Western Leaders Harry Truman Dwight Eisenhower John F Kennedy Lyndon B Johnson Richard Nixon Ronald Reagan Margaret Thatcher
Harry Truman Democrat Age at inauguration: 60 33rd President of the United States; 1945 – 1953 Democrat Age at inauguration: 60 Became president when FDR died. Most known for putting an end to WWII in the Pacific by dropping the atomic bomb on Japan; the Marshall Plan; the Truman Doctrine; and the Korean War
Dwight Eisenhower 34th President of the United States; 1953 – 1961 Republican Age at inauguration: 62 Nickname: Ike Most known for being the supreme commander of the Allied forces during WWII. During his two terms as president, the country experienced economic prosperity and peace.
John F. Kennedy Democrat Age at inauguration: 43 Nickname: JFK, Jack 35th President of the United States; 1961 – 1963 Democrat Age at inauguration: 43 Nickname: JFK, Jack Most known for the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, and for being assassinated early in his presidency.
Lyndon B. Johnson Democrat Age at inauguration: 55 Nickname: LBJ 36th President of the United States; 1963 – 1969 Democrat Age at inauguration: 55 Nickname: LBJ Most known for becoming president after President Kennedy was assassinated. His presidency is known for the passage of civil rights legislation and the Vietnam War.
Richard Nixon 37th President of the United States; 1969 – 1974 Republican Age at inauguration: 56 Nickname: Tricky Dick Most known for being the only president to resign from office as a result of the Watergate Scandal. He is also known for ending the Vietnam War and improving U.S. relations with the Soviet Union and China.
Ronald Reagan 40th President of the United States; 1981 – 1989 Republican Age at inauguration: 69 Nickname: The Great Communicator, The Gipper Most known for being president during the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. He’s also famous for his economic policy called “Reaganomics” as well as for being a Hollywood movie star who became president
Margaret Thatcher Born: October 13, 1925 Died: April 8, 2013 Occupation: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Born: October 13, 1925 Died: April 8, 2013 Served as Prime Minister of the UK: From 1979 - 1990 Nickname: The Iron Lady Most known for being the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; she was a staunch conservative. Accomplishments: Falkland War: Argentina invaded the British Falkland Islands Cold War: Allied herself with Ronald Reagan Union Reform: Reduce the power of the trade unions Privatization: moved some government run industries such as utilities into private ownership Economy: through her changes economy began to improve Assassination Attempt: in 1984 Irish Republican Army planted a bomb at the Brighton Hotel where she was staying, unsuccessful
Communist Leaders Joseph Stalin Leonid Brezhnev Mikhail Gorbachev Mao Zedong Fidel Castro
Joseph Stalin Occupation: Leader of the Soviet Union Born: December 8, 1878 Died: March 5, 1953 Ruled from 1924 until his own death in 1953 Most known for fighting the Germans in WWII and starting the Cold War; he is known as a brutal leader who was responsible for the deaths of over 20 million people
Leonid Brezhnev Occupation: Leader of the Soviet Union Born: December 19, 1906 Died: November 10, 1982 Ruled from 1964 - 1982 Most known for his massive build up of nuclear arms, but at a great cost to the Soviet economy; and being the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War
Mikhail Gorbachev Occupation: Leader of the Soviet Union Born: March 2, 1931 Ruled: was the last leader of the Soviet Union before it dissolved in 1991. Nickname: The Marked One Most known for bringing reform to the Soviet Union and helping to end the Cold War.
Mao Zedong Occupation: Leader of the Communist Party of China Born: December 26, 1893 Died: September 9, 1976 Ruled: was the primary leader of the country from its establishment in 1949 until his death Most known for Founding Father of the People’s Republic of China; led the communist revolution in China and fought against the Nationalist Party in the Chinese Civil War
Fidel Castro Born: August 13, 1926 Occupation: Prime Minister of Cuba Born: August 13, 1926 Ruled: Absolute ruler of Cuba from 1959 – 2008 Most known for leading the Cuban Revolution and ruling as dictator for over 45 years