Four years after a historically large number of candidates ran for president, the field for the 2024 campaign is getting crowded once more, with potential contenders from both major parties. As Americans begin to consider who they want to lead the country in the coming years, it's worth taking a look back at the men who have held the highest office in the land.
George Washington was the first president of the United States, taking his oath of office on April 30, 1789. He served two terms and established many of the precedents that still shape the presidency today. He was succeeded by John Adams, who served one term before being defeated by Thomas Jefferson, who served two terms and oversaw the Louisiana Purchase.
James Madison followed Jefferson and led the country through the War of 1812. He was succeeded by James Monroe, who is best known for the Monroe Doctrine, which warned European powers against interfering in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. John Quincy Adams, the son of John Adams, followed Monroe and served one term before being defeated by Andrew Jackson.
Jackson is remembered for his populist rhetoric and his controversial policies, such as the forced relocation of Native Americans known as the Trail of Tears. He was succeeded by Martin Van Buren, who served one term before being defeated by William Henry Harrison.
Harrison is best known for delivering the longest inaugural address in history, which lasted nearly two hours in freezing weather. He caught pneumonia and died just 31 days into his term, making him the shortest-serving president in history. He was succeeded by John Tyler, who is best known for annexing Texas.
James K. Polk followed Tyler and oversaw the Mexican-American War, which led to the acquisition of California and other territories. He served one term and was succeeded by Zachary Taylor, who died just 16 months into his term. He was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, who served the remainder of Taylor's term before being defeated by Franklin Pierce.
Pierce is best known for his support of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed slavery in new territories. He was succeeded by James Buchanan, who presided over the country's descent into Civil War. Abraham Lincoln followed Buchanan and led the country through its darkest hour, preserving the Union and ending slavery.
After Lincoln's assassination, he was succeeded by Andrew Johnson, who clashed with Congress over Reconstruction policies. Ulysses S. Grant followed Johnson and oversaw the country's post-Civil War recovery. He was succeeded by Rutherford B. Hayes, who won a disputed election and oversaw the end of Reconstruction.
James A. Garfield followed Hayes but was assassinated just four months into his term. He was succeeded by Chester A. Arthur, who oversaw civil service reform. Grover Cleveland followed Arthur and served two non-consecutive terms, making him both the 22nd and 24th president.
William McKinley followed Cleveland and oversaw the country's rise as a global power, but was assassinated just six months into his second term. He was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt, who established many of the policies that are associated with progressive politics. He was succeeded by William Howard Taft, who is best known for his support of the 16th Amendment, which established the federal income tax.
Woodrow Wilson followed Taft and led the country through World War I. He was succeeded by Warren G. Harding, who oversaw a return to normalcy after the war. Calvin Coolidge followed Harding and served during the Roaring Twenties. Herbert Hoover followed Coolidge and presided over the beginning of the Great Depression.
Franklin D. Roosevelt followed Hoover and led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. He was succeeded by Harry S. Truman, who oversaw the beginning of the Cold War. Dwight D. Eisenhower followed Truman and oversaw the country's post-war prosperity.
John F. Kennedy followed Eisenhower and inspired a new generation with his vision of a New Frontier. Lyndon B. Johnson followed Kennedy and oversaw the passage of landmark civil rights legislation. Richard Nixon followed Johnson and oversaw the end of the Vietnam War, but was forced to resign in the wake of the Watergate scandal.
Gerald Ford followed Nixon and oversaw the country's recovery from the scandal. Jimmy Carter followed Ford and presided over a tumultuous period of inflation and energy crises. Ronald Reagan followed Carter and is best known for his conservative policies and his role in ending the Cold War.
George H.W. Bush followed Reagan and oversaw the country's victory in the Gulf War. Bill Clinton followed Bush and presided over a period of economic prosperity, but was impeached in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal. George W. Bush followed Clinton and led the country through the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
Barack Obama followed Bush and oversaw the passage of the Affordable Care Act, but was criticized for his handling of foreign policy issues. Donald Trump followed Obama and is best known for his populist rhetoric and his controversial policies, such as his immigration ban and his efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
