Presidential Timeline

By calsutmoran

  • Inauguration for George Washington

    Inaugurated for the first President of the newly formed United States.
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    George Washington's Presidency

    Born in Westmoreland County, VA
    No education
    British Provincial Military, Continental Army, and United States Army.
    Representative of Frederick County and Provincial Representative of Virginia
    Parents: Mary Ball Washington and Augustine Washington
    Was a land surveyor and was commander of the Continental Army.

  • Congress enacts Tariffs

    Congress enacts first protective tariffs, led by James Madison, who consulted with Washington about the need.

  • First Naturalization Law

    Congress passes this law to establish terms of citizenship.

  • Ratifying the Constitution

    Rhode Island ratifies the Constitution, last of the original 13 states under the Articles of Confederation to join.

  • Copyright Law

    President Washington signs first Copyright Law

  • Establishing the Capitol

  • Moving the Capitol

  • Creating a national bank

  • First Revenue Law

  • Naming the capitol

  • Inauguration

  • Period: to

    John Adam's Presidency

    1. Braintree, MA
    2. Harvard, graduated in 1755
    3. Served in France and and Holland for diplomatic roles, negotiated Treaty of Peace.
    4. United States minister, delegate of the Continental Congress, and Vice President of the United States
    5. Spouse: Abigail Adams, many children but is father of John Quincy Adams.
    6. First president to reside in the White House, signed Alien and Sedation Acts, and built up the Army and Navy against France in the undeclared naval war.

  • Special Session

  • Negotiating with France

  • Making a militia

  • XYZ Affair

  • Inauguration

  • Period: to

    Thomas Jefferson's Presidency

    Shadwell, VA
    College of William & Mary
    Provided militia soldiers as replacements for the Virginia regiments of the Continental Army.
    Governor of Virginia
    Children: Martha Jefferson Randolph, Madison Hemmings ·
    President of the American Philosophical Society

  • Tripoli declares war

  • William C.C. Clairborne appointed governor

  • Jefferson addresses Congress

  • US and Britain Convene

  • War with Tripoli

  • Excise Taxes Repealed

  • Naturalization laws repealed

  • Reducing army and establishing West Point

  • Georgia's western territory ceded

  • 1808 Presidential Election

  • Inauguration

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    James Madison's Presidency

    1. Belle Grove, March 16, 1751
    2. Princeton University and College of New Jersey
    3. Private turned to colonel and commander of the Orange County Regiment, Virginia Militia.
    4. Representative of VA, 5th District, United States Secretary of State, Representative.
    5. Spouse: Dolley Madison
    6. "Father of the Constitution" and drafted/promoted the Bill of Rights, same for the Constitution

  • Fletcher v. Peck

  • Trade Wars

  • France sinks U.S. Ships

  • War Message

  • Declaration of War

  • Detroit Surrenders

  • Treaty of Ghent

  • End of War of 1812

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    James Monroe's Presidency

    Westmoreland County, Virginia
    College of William and Mary
    Third Virginia Infantry
    Secretary of State
    Children: Liza Kortright , James Spence, Maria Hester
    Elected Governor in 1799

  • Mississippi becomes a state

  • Illinois becomes a state

  • Alabama becomes a state

  • Panic of 1819

  • Transcontinental Treaty

  • Missouri Compromise

  • Maine becomes a state

  • Monroe Reelected

  • Missouri becomes a state

  • Monroe Doctrine Announced

  • John Quincy Adams elected

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    John Quincy Adam's Presidency

    Braintree, MA
    University of Leiden and Harvard University
    No military service.
    Before office, he was a US senate, a U.S. representative, and Secretary of State under James Monroe.
    His father, John Adams, was the 2nd president of the U.S. His son was a diplomat.
    Elected U.S. House of representative and a diplomat

  • Jefferson and Adams die

  • Resolution of War Damages

  • MFN Trade System

  • Mexican Boundary settlement

  • Tariff of Abominations

  • Inauguration

  • Period: to

    Andrew Jackson's Presidency

    Waxhaws
    Not much education
    Major general in the battle of Pensacola.
    U.S. Senator, Governor of Florida, judge, and a Tennessee militia.
    His son, served as his private secretary during Jackson's presidency.
    After office, he retired to his plantation.

