5 Honorable Mention American PresidentsCreated by: Benedict S. Gombocz

#1. William Jefferson Clinton (Democratic)

• Born August 19, 1946.• 42nd President (January 20, 1993-January 20,

2001).• 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas (January 9,

1979-January 19, 1981; January 11, 1983-December 12, 1992).

• Third-youngest president inaugurated, at 46 (behind John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was 43, and Ulysses Simpson Grant, who was also 46); described as New Democrat.

• Led longest period of peacetime economic growth in American history; signed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into law and put Don’t ask, don’t tell into effect (which has since been repealed).

• His re-election in 1996 made him first Democratic president since FDR to win a second term and passed welfare reform and State Children’s Health Insurance Program into law subsequently.

• Was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice in late 1998/early 1999, making him second president to be impeached; was acquitted of both charges and remained in office.

#2. Lyndon Baines Johnson (Democratic)• Born August 27, 1908.• Died January 22, 1973.• 36th President (November 22, 1963-January 20,

1969).• 37th Vice President (January 20, 1961-November

22, 1963). • U.S. Senator from Texas (January 3, 1949-January

3, 1961). • One of only four presidents (other three were

John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Richard Milhous Nixon) who served in all four elected U.S. federal offices: Representative, Senator, VP, and President.

• Unsuccessfully campaigned for Democratic nomination in 1960; was subsequently asked by JFK to be his running mate.

• Ascended to presidency following Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963; completed Kennedy’s term and won a full term in 1964.

• Created “Great Society” legislation that included successful domestic laws upholding civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, environmental protection, aid to education, and “War on Poverty.”

• These domestic policies have given him favorable rankings by some historians.

#3. John Fitzgerald Kennedy (Democratic)

• Born May 29, 1917.• Died November 22, 1963.• 35th President (January 20, 1961-November 22,

1963).• U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (January 3,

1953-December 22, 1960).• Member of U.S. House of Representatives from

Massachusetts’ 11th district (January 3, 1947-January 3, 1953).

• Youngest president elected at 43, and second-youngest to assume the office (after TR, who was 42 when he assumed presidency following McKinley’s assassination).

• Only Roman Catholic to serve as president, but second to run (Al Smith was the first in 1928); only president who was awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

• Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, building of Berlin Wall, and Civil Rights Movement occurred during his administration.

• Assassinated on November 22, 1963; fourth and, to date, last president to have been assassinated.

• Remains at top of ranks among U.S. presidents.

#4. Dwight David Eisenhower (Republican)

• Born October 14, 1890.• Died March 28, 1969.• 34th President (January 20, 1953-January 20, 1961). • 1st Supreme Allied Commander of Europe (April 2,

1951-May 30, 1952). • 16th Chief of Staff of the Army (November 19, 1945-

February 6, 1948). • Served as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces

during WWII, in Europe; planned and supervised invasion of North Africa in Operation Torch in 1942-43, via Western Front; became first supreme commander of NATO in 1951.

• Ended Korean War of 1950-53; led overthrow of Iranian leader in 1953 Iranian coup d'état.

• Made Israel, UK, and France put end to their invasion of Egypt during 1956 Suez Crisis; sent 15,000 U.S. soldiers to Lebanon in 1958 to stop fall of pro-West government to Nasser-influenced revolution.

• Contributed to removal of Senator Joseph McCarthy from power, but usually left majority of political activity to VP Richard Nixon.

• Moderate conservative; carried on New Deal agencies, extended Social Security, and created Interstate Highway System.

• First president subject to term limits of 22nd Amendment.

#5. Richard Milhous Nixon (Republican)

• Born January 9, 1913.• Died April 22, 1994.• 37th President (January 20, 1969-August 9, 1974). • 36th Vice President (January 20, 1953-January 20,

1961). • U.S. Senator from California (December 4, 1950-

January 1, 1953).• After running unsuccessful presidential election

in 1960 (he lost to JFK) and losing race for Governor of California in 1962, he ran for presidency again in 1968 and was elected over Hubert H. Humphrey and George Wallace.

• Had many successes in foreign policy before and after his re-election in 1972- ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam, extended diplomatic recognition to the People’s Republic of China, and launched the era of détente and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the one and only LEONID ILYICH BREZHNEV.

• Second term was also marked by foreign and domestic problems: Arab oil embargo, resignation of first VP Spiro Theodore Agnew, and disclosures about Watergate scandal, which cost Nixon much of his support; resigned on August 9, 1974, to avoid impeachment, making him only president to have resigned.