List of All Former U.S. Presidents: An SEO-Optimized Guide
Delve into the rich tapestry of American political history by exploring the true facts about all former U.S. presidents. From the founding fathers to the more recent past, we highlight each individual who has served as the President of the United States. Start your journey through presidential lists and uncover what makes each president's legacy significant.
Note: The current former U.S. President, as of 2023, would be Donald Trump. References to this title will be updated as necessary.
Early Presidents in U.S. History
1789-1837: Founding Leaders
George Washington, the first president, was known for his leadership during the American Revolutionary War and served two terms from 1789 to 1797. Following him were:
John Adams (1797-1801) Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) James Madison (1809-1817) James Monroe (1817-1825) John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)1837-1893: Transition Presidents
We then have:
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) Martin Van Buren (1837-1841) William Henry Harrison (just a few months in 1841) John Tyler (1841-1845) James K. Polk (1845-1849)1893-1913: Early Modern Presidents
Zachary Taylor (1849-1850), Millard Fillmore (1850-1853), and Franklin Pierce (1853-1857) completes this era. Later, James Buchanan (1857-1861) became the last pre-Civil War president.
Presidential Leaders from 1861 to the 20th Century
1961-1993: The Civil War and Beyond
Following the Civil War, the presidents were:
Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877) Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881) James Garfield (1881-1881; assassinated in office) Chester Arthur (1881-1885) Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 and 1893-1897) (the only president to serve non-consecutive terms) Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) Rutherford B. Hayes (1893-1897)20th Century and Beyond
The 20th century took an unprecedented turn with:
William McKinley (1897-1901; assassinated in office) Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) William Taft (1909-1913) Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) Warren Harding (1921-1923; died in office) Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945; served four terms, the only person to do this)Post-World War II Presidents
Post-World War II, the landscape of U.S. presidency saw:
Harry Truman (1945-1953) Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) John F. Kennedy (1961-1963; assassinated in office) Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) Richard Nixon (1969-1974; resigned due to Watergate scandal) Gerald R. Ford (1974-1977) James Carter (1977-1981) Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) George H. W. Bush (1989-1993)21st Century Presidents
Finishing off the list, the 21st century has included:
Bill Clinton (1993-2001) George W. Bush (2001-2009) Barack Obama (2009-2017) Donald Trump (2017-2021)Conclusion and Upcoming
As of the current year, Donald Trump (2017-2021) is the most recent former U.S. president. His tenure and policies were marked by significant political, economic, and social changes that continue to shape American society. As the history of the United States progresses, so too does the list of its presidents, each adding a new chapter to the story of the nation.