Quick facts about American Presidency

Barack Obama Facts

Forty-Fourth President of the United States Term: January 20, 2009 – Present Party: Democratic Full name: Barack Hussein Obama Born: 1961-08-04 Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii Nickname: No Drama Obama Education: Columbia…

George W. Bush Facts

Forty-Third President of the United States Term: January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009 Party: Republican Full name: George Walker Bush Born: July 6, 1946 Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut Nicknames:…

Bill Clinton Facts

Forty-Second President of the United States Term: January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001 Party: Democratic Full name: William Jefferson Clinton Born: August 19, 1946 Birthplace: Hope, Arkansas Nicknames: Bubba;…

George H. W. Bush Facts

Forty-First President of the United States Term: January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993 Party: Republican Full name: George Herbert Walker Bush Born: June 12, 1924 Birthplace: Milton, Massachusetts Nicknames:…

Ronald Reagan Facts

Fortieth President of the United States Term: January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 Party: Republican Full name: Ronald Wilson Reagan Born: February 6, 1911 Birthplace: Tampico, Illinois Nicknames: Dutch;…

Jimmy Carter Facts

Thirty-Ninth President of the United States Term: January 20, 1977 – January 20, 1981 Party: Democratic Full name: James Earl Carter Jr. Born: October 1, 1924 Birthplace: Plains, Georgia Nicknames:…

Gerald Ford Facts

Thirty-Eighth President of the United States Term: August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 Party: Republican Full name: Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. Born: July 14, 1913 Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska Nicknames:…

Richard Nixon Facts

Thirty-Seventh President of the United States Term: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Party: Republican Full name: Richard Milhous Nixon Born: January 9, 1913 Birthplace: Yorba Linda, California Nickname:…

Lyndon Johnson Facts

Thirty-Sixth President of the United States Term: November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969 Party: Democratic Full name: Lyndon Baines Johnson Born: August 27, 1908 Birthplace: Stonewall, Texas Nicknames: Bullshit…

John F. Kennedy Facts

Thirty-Fifth President of the United States Term: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 Party: Democratic Full name: John Fitzgerald Kennedy Born: May 29, 1917 Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts Nicknames: Jack…

Dwight Eisenhower Facts

Thirty-Fourth President of the United States Term: January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961 Party: Republican Full name: Dwight David Eisenhower Born: October 14, 1890 Birthplace: Denison, Texas Nickname: Ike[…

Harry Truman Facts

Thirty-Third President of the United States Term: April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953 Party: Democratic Full name: Harry S. Truman Born: May 8, 1884 Birthplace: Lamar, Missouri Nickname: Give…

Franklin D. Roosevelt Facts

Thirty-Second President of the United States Term: March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 Party: Democratic Full name: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Born: January 30, 1882 Birthplace: Hyde Park, New York…

Herbert Hoover Facts

Thirty-First President of the United States Term: March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 Party: Republican Full name: Herbert Clark Hoover Born: August 10, 1874 Birthplace: West Branch, Iowa Nicknames:…

Calvin Coolidge Facts

Thirtieth President of the United States Term: August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929 Party: Republican Full name: Calvin Coolidge Born: July 4, 1872 Birthplace: Plymouth, Vermont Nicknames: Cautious Cal…

Warren Harding Facts

Twenty-Ninth President of the United States Term: March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 Party: Republican Full name: Warren Gamaliel Harding Born: November 2, 1865 Birthplace: Corsica (Blooming Grove), Ohio…

Woodrow Wilson Facts

Twenty-Eighth President of the United States Term: March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921 Party: Democratic Full name: Woodrow Wilson Born: December 28, 1856 Birthplace: Staunton, Virginia Nicknames: The Phrasemaker…

William Taft Facts

Twenty-Seventh President of the United States Term: March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913 Party: Republican Full name: William Howard Taft Born: September 15, 1857 Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio Nicknames: Big…

Theodore Roosevelt Facts

Twenty-Sixth President of the United States Term: September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909 Party: Republican Full name: Theodore Roosevelt Born: October 27, 1858 Birthplace: New York, New York Nicknames:…

William McKinley Facts

Twenty-Fifth President of the United States Term: March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901 Party: Republican Full name: William McKinley Born: January 29, 1843 Birthplace: Niles, Ohio Nickname: The Napoleon…

Benjamin Harrison Facts

Twenty-Third President of the United States Term: 1889-1893 Party: Republican Full name: Benjamin Harrison Born: August 20, 1833 Birthplace: North Bend, Ohio Nicknames: The Front Porch Campaigner The Human Iceberg…

