower-class struggle that resonated with redlined Black voters. Husband to UsefulNotes/HillaryRodhamClinton, who went on to become the most politically active (and most controversial) former First Lady, becoming U.S. senator for New York (2001–09) and later Secretary of State under Obama (2009–13) in addition to launching two unsuccessful bids for the presidency. Was impeached but not convicted during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, making him the first president since Andrew Johnson to be impeached. Used to be one of the most beloved Democratic presidents since World War II, nowadays one of the more divisive ones on account of his treatment of women and economic policies that led to the 21st century's major recessions.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office, and unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania; [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted/ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Fifth president to lose the popular vote and third to lose it twice.[[note]]Paradoxically, also the holder of the second most popular votes of any candidate, behind only his second opponent, Joe Biden.[[/note]] Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate election opponent Joe Biden. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment. The final year of his presidency was dominated by the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice and the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, Trump is the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose reelection. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.
# UsefulNotes/JoeBiden (2021–present, Democrat). Incumbent. Most recent VP to become president, having served under Obama.[[note]]Second non-incumbent VP to become president, after Nixon; first since Bush Sr. to have previously served two full terms.[[/note]] Previously served for [[LongRunners 36 years]] (1973–2009) as senator of Delaware. Only president to represent Delaware and the first born in Pennsylvania since Buchanan. Oldest person to win a presidential election and oldest president ever; at 78 years, 61 days upon taking office, was older than the second oldest, Reagan, was upon ''leaving'' office (which he did at 77 years, 348 days). Currently the only member of the Silent Generation to be president.[[note]]In terms of generations, the presidential order goes from the Greatest Generation (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and H.W. Bush), skips the Silent Generation entirely, and goes to Boomers (Clinton, W. Bush, then, despite being on the younger side, Obama). Trump, born in 1946, when the Boomer generation began, is also one of the oldest Boomers, like Clinton and W. Bush, leaving Biden as the only true representative of the Silent Generation among presidents.[[/note]] First Catholic president since Kennedy;[[note]]He had also been the first Catholic VP under Obama.[[/note]] first president to win with a female running mate and, after Hoover, second with a non-White person (UsefulNotes/KamalaHarris, of Black and Indian descent). Had more popular votes cast for him than any other presidential candidate in history; won the largest percentage of the popular vote of any challenging candidate since FDR in 1932. First president since Lincoln to lack a peaceful transition of power to his administration, with Trump supporters storming the Capitol building to attempt to stop his certification. Like the final year of his predecessor, Biden's term has so far been defined by its response to COVID-19 and the accompanying recession.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office. Unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania. [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan Third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted or ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Fifth president to lose the popular vote and third to lose it twice.[[note]]Paradoxically, also the holder of the second most popular votes of any candidate, behind only his second opponent, Joe Biden.[[/note]] Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden, whom he expected would be the one to challenge him when he ran for another term. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment. The final year of his presidency was dominated by the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, which he wavered between denying, ignoring, or downplaying. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice and the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach, and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] To summarize, Trump is the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose reelection. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.
# UsefulNotes/JoeBiden (2021–present, Democrat). Incumbent. Most recent vice president to become president, having served as VP under Obama.[[note]]Second non-incumbent VP to become president, after Nixon; first since Bush Sr. to have previously served two full terms.[[/note]] Previously served for [[LongRunners 36 years]] (1973–2009) as senator of Delaware. Only president to represent Delaware and the first born in Pennsylvania since Buchanan. Oldest person to win a presidential election and oldest president ever; at 78 years, 61 days upon taking office, was older than the second oldest, Reagan, was upon ''leaving'' office (which he did at 77 years, 348 days). Currently the only member of the Silent Generation to be president.[[note]]In terms of generations, the presidential order goes from the Greatest Generation (Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and H.W. Bush), skips the Silent Generation entirely, and goes to Boomers (Clinton, W. Bush, then, despite being on the younger side, Obama). Trump, born in 1946, when the Boomer generation began, is also one of the oldest Boomers, like Clinton and W. Bush, leaving Biden as the only true representative of the Silent Generation among presidents.[[/note]] First Catholic president since Kennedy;[[note]]He had also been the first Catholic vice president under Obama.[[/note]] first president to win (and only the third major-party presidential candidate) with a female running mate (Walter Mondale ran with UsefulNotes/GeraldineFerraro in 1984 and UsefulNotes/JohnMcCain with UsefulNotes/SarahPalin in 2008) and, after Hoover, second with a non-White person (UsefulNotes/KamalaHarris, of Black and Indian descent) as his running mate. Had more popular votes cast for him than any other presidential candidate in history; won the largest percentage of the popular vote of any challenging candidate since FDR in 1932. First president since Lincoln to lack a peaceful transition of power to his administration, with Trump supporters storming the Capitol building to attempt to stop his certification. Like the final year of his predecessor, Biden's term has so far been defined by its response to COVID-19 and the accompanying recession.