  • Indian Removal Act

  • Vetoes Maysville Road Bill

  • Peggy Eaton Affair

  • Opposes Second Bank of US

  • Jackson Reelected

  • Ordinance of Nullification

  • Nullification Prelamination

  • Withdraws Federal Deposits

  • Jackson removes national debt

  • Jackson recognizes Texas Independence

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    Martin Van Buren's Presidency

    Kinderhook, NY.
    Did not attend college.
    No military background.
    Governor of New York, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State under Jackson.
    His eldest son, served as his father's private secretary during Van Buren's presidency.
    After office, he returned to his home in New York.

  • Panic of 1837

  • Van Buren opposes annexing Texas

  • Van Buren's Special Session

  • Comet and Enconium

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    William Henry Harrison

    Berkeley Plantation, VA.
    Attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, then transferred to University of Pennsylvania
    Served in the Indian war and the War of 1812.
    Was a U.S. senator, a U.S. representative, and Governor of the Indian territory
    His grandson served as the 23rd President of the United States from 1889 to 1893
    Died 31 days after his inauguration.
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    John Tyler's Presidency

    Greenway Plantation, Charles City, VA.
    College of William & Mary.
    Served in the War of 1812 and commissioned as a captain in the Virginia militia.
    Member of the U.S. representative, Governor of Virginia, U.S. Senate, and VP of William Henry Harrison.
    He didn't have any notable family members.
    After office, he retired and went to his plantation and served as Confederate House of Representatives, but died before he can take his seat

  • Tyler's Cabinet Resigns

  • Commonwealth vs. Hunt

  • Webster-Ashburton Treaty

  • First telegraph line completed

  • Texas Annexation

  • Joint Resolution

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    James Knox Polk's Presidency

    Pineville, NC
    Didn't attend college
    Volunteered for service in the Tennessee militia and was commissioned as a captain
    Was a Governor of Tennessee and a U.S. representative. His brother served colonel in the confederate army
    Retired to his home in Nashville Tennessee, after his term.

  • Oregon Treaty

  • Tariff of 1845

  • River Harbors Bill

  • Independent Treasury law

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

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    Zachary Taylor's Presidency

    Orange County, VA
    Didn't attend college.
    Served as a lieutenant in the War of 1812
    Didn't serve in an office other than presidency
    His son-in-law later served as the President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
    Died a year into his term.

  • Compromise of 1850

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    Millard Fillmore's Presidency

    Summer Hill, NY
    Didn't attend college
    No military background
    Was a lawyer, a U.S. representative, and comptroller of New York
    His son served as a captain in the Union Army during the Civil War
    Continued his law studies and ran for president again in 1856 as the candidate of the American Party, also known as the Know-Nothing Party, but he was not successful. After that, he retired from public life.

  • Fugitive Slave Bill

  • Brigham Young, Govenor

  • Treaty with El Salvador

  • Nominate General Winfield Scott

  • Democrats gain Seats

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    Franklin Pierce's Presidency

    Hillsborough, NH
    Attended Bowdoin College
    Served as a brigadier general in the Mexican-American War
    He was a member of the U.S. Senate and representative His brother served as a general in the Confederate Army during the Civil War
    He retired and got away from the public, after his term.

  • Gadsden Purchase

  • Treaty of Kanagawa

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Nationality Laws

  • National Convention nominates Fillmore

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    James Buchanan's Presidency

    Cove Gap, PA
    Attended Dickinson College
    No military background
    Was a member of U.S. representative, U.S. Senate, and secretary of state under James Polk
    No notable family members
    After office, he retired and stayed out of public.

  • Mountain Meadow Massacre

  • English Bill Passed

  • Period: to

    Abraham Lincoln's Presidency

    Larue County, KY.
    Didn't attend college
    Served in the military during the Black Hawk War in 1832, volunteered for the Illinois militia and was elected as a captain of a company of volunteers
    Was a member of the U.S. representative and Illinois State Legislature
    Lincoln's son served as Secretary of War under Presidents James Garfield and Chester A. Arthur.
    Died before his term was going to end.

  • Confederate Congress & Confederate

  • Emancipation Proclamation

  • National Banking Act

  • Battle of Gettysburg

  • Gettysburg Address

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    Andrew Johnson's Presidency

    Raleigh, NC
    Didn't college
    Served in the military during the Cold War
    Was Governor of Tennessee, U.S. Senate, U.S. representative, and Military Governor of Tennessee
    His son served as his father's private secretary during his presidency
    After office, he retired and stayed out of the public.

  • Black Code

  • Replacing govenors

  • First Reconstruction Act

  • Johnson suspends Secretary Stanton

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    Ulysses S. Grant

    Point Pleasant, OH
    Didn't attend college
    Was a junior officer in the Mexican-American War and was the Commanding General of the Union Army
    Was promoted general-in-chief
    His second son served in the Union Army during the Civil War
    After office, he went on trips and has several business ventures.