Grover Cleveland Facts

Twenty-Second & Twenty-Fourth President of the United States Term: 1893-1897 Party: Democratic Party Full name: Grover Cleveland Born: March 18, 1837 Birthplace: Caldwell, New Jersey Nickname: Education: Vocation: Politicianlawyer Height:…

Chester Arthur Facts

Twenty-First President of the United States Term: 1881-1885 Party: Republican Full name: Chester Alan Arthur Born: October 5, 1829 Birthplace: Fairfield, Vermont Nicknames: Chet Gentleman Boss Prince Arthur The Dude…

James Garfield Facts

Twentieth President of the United States Term: 1881 Party: Republican Full name: James Abram Garfield Born: November 19, 1831 Birthplace: Orange, Ohio Nickname: Boatman Jim Education: Vocation: Height: 6 ft…

Rutherford B. Hayes Facts

Nineteenth President of the United States Term: 1877-1881 Party: Republican Full name: Rutherford Birchard Hayes Born: October 4, 1822 Birthplace: Delaware, Ohio Nicknames: Rutherfraud His Fraudulency Education: Vocation: Height: 5…

Ulysses S. Grant Facts

Eighteenth President of the United States Term: 1869-1877 Party: Republican Full name: Ulysses Simpson Grant Born: April 27, 1822 Birthplace: Point Pleasant, Ohio Nicknames: Unconditional Surrender Grant U.S Grant Education:…

Andrew Johnson Facts

Seventeenth President of the United States Term: 1865-1869 Party: National Union – Democratic Full name: Andrew Johnson Born: 1808-12-29 Birthplace: Born: December 29, 1808 in Raleigh, North Carolina Nickname: The…

Abraham Lincoln Facts

Sixteenth President of the United States Term: 1861-1865 Party: Republican Full name: Abraham Lincoln Born: February 12, 1809 Birthplace: Hodgenville, Hardin County, Kentucky Nicknames: The Ancient One The Great Emancipator…

James Buchanan Facts

Fifteenth President of the United States Term: 1857-1861 Party: Democratic Full name: James Buchanan Born: April 23, 1791 Birthplace: Cove Gap near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania Nickname: Old public functionary Education: Vocation:…

Franklin Pierce Facts

Fourteenth President of the United States Term: 1853-1857 Party: Democratic Full name: Franklin Pierce Born: November 23, 1804 Birthplace: Hillsboro, New Hampshire Nicknames: Young Hickory of the Granite Hills Handsome…

Millard Fillmore Facts

Thirteenth President of the United States Term: 1850-1853 Party: Whig Full name: Millard Fillmore Born: January 7, 1800 Birthplace: Cayuga County, New York Nickname: The American Education: Vocation: Height: 5…

Zachary Taylor Facts

Twelfth President of the United States Term: 1849-1850 Party: Whig Full name: Zachary Taylor Born: November 24, 1784 Birthplace: Orange County, Virginia Nickname: Old Rough and Ready Education: Vocation: Height:…

James Polk Facts

Eleventh President of the United States Term: 1845-1849 Party: Democratic Full name: James Knox Polk Born: November 2, 1795 Birthplace: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Nicknames: Napoleon of the Stump Young…

John Tyler Facts

Tenth President of the United States Term: 1841-1845 Party: Whig – Independent Full name: John Tyler Born: March 29, 1790 Birthplace: Charles City County, Virginia Nickname: His Accidency Education: Vocation:…

William Harrison Facts

Ninth President of the United States Term: 1841 Party: Whig Full name: William Henry Harrison Born: February 9, 1773 Birthplace: Charles City County, Virginia Nicknames: General Mum Tippecanoe Old Tippecanoe…

Martin Van Buren Facts

Eighth President of the United States Term: 1837-1841 Party: Democratic Full name: Martin Van Buren Born: December 5, 1782 Birthplace: Columbia, New York Nicknames: The American The Careful Dutchman[ The…

Andrew Jackson Facts

Seventh President of the United States Term: 1829-1837 Party: Democratic Full name: Andrew Jackson Born: March 15, 1767 Birthplace: Waxhaw, South Carolina Nicknames: The Hero of New Orleans Old Hickory…

John Quincy Adams Facts

Sixth President of the United States Term: 1825-1829 Party: Democratic-Republican Full name: John Quincy Adams Born: July 11, 1767 Birthplace: Braintree, Massachusetts Nicknames: Old Man Eloquent The Abolitionist Education: Vocation:…

