U.S. Presidents

The Emancipation Proclamation refocuses the purpose of the Civil War to address the issue of slavery.

Today he is known as one of the greatest American presidents, but at the time of his election no one would have predicted Lincoln's success.

John F. Kennedy's progressive agenda during the 1960s inspired a new generation of optimism in America.

After President McKinley was shot, Teddy Roosevelt became president and the first to have round the clock protection by the Secret Service. But why did it take Congress 25 presidencies and three assassinations to make that happen?

"Read my lips no new taxes" was the 1988 campaign promise by George Bush that helped boost his popularity with the conservative wing.

A leader’s ability to communicate can mean the difference between the status quo and greatness. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin looks at how Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan lead a nation with their words.

Discover how President Grover Cleveland's work in helping reform the McKinley tariff helped him win reelection.

General Ulysses S. Grant parlayed his celebrity after the Civil War into a successful bid for the presidency.

Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president on Air Force One the day after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Here's what came next.

George Washington wasn't just the first president of the U.S. - he also loved dogs, and even created a new dog breed!

Thomas Jefferson marries Martha Wales Skelton in 1772 and builds a family at Monticello.

From Franklin Roosevelt to Abraham Lincoln, America’s most iconic presidents knew that getting away from the White House could help them become better leaders. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin explores the key to this presidential leadership trait.

At 33, Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft of America's historic Declaration of Independence.

A young George Washington hungers for fame and prestige as an officer in the British military.

FDR holds his first ever fireside chat as president of the United States.

Despite thinking he had more to accomplish, Teddy Roosevelt was determined to keep his promise not to run for reelection.

Spiro who? In 1968, Nixon chose the governor of Maryland as his Vice President running mate.

Warren Harding's presidency was rocked by scandal, including one that didn't come to light until after he left office.

Ben Stein explains the history and current state of the president's group of closest advisors, the Cabinet.

Learn about the events surrounding the historical election of 2008: how Barack Obama became the Democratic presidential contender against Hillary Clinton and how he ultimately beat John McCain to become the first black president in U.S. history.

Theodore Roosevelt believed America's greatest evil was too much power in the hands of corporate America.

Explore the role of Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.

Lara Spencer discusses the political figures who come out of nowhere to take America by storm.

Discover how President Jackson went head-to-head with Henry Clay in the Bank War, the central controversy of Jackson's administration.

Thomas Jefferson cultivates a plan to buy the Port of New Orleans, but got much more than he bargained for.

The top secret "nuclear football" accompanies the president at all times.

After President Warren Harding's death, Calvin Coolidge was left to deal with the fallout of his predecessor's corrupt legacy.

When the United States joins the war against Nazi Germany and Japan, Kennedy volunteers for the Navy and is deployed to the Pacific.

This video clip from "History Uncut" provides a glimpse into the capture of famed dictator Saddam Hussein. Former Iraq President Saddam Hussein had been in hiding for almost a year until U.S. forces captured him outside the city of Tikrit in a military operation known as Operation Red Dawn.

Ben Stein explains where campaign slogans originated and why they're more popular today than ever before.

Ice Cream first aired on Saturday, September 12, 1964, days after the broadcast of the controversial Peace Little Girl/Daisy ad. It was part of a series of LBJ's spots against Barry Goldwater.

Grant's presidency was marred by political scandal, clashes with Native Americans and continued violence throughout the South.

John F. Kennedy's accused slayer, Harvey Lee Oswald, is shot and killed while being escorted by officers.

President Theodore Roosevelt narrowly survives an assassination attempt minutes before a scheduled campaign speech.

Dan Quayle daringly compares his experience to that of Jack Kennedy's thus sparking the response by his opponent "you're no Jack Kennedy."

Another classic spot in the history of campaign ads. Russia is calling. In the midst of the Cold War, who would you rather pick up the phone? By the vanguard Madison Avenue ad agency, Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB).

Trace Theodore Roosevelt's legacy of reforming deplorable labor conditions and preserving the American landscape.

Just after 9/11, President George W. Bush sent a message of perseverance to all Americans, with a perfect pitch

One of Nixons lasting legacies was his trip to China to normalize relations between the two countries which had been cut off for 20 years. No American president had ever visited China. Nixons tip signaled a major change -- for both America and Chinas policies. And for Republicans, a huge reason to re-elect their candidate.

Learn about President Ronald Reagan's economic policies, which are known as Reaganomics, and why its trickle-down theory construct — giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations — is a controversial idea even to this day. "

Learn how Florida ended up determining whether Al Gore or George W. Bush would win the U.S. presidency in 2000. See how a vote recount in the state led to the U.S. Supreme Court giving the election to Bush and subsequently changed voting standards.

Electronic communication devices like BlackBerrys and smartphones present unique security challenges when used by the president and high-level staff.

David Eisenbach explains the origin of the donkey as a symbol of the Democratic party.

George McGovern makes a play for the quintessential undecided voter. Though a clever spot, it would not help McGovern much in the real polls. He had already been branded too liberal advocating withdrawal from Vietnam, amnesty for draft evaders, and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Nixon won in a landslide.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin looks at how Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt grew as presidents from listening to people with views different than their own.

A video tribute to George Herbert Walker Bush (June 12, 1924 - November 30, 2018).

Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States, but he was the first in many other ways.

Did a young George Washington really chop down his father’s cherry tree? Get the answers.