  • Johnson acquitted

  • Annexation of Santo Domingo

  • Grant vetoes the Private Relief Bill

  • Fifteenth Amendment

  • Fenian Army of Vermont

  • Tariff Passed

  • Federal Election Law

  • Grant vetoes Inflation Bill

  • Hawaiian Reciprocity Treaty

  • Resumption Act

  • Civil Rights Act on 1875

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    Rutherford B Hayes

    Delaware, OH
    Attended Kenyon College
    Served as a major in the 23rd Ohio Infantry in 1861 and, became a brevet major general
    Was Governor of Ohio and a member of the U.S. representative
    His second and third son both served in the Spanish-American War.
    Retired to his home in Ohio, after his term.

  • Patrolling Mexican border

  • Knights of Labor

  • U.S Samoa Treaty

  • Limit on Chinese Immigration

  • Hayes supports canal

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    James A Garfield

    Moreland Hills, OH.
    Attended Williams College.
    Was a major general in the Union Army
    Was an Ohio State Senator and a U.S. representative
    His son served as Secretary of the Interior under President Theodore Roosevelt
    Died before his term could end.

  • Garfield removes E.A. Merit

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    Chester A Arthur

    Fairfield, VT.
    Attended Union College
    No military background
    Was a VP under James Garfield and a civil rights advocate. His son served as his father's private secretary during his presidency
    Returned to his private life in New York City after his term.

  • Congress Ties Representation to Census

  • Edmunds Act Passes

  • Steamboat Safety Bill vetoed

  • Special session

  • U.S. Luxemburg Treaty

  • Sherman Silver Purchase Act

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    Grover Cleveland

    Caldwell, NJ
    Didn't attend college
    No military background
    Was a Mayor of Buffalo and Governor of New York
    No notable family members
    Returned to his private life in New York, when he left office.

  • Presidential Succession Act

  • Cleveland vetoes military pensions

  • Accepting Statue of Liberty

  • Chinese Exclusion Act

  • Department of Agriculture created

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    Benjamin Harrison

    North Bend, OH
    Attended Farmers' College and Miami University
    Was commissioned as a captain and company commander. Was an Indiana State Senator and a U.S. Senate. His grandfather was William Henry Harrison
    Returned to Indianapolis and resumed his law practice, but stayed active in state and national politics after his term.

  • Harrison's first msg to Congress

  • dependent pension bill

  • Sherman Anti-trust Act

  • sherman silver purchase act

  • Stephen B Elkins nominated

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    Grover Cleveland

  • Tariff Revision Bill

  • Wilson-Gorman Tariff Bill

  • Supreme Court nullifies Income Tax

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    William McKinley

    Niles, OH
    Attended Allegheny College then transferred to Mount Union College
    Served as a private in the Union Army in 1861 and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant
    Was Governor of Ohio and U.S. representative. His son served in the U.S. Army during World War I and later became a lawyer
    Died before her term ended

  • Dingley Tariff Law

  • Volunteer Army Act

  • Erdman Arbitration Act

  • Peace treaty ratified

  • Platt Amendment

  • Period: to

    Theodore Roosevelt

    New York, NY
    Attended Harvard College
    Served as an assistant secretary of the Navy under President McKinley
    Was a Governor of New York, Civil Service Commissioner, and Police Commissioner of New York City
    His eldest son served as a soldier in both World War I and World War II and was a Medal of Honor recipient. His distant cousin is FDR.
    After office, he criticized Taft for what he saw as a lack of progressive action and showed supported the Allied cause.

  • Chinese Exclusion Act

  • Coal miners strike

  • Newlands Reclamation Act

  • Panama Canal Commission

  • Sherman Anti-Trust Act

  • The Niagara Movement & the NAACP

  • National Movement Act

  • Meat Inspection Act + Food + Drug Act

  • Immigration Act of 1907

  • Child Labor Law

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    William Howard Taft

    Cincinnati, OH.
    Yale University.
    He does not have a military background.
    Taft served as a civilian governor of the Philippines. He was also a judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    His father, was an attorney and government official who served as the Secretary of War and as Attorney General under President Ulysses S. Grant.
    After office, he continued his studies at law and became an author.

  • 16th Amendment

  • Postal Saving Bank Act

  • Dissolution of Standard Oil

  • Taft vetoes Tariff Reduction

  • Calls for federal budget

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    Woodrow Wilson

    Staunton, VA.
    PhD, Johns Hopkins University.
    No military background.
    Governor of New Jersey.
    His daughter was a singer, songwriter, and author, known for her performances and recordings.
    After office, he retired to his private life, had a stroke which partially paralyzed him in 1919.

