U.S. Presidents

The youngest president ever elected, Kennedy faces the height of the Cold War and a national civil rights crisis.

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

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

After nuclear weapons are placed 90 miles from the Florida coast in Cuba, Kennedy faces his ultimate trial, the most dangerous moment in human history.

Kennedy embarks on an unprecedented 5-year campaign for the presidency, revolutionizing modern campaigning and the use of television.

Learn about the enigmatic bond between JFK and Jackie and their journey from courtship to marriage in this video from "Kennedy."

Kennedy pursues diplomacy with the Soviets and decides to address civil rights in a way no president has before.

The final months of John F. Kennedy's life and the legacy he left behind.

Electronic communications devices like smart phones present unique security challenges when used by the president and his high-level staff.

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

From the early settlers and the Revolutionary War against Britain, soldiers have played a key role in the seminal events that have shaped America.

J.P. Morgan's attempt to play by his own rules doesn't go over too well with Roosevelt. Later on, Roosevelt must also deal with a major coal strike.

Teddy Roosevelt takes on the most powerful and influential people to put a stop to corruption.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer and on the brink on financial ruin, Grant races to finish his memoirs to provide for his family.

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

FDR lends military supplies to aid the United Kingdom in WWII.

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.

FDR hopes to get an inside track to Washington to one day become president of the United States. See more in this scene from Season 1, Episode 1, "Nothing to Fear."

Thomas Jefferson cultivates a plan to buy the Port of New Orleans, but got much more than he bargained for in this clip from Season 1, "Building the Economy."

In early drafts, Lincoln’s famous Emancipation Proclamation considered sending formally enslaved people to African colonies. But a letter from Frederick Douglass changed the President's mind.

During the debates between Lincoln and Douglas, Lincoln combines the nation's moral compass with the constitution, sparking a major turning point, in this clip from Season 1, "The Railsplitter."

When the lame duck period was much longer than it is today, two U.S. presidents let their personal animosity drag the country further into crisis.

FDR's nomination as president in 1932 was far from a sure thing, the result of political maneuvers and backroom deals.

Two former friends became fierce rivals, and it all played out on one of the biggest stages in politics.

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.

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

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

After Abraham Lincoln's death, President Andrew Johnson did everything he could to undermine the legacy of his predecessor.

William McKinley's assassination rocked the entire country, but not his successor, Theodore Roosevelt. He made it very clear from the start that the presidency was now his.

“Washington” will premiere over Presidents’ Day weekend airing consecutively on Sunday, 2/16, Monday, 2/17 and Tuesday, 2/18 at 9/8x. George Washington retired as General of the Continental Army in 1783. Upon his retirement he wrote a letter called the “Circular to the States” in which he shared his vision of how America and its citizens could succeed or fail in the years to come.

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

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

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

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.

The U.S. president represents many things to Americans and people across the globe.

What is it like to be the president of the United States? Find out what it's like to occupy the most important seat in the free world.

Historians chime in on traits our most successful presidents have had in common.

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

Friedrich and Elisabeth Trump came to New York City as immigrants from Germany in 1902. The Trumps' early days in America were not unlike their counterparts, struggling to find footing in a new and unfamiliar country. However, the elder Trumps planted the seeds that would grow the family into a household name.

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?

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.

Learning from difficult moments lies at the core of great leaders. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin explores how resilience and the ability to persevere became essential leadership traits for Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt.

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes knowing what not to say is as important as what a president says. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin pinpoints moments in history when presidents bit their tongue – and were better for it.

Richard Nixon accepted the Republican Party's nomination for president (for the second time) on August 8, 1968, in Miami, Florida. Nixon narrowly beat out fellow Republican and then-California Governor Ronald Reagan, delivering a speech that reflected his desire to "bring us together again" and reunite the country in divisive times.

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.

In 2010 President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, (aka Obamacare), into law to give more Americans access to healthcare, but elements like the individual mandate have caused controversy. Republicans have tried to repeal the law numerous times.

Shortly before his assassination, President Kennedy visited Cape Canaveral to inspect NASA's efforts to put a man on the moon – a goal Kennedy set in his first year in office.

Learn what inspired President Taft to implement Dollar Diplomacy — getting Americans to invest money in other countries to maintain global influence — from 1909 to 1913. See how this policy failed in China, as well as in Central America and Mexico.

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.

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 the Truman Doctrine marked the beginning of the Cold War, how it shaped America's attitude towards communism and how it shifted its foreign policy on interventionism with its involvement in the Mediterranean after World War II.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin describes how past presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan, mastered the technology of their times to bring their message to the masses.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin describes why taking some well-earned time off might just be the best thing a president—or anyone—can do to be better at their job.

Jacqui Rossi explains the details of President Woodrow Wilson's 1918 plan to end World War I by assessing both the causes of war and solutions for peace.

Signed by President Harry Truman on July 26, 1948, Executive Order 9981 abolished racial discrimination in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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

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

Take a look back at examples of foreign entities interfering with U.S. elections throughout history.

Watch as Abraham Lincoln interacts with various New Yorkers.

Over the course of his life, Thomas Jefferson developed a list of ideas for those wishing to be on their best personal behavior. A Dozen Canons of Conduct in Life, is a list he