David Eisenbach explains how the Republican party and the symbol of the elephant came together.

Herbert Hoover, America’s 31st president, took office in 1929, the same year the U.S. economy plummeted into the Great Depression.

How did George Washington turn a rag-tag group of men into a disciplined fighting machine?

Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter was a Washington outsider, a position he stressed during his campaign.

Ebro Darden describes how it's not the popular vote but rather the Electoral College that officially elects the president.

Which of President Lincoln's many eloquent speeches was the most important?

The terms Battle of The Petticoats, the spoils system and Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet all spawned from Andrew Jackson's presidency.

Follow these presidential lessons in love to win a second term with your Valentine.

Kevin O’Leary of "Shark Tank" explains the evolution of money in politics.

Find out more about Jimmy Carter's life after leaving the Oval Office, including his Nobel Peace Prize win.

If Democrats could use children to remind the public how dangerous the world can be, so can Republicans. In this ad for his defense, Goldwater implies that LBJ is soft on Communism, and only he could protect America.

Theodore Roosevelt believed in a vigorous lifestyle. During his presidency, he even participated in a boxing match that left him blind in one eye.

John F. Kennedy is remembered in part for his youth and good looks, but did you know that during the 1960 presidential campaign JFK was seriously ill and needed testosterone treatments?

Lyndon Johnson beats Barry Goldwater for the presidential election in 1964.

The State of the Union is an undisputed presidential tradition, but that wasn't always the case. One founding father made sure of that.

Ulysses Grant took an unconventional path to the White House, rising from a leather goods salesman to a heroic general in a matter of months.

Watch the events unfold as President James Garfield's involvement in civil service reforms leads to his assassination.

In the 1984 presidential debates President Ronald Reagan relied on wit and poise to win a second term in office.

Despite what many considered a bland administration, Millard Fillmore managed to turn his predecessor's legacy around.

Learn more about the 37th U.S. president, Calvin Coolidge, and why he had the nickname "Silent Cal."

Similar to Convention, Nixon points out Americas major frustrations and links them to breakdowns in the Democratic leadership.

At just 5'4", James Madison was hardly a commanding presence, but that didn't stop him from shaping American history.

George W. Bush's controversial election to the U.S. presidency was further complicated by 9/11 and the Iraq War. Take a look at his roots in Texas politics and time in the White House in this video.

Trace the evolution of America's fighting men and women over the 250-year history of the nation.

Host David Eisenbach explains the history and purpose of the Electoral College and why it is so important to America's democratic process.

The Iowa Caucus is the earliest indication of how America's voters will choose their primary candidates, but why does Iowa get to go first?

The ability to identify with other points of view can be a breakthrough leadership trait for a president. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin highlights how empathy impacted President Johnson’s role in shaping the Civil Rights Act and the Great Society.

Kevin O'Leary describes America's succession plan in the event that something should happen to the president.

How does the Electoral College really work? Ask HISTORY gets the answers.

During WWII, sheep were herded onto the White House lawn to keep the lawn cut.

With talk about this election supposedly being rigged, what happens if a candidate contests? Historian David Eisenbach looks at what a contested election is and shares examples from the 1800s to 2000.

President Teddy Roosevelt, a die-hard football fan, saved the sport from collapse and helped reshape the rules to create the game we know today.

In 1933, Italian immigrant Giuseppe Zangara attempted to assassinate President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Up until Eisenhower, presidential candidates used tv for 30-minute speeches only. The idea for the celebrated WWII generals spots came from Madison Avenue ad exec Rossier Reeves, who had created M&Ms Melts in your mouth, not in your hands campaign. Reeves convinced Eisenhower that short spots placed before or after popular tv shows, such as I Love Lucy, would reach more viewers.

Host David Eisenbach explains the history of the long election process a candidate must go through to become President of the United States.

How two crises earned Franklin D. Roosevelt a legacy as one of the greatest U.S. multi-term presidents.

Grover Cleveland was the first U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Find out about his first years in office.

Kennedy navigates his formative years, including his time in school, relationship with his family and early interests in history.

Find out how President John Tyler proved wrong his critics who called him weak.

Find out how Franklin D. Roosevelt responded to being called a communist by his detractors during his 1936 presidential campaign.

During the 1944 presidential campaign, the Democratic Party, knowing that the health of Franklin Delano Roosevelt was fading, chose Harry Truman as their candidate for Vice President.

As a young man in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson pursues an education based on the ideals of the Enlightenment.

Explore the highs and lows of ninth U.S. President William Henry Harrison's administration.

Presidential debates are the final spectacle on a long campaign trail. Jon Favreau explains that they're a far more recent creation than many imagine.

FDR hopes to get an inside track to Washington to one day become president of the United States.

President Kennedy is forced to improvise a stump speech in Tennessee, after discovering that his speech didn't make the trip.

Morning in America was one of the greatest political ad campaigns because it promised a prouder, stronger, better America.

Twenty-three days before his assassination, JFK signed his final bill: the Community Mental Health Act, funding local mental health care.

Former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, has passed away at the age of 100. Carter was the longest living president in U.S. history.

See how the relationship between John Adams and Abigail Smith began. They wrote passionate letters to each other and talked for hours, but John's work made it hard for them to set a wedding date.

Thomas Jefferson spends years designing and building Monticello, his retreat from the demands and derision of politics.

Staff members tell the inside story of the eating habits of presidential hopefuls while campaigning.