  • 17th amendment

  • Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act

  • Panama Canal

  • Federal Reserve Act

  • Archduke Franz Ferdinand Assassinated

  • National Defense Act

  • Federal Farm Labor Act

  • Zimmermann Telegram released

  • Wartime Production Act

  • Treaty of Versailles, League of Nations

  • Period: to

    Warren G Harding

    Blooming Grove, OH.
    Ohio Central College
    No military background
    Served as an Ohio State Senate and as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, also a teacher.
    His wife was known for her strong personality and involvement in his political career, unfortunately, he died before the end of his term.

  • Teapot Dome Scandal

  • Harding vetoes Soldiers' Bonus Bill

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    Calvin Coolidge

    Plymouth Notch, Plymouth, VT.
    Amherst College.
    No military service.
    Was a Mayor of Northampton, Massachusetts State Senator, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, and Governor of Massachusetts.
    His eldest son served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later worked in the business sector.
    After office, he retired to Northampton and became a public speaker.

  • Soldiers Bonus Bill passes

  • New Immigration law

  • Emergency Tariff Act

  • Revenue Act becomes Law

  • Air Commerce Act passed

  • Voting restrictions unconstitutional

  • Lindbergh completes flight

  • Period: to

    Herbert Hoover

    West Branch, IA
    Stanford University
    No military background
    Served as Director of the U.S. Bureau of Relief and Secretary of Commerce
    His eldest son had a career in business and public service, serving as Undersecretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower
    After office, he kept in public life.

  • Agricultural Marketing Act

  • Construction of Empire State Building

  • Black Thursday

  • Black Tuesday

  • Bonus Loan Passed

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    Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Hyde Park, NY
    Harvard University
    Served as an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, New York State Senator, Governor of New York, and Vice Presidential Candidate.
    His distant cousin is Theodore Roosevelt
    Passed away just after his 4th term.

  • Securities Exchange Act

  • New Deal: 2nd Stage

  • Emergency Relief Appropriation

  • National Labor Relations Act

  • Social Security Act

  • Neutrality Act

  • 3rd Neutrality Act

  • Neutrality Act of 1939

  • Office for Emergency

  • Selective Training and Service Act

  • Land Lease Act

  • Serviceman Readjustment Act

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    Harry S. Truman

    Lamar, MO
    He did not go to college
    Served as a Missouri National Guard and the United States Army during World War I, then served as a captain.
    Before office, he was a vice president under FDR
    No notable family members
    After office, he became a public speaker and a politician.

  • Hiroshima

  • Nagasaki

  • 21 Point Plan

  • Truman Doctrine Signed

  • National Security Act

  • Marshall Plan Passed

  • Berlin Airlift

  • Fair Deal

  • Housing Act

  • Mutual Security Act

  • Period: to

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Denison, TX
    Attended Military Academy at West Point
    Served as supreme commander of allied forces
    Before office, he was the President of Columbia University and the Supreme Commander of NATO
    His brother was a respected educator and served as president of several universities, including Kansas State University and Johns Hopkins University
    After office, he stayed in public life as a public speaker and soon later advocated for civil rights.

  • Submerged Lands Act

  • Refugee Relief Act

  • Wiley-Dander Seaway Act

  • Federal Highway Act

  • Social Security Act of 1956

  • Eisenhower Doctrine

  • Civil Rights Act of 1957

  • National Defense Education Act

  • Hawaii becomes a State

  • Landrum-Griffin Act

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    John F. Kennedy

    Brookline, MA
    Attended Harvard University
    Joined the U.S. Navy in 1941
    Apart of the U.S. representative and U.S. Senate. His brother, served as the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and later as a U.S. Senator from New York Died before his term ended.

  • Bay of Pigs

  • Missiles in Cuba

  • Cuban Missile Crisis Announced

  • Nuclear Test Ban Signed

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    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Stonewall, TX
    Attended Texas State University
    Served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve
    Was a member of the U.S. representative, U.S. Senate, and a vice president under JFK
    No notable family members
    After office, he retired to his ranch and remained in public life.

  • 24th Amendment ratified

  • Johnson's Great Society

  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

  • Economic Opportunity Act

  • MLK receives Nobel Peace Prize

  • Tet Offensive

  • Period: to

    Richard Nixon

    Yorba Linda, CA
    Attended Whittier College
    Served as a lieutenant commander in World War II
    He was a vice president under Dwight Eisenhower, a U.S. Senator, and U.S. representative.
    No notable family members
    After office, he remained in public life as a public speaker and a writer.