James Monroe Facts

Fifth President of the United States Term: 1817-1825 Party: Democratic-Republican Full name: James Monroe Born: April 28, 1758 Birthplace: Westmoreland County, Virginia Nicknames: The Era of Good Feelings President The…

James Madison Facts

Fourth President of the United States Term: 1809-1817 Party: Democratic-Republican Full name: James Madison Born: March 16, 1751 Birthplace: Port Conway, King George, Virginia Nickname: Little Jemmy His Little Majesty Father…

Thomas Jefferson Facts

Third President of the United States Term: 1801-1809 Party: Democratic-Republican Full name: Thomas Jefferson Born: April 13, 1743 Birthplace: Albemarle County, Virginia Nickname: The Apostle of Democracy The Man of…

John Adams Facts

Second President of the United States Term: 1797-1801 Party: Federalist Full name: John Adams Born: October 30, 1735 Birthplace: Braintree, Norfolk, Massachusetts Nicknames: The Colossus of Independence Old Sink or…

George Washington Facts

First President of the United States Term: 1789-1797 Party: Federalist Full name: George Washington Born: February 22, 1732 Birthplace: Pope’s Creek, Virginia Nicknames: Father of His Country The American Fabius…

American President Facts

The federal constitutional republic of the United States of America is governed by three separate branches of power, namely:

  • The Legislative: Consisting of the two houses of the national bicameral legislature (the Senate and House of Representatives), that design federal laws and manage the republic.
  • The Judiciary: Consisting of the court system and judicial officers who interpret and enforce state and federal laws.
  • The Executive: Consisting of the president, vice president, and cabinet members that serve as the executive arm of the government.

The original intent of separation of powers by our Founding Fathers was to ensure a natural system of checks and balances that will encourage the establishment a more efficient culture of governance with a strong emphasis on accountability while minimizing the risks of the emergence of a dictatorial center of power inside the republic.

The de-facto leader in this governing model was an elected President, whose responsibility and scope of authority was engraved in Article II of the Constitution. Despite the legendary all-conquering powers often associated with the office, the powers of our presidents are actually quite limited. In fact, take away his role as the Commander In Chief of our “Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States,” his position is largely ceremonial.

His powers, as defined by the Constitution (excluding the always contentious implied inherent powers), are as follows:

  • Appointment of his vice-president and fifteen heads of executive departments (his cabinet)
  • The power to “grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment”
  • To make treaties with foreign nations, with the approval of at least two-thirds of the Senate
  • To nominate, with the approval of at least two-thirds of the Senate, “Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States”
  • During a Senate recess period, the President is allowed to appoint senior federal officials, but it must be approved by the Senate once they reconvened.
  • Presents the annual State of Union address to Congress.
  • On “extraordinary occasions,” he may convene and adjourn the Senate and/or the House of Representatives.
  • Receive foreign ambassadors and ministers
  • Commission senior officers of the armed forces (with the rank of Major and above; lower ranks are conferred by the Secretary of Defense).
  • Sign bills into law (although unsigned bills can still be passed by the Senate with a two-thirds majority)
  • Oversee that the laws of the nation are obeyed by its officials, and the judiciary and legislative branch.

It would not be remiss to say that, in fact, the Executive (and by extension, the presidency) is the least powerful branch of the United States government. Some have even likened the role of the president to that of the ‘chief negotiator’ of the federal government, as, by and large, the president and his advisors spend most of their days negotiating with members of the Senate and House of Representatives. The power of the president is only evident during times of war, as the president will inevitably take command of all military-related decisions. This extra-constitutional 20th-century development of presidential muscle has often been attributed to the cumbersome and time-consuming manner of the Congress’ decision-making process.

Despite the obvious limitations, the president remains, without doubt, the most powerful and influential figure in the country. He is the head of state and a living symbol of the nation, a figurehead of the ruling elite, a piñata for the proletariat, and the object of veneration for the young. He sets the national agenda, harnessing the might and powers of the judiciary and legislative branches to create a better future (and now) for Americans, all the while guided by an unflinching core of righteousness and goodness.

Their task is a thankless one, subject to an unending stream of criticisms that in some cases, cost them their very lives. Four American presidents were assassinated in office, while attempts were made on fourteen more. This site documents the life and times of the forty-four Americans who have held the title of President of the United States of America. This is their story.