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office. Unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania. [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan Third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted or ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Fifth president to lose the popular vote and third to lose it twice.[[note]]Paradoxically, also the holder of the second most popular votes of any candidate, behind only his second opponent, Joe Biden.[[/note]] Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden, whom he expected would be the one to challenge him when he ran for another term. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment. The final year of his presidency was dominated by the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, which he wavered between denying, ignoring, or downplaying. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice and the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach, and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] In addition, Trump is the only president to be impeached (twice), lose the popular vote (twice), '''and''' lose reelection. Like Kennedy, [[{{Trumplica}} he has his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump (2017–21, Republican). Living. One of the most divisive figures ever to hold the office. Unique in many respects: First president not to have held any prior political (elected or appointed) or military office; likely the wealthiest president;[[note]]Though a staunch refusal to release his official tax returns makes this difficult to confirm, most people judge his global real estate empire and other investments to have been worth more than even George Washington's substantial land holdings would have been today.[[/note]] first to have primary residence in Florida;[[note]]He was born in New York and initially ran from there, making him the first Northeastern president since JFK, but changed his listed residency in the middle of his term and spent nearly as much time in Florida as he did in D.C.[[/note]] first to have hosted a [[Series/TheApprentice reality television show]]; the only president to have managed a ProfessionalWrestling match at Wrestling/WrestleMania. [[UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan Third]] to have "won" a UsefulNotes/GoldenRaspberryAward, [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush second]] to have done so playing himself, and [[Film/GhostsCantDoIt first]] to have done so before his presidency. Ran on a strongly populist and nationalist platform and disrupted or ignored many of the expectations of "presidential" behavior. Fifth president to lose the popular vote and third to lose it twice.[[note]]Paradoxically, also the holder of the second most popular votes of any candidate, behind only his second opponent, Joe Biden.[[/note]] Third president to be impeached/acquitted, in his case for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden, whom he expected would be the one to challenge him when he ran for another term. First president to run for re-election after his impeachment. The final year of his presidency was dominated by the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, which he wavered between denying, ignoring, or downplaying. Most recent incumbent president to lose re-election (and thus the most recent one-term president).[[note]]Though also the first incumbent loser since Van Buren to ''gain'' votes in his second election.[[/note]] First sitting president to refuse to concede an election loss, instead filing lawsuits and pressuring election officials to invalidate Biden's victory in 2020, culminating with his supporters storming the Capitol while Congress counted the ballots, ending the streak of peaceful transfers of power that dated back to the Civil War. Finally conceded after that failed to prevent certification, though continued to insist the election was rigged and did not attend his successor's inauguration, a first since Andrew Johnson snubbed Grant. Was ultimately impeached and acquitted ''again'' on charges of inciting insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice and the first to have his trial occur after leaving office.[[note]]Also the [[OverlyNarrowSuperlative most bipartisan]] impeachment, with ten House Republicans siding with every Democrat to impeach, and seven Republican senators siding with every Democrat to convict.[[/note]] Only president other than Kennedy to [[{{Trumplica}} have his own trope]] on this wiki thanks to his longtime status as a FountainOfExpies.

# UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan (1981–89, Republican). Previously governor of California (1967–75), and before that a cowboy actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, making him the TropeMaker for the "Celebrity President" (even if he was always a B-lister). A very divisive figure in retrospect but very popular while in office; was the last Republican to carry Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, and won the electoral vote against UsefulNotes/WalterMondale everywhere but DC and Mondale's home state of Minnesota when running for his second term. He was a strong believer in "supply-side" or "trickle-down" economics, and as such, oversaw substantial deregulation of the private sector. Credited with helping end the Cold War thanks to his diplomacy and military spending, even if its resolution came during his successor's tenure. Most commonly criticized for his poor handling of the AIDS crisis (deliberately suppressing information about the disease) as well as for instituting the economic policies that worsened later recessions. First president to survive being wounded in an assassination attempt while in office.[[note]]Theodore Roosevelt wasn't president when the attempt on his life occurred.[[/note]] Had several controversies towards the end of his run, possibly due to an undiagnosed onset of Alzheimer's; raised the profile of the disease in his post-presidency before dying from complications of it in 2004, making him the first president to die in the 21st century (just over exactly a decade after Nixon's passing).

For the action film, see ''Film/DeadPresidents''. For the much-desired ''pictures'' of dead presidents (plus a few other people), see UsefulNotes/AmericanMoney. For the president of the Confederate States of America during UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar, see UsefulNotes/JeffersonDavis. For a list of those who were "one life away" from being president, see UsefulNotes/TheVicePresidents. And finally, for portrayals of the presidency in fiction, see OurPresidentsAreDifferent.