  • Nixon Doctrine

  • Selective Service Reform

  • Emergency Employment Act

  • Watergate Scandal

  • Privacy Act of 1974

  • Nixon Resigns

  • Period: to

    Gerald Ford

    Omaha, NE
    Attended University of Michigan
    Served as an officer on the aircraft carrier USS Monterey during WW2 and was lieutenant commander.
    Before office, he was a vice president under Richard Nixon and a U.S. representative
    No notable family member
    Remained in public life as a writer, public speaker, and made a library, after his presidency.

  • Ford Pardons Nixon

  • Federal Elections Campaign Act

  • Tax Reduction Act of 1975

  • Federal Election Campaign Act

  • Ford approves congressional election revisions

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    Jimmy Carter

    From Plains, GA
    Attended Georgia Tech.
    Served as lieutenant during the 50s
    Was a Georgia State Senate and Governor of Georgia
    His eldest son had been involved in politics and business, working on his father's presidential campaigns and later pursuing a career in business
    After office, remained in public life as a diplomatic missions and in writing.

  • Speech at Notre Dame

  • Graduation Speech

  • Mediation at Camp David

  • Department of Education established

  • Anti-inflation program

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    Ronald Reagan

    Tampico, IL
    Eureka College
    Served as captain in the army in 1945
    Hosted a television show and was a radio announcer
    His brother was a radio and television broadcaster and a businessman
    Stayed in public life as a public speaker, made his own library, and involved in charitable organization once he left office.

  • Reagan dismisses strikers

  • Negotiating with Soviets

  • Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act

  • Gas Tax increase

  • Social Security Reform becomes Law

  • Gramm-Rudman Bill

  • Tax Code Revision

  • Water Quality Control Act

  • Soviet and US sign treaty

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    George H. W. Bush

    Milton, MA
    Attended Yale University
    Served as a lieutenant and was a bomb pilot in WWII
    Was a vice president under Ronald Reagan, and had an oil business.
    His son was the 43rd president of the U.S
    Stayed in public life and became a public speaker and founded his own library and museum, once his term ended.

  • New Anti-Drug Law

  • New Taxes Proposed

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

  • Supplemental Appropriation Act

  • 1991 Civil Rights Act

  • Period: to

    Bill Clinton

    Hope, AR.
    Attended Georgetown University, then transferred to University of Oxford
    No military background
    Was a Governor of Arkansas
    His half-brother is an actor and musician.
    Remained in public life and became a public speaker, the Clinton foundation and took many diplomatic missions, after his term ended.

  • Family Medical Leave Act

  • Explosion at World Trade Center

  • Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

  • Brady Act

  • Welfare reconstructed

  • Missile strikes Iraq

  • balanced budget signed

  • Retaliatory attacks on Iraq

  • House votes to impeach Clinton

  • Clinton acquited

  • Period: to

    George W. Bush

    New Haven, CT
    Attended Yale University
    Served the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1973. Was a Governor of Texas and apart of a group who purchased the Texas Rangers baseball team.
    His father was the 41st president of the U.S.

    Stayed in public life as a public speaker and was apart of humanitarian work, after his term.

  • Bush bans aborttion aid

  • Attacking Iraq

  • Trillion dollar tax cut

  • 9/11 Attack

  • Bush delivered State of the Union

  • Further tax cuts

  • Bush signs 3rd largest tax cut

  • Senate passes energy bill

  • Bush vetoes stem cell research

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    Barack Obama

    Honolulu, HI
    Attended Columbia University.
    No military background.
    Was a U.S. Senator and an Illinois State Senator.
    His father was a Kenyan economist and government official. Stayed in public life as a public speaker, he and his wife made a foundation called the Obama Foundation, after his term ended.

  • Closing Guantanamo Bay

  • Haiti aid

  • School grants

  • Budget funding for nasa

  • Budget Control Act

  • American Jobs Act

  • Against insider trading

  • Agriculture Act of 2014

  • Clean power plan

  • Deal with Iran

  • Period: to

    Donald Trump

    New York, NY
    Attended Fordham University then to University of Pennsylvania
    No military background
    Was a television actor and a real estate developer
    No notable family members
    He remained in republican politics after term ended.

  • Travel Ban

  • Tax cuts and job acts

  • trump impeached

  • Economic shutdown and relief efforts

  • Pandemic campaign rally