Presidents of the Past and Presidential Succession

George Washington First President under the Constitution Established: Importance of the office Discouraged any title, except, “Mr. President” Established rule that presidents seek advice and consent of Senate after the treaty is made

Thomas Jefferson Third President Championed legislative agenda that reflected his party, Democratic- Republican Decentralized power and favored agricultural and rural areas Louisiana Purchase of 1803

Abraham Lincoln 16 th President Conviction to unite nation Increased armed forces Emancipation Proclamation Began Reconstruction Suspended habeas corpus-reduced quick trials Strong leadership in crisis Assassinated 1865

Andrew Johnson 17 th President First president to be impeached by the House, but not removed Senate did not try him

Theodore Roosevelt 26 th President “bully pulpit” to achieve domestic and foreign policy objectives Championed Progressive Movement to break up economic and political power that undermined democracy and equality

Theodore Roosevelt Believed in racial equality Regulated railroads Increased environmental protection Square Deal “Speak softly and carry a big stick” Panama canal Formed Bull Moose Party

William Howard Taft 27 th President After president, became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Woodrow Wilson 28 th President Progressive to expand presidential powers New Freedom Federal Reserve System to govern banks Regulated big business Federal Trade Commission 1914 World War I League of Nations

Herbert Hoover 31 st President President during the Great Depression

Franklin D. Roosevelt 32 nd President New Deal: Social reforms to end Depression Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA_ Security Exchange Commission Social Security Administration Unemployment Insurance World War II Elected four terms United Nations

Dwight D. Eisenhower 34 th President Former General of European front in World War II Strengthened CIA Expanded interstate highway system

John F. Kennedy 35 th President World War II PT Boat CO First president born in the 20 th century First presidential debate 1960 Served 1,000 days Assassinated 1963 Cuban Missile Crisis

Richard M. Nixon 37 th President Created Environmental Protection Agency Opened relations with China 1972 Lessened tensions with the Soviet Union Withdrew troops from Vietnam 1973 First president to resign

Gerald Ford Selected as Vice President by Richard Nixon when Spiro Agnew resigned due to tax problems Became President when Nixon resigned in 1973 and selected Vice President Rockefeller The only President and Vice President not elected sitting in office at the same time. Pardoned Nixon which influenced the next election in 1976 when Jimmy Carter won.

Ronald Reagan 40 th President Restored influence of presidency Public trust and confidence in White House The Great Communicator Fall of Berlin Wall

George H. Bush 41 st President First Gulf War 1991

William J. Clinton 42 nd President Republicans controlled house and Senate Scandal led to impeachment in House, but not removed

George W. Bush 43 rd President election one of closest and most disputed September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks Military offensive into Afghanistan Patriot Act Iraq War Strategy of “preventive war”: Right to launch war to confront worst threats before they emerge

Barack Obama 44 th President First African American Progressive National Health Care Debate Government control of finances

Chain of Command for Presidency President Vice President Speaker of the House President Pro Tempore of the Senate Secretary of State Other cabinet secretaries in order of the cabinet created until another president is selected House chooses president At least one cabinet secretary absent from State of Union Address in the event of a terrorist attack