U.S. President

Demographics Male – 100% Caucasian – 100% until 2008 Protestant – 97% College Education – 77% Politicians – 69% Lawyers – 62% Top 3% wealth and social class – at least 50% Elected from large states – 69%

Job Description Constitutional Requirements Salary and Benefits 35 years old Lived in U.S. 14 years Natural born citizen Salary and Benefits $400,000 salary (tax free) $50,000/year expense account $100,000/year travel expenses White House Secret Service protection for up to 10 years after leaving office Camp David (country home) Air Force One Staff of 400-500 employees

How is the President Elected? The President is elected through the Electoral College. Most candidates are electd by popular vote, (whoever gets the most votes wins) The candidate who recieves the most votes in a state, wins all of that state’s electoral votes (winner takes all). To win the Electoral College a candidate needs 270 votes to win.

Roles of the President – Formal Powers Chief of State –symbol of the U.S. Chief diplomat – deals with foreign affairs Chief Executive – administrator of the federal government Commander in Chief –commander of the U.S. military Chief Legislator –proposes bills for consideration in Congress Political Party Leader – head of the party who assists in members’ elections or appointments to office Crisis Manager – lead country through disasters Moral Persuader – shares his opinions/beliefs

Informal Powers of the President Executive Orders – law w/o congress approval (ex: don’t ask, don’t tell in military) Usually pertains to government agencies and officials Executive Agreements – a pact other than a treaty made by the president with a foreign government (ex: Louisiana Purchase) Executive Privilege –justifies withholding documents and information from other branches of government (Ex: Nixon and Watergate)

Random Presidential Facts George Washington bought leopard skin robes for his horses. Thomas Jefferson liked to greet foreign ambassadors in his pajamas. James Madison was our shortest president at 5’4 John Q. Adams liked to skinny dip in the Potomac. Andrew Jackson had a scar on his forehead John Tyler had 15 kids (the most ever) Reagan used to talk to squirrels on the back porch of the White House The Soldier beat Jackson in the face with his riding crop. Abe Lincoln was the tallest President at 6’4

Random Presidential Facts Eisenhower liked to play golf at the White House. Ulysses S. Grant was nauseous at the sight of blood. Teddy Roosevelt was boxing in the White House when he received a blow that left him blind in his left eye. Taft used to get stuck in the bathtub and his advisors would have to pull him out. FDR’s bicep was bigger than the heavy weight boxer of the time. Kennedy is in medical history books for surviving a dangerous spinal surgery LBJ drove an aquatic car Protestors used to release bags full of squirrels onto the white house lawn during Eisenhower’s presidency. Taft was 325 lbs. I usually tell the kids about how FDR held himself up so it looked like he could walk. LBJ he used to scare people by driving the car straight towards the lake on his ranch and pretending to loose control Carter claimed to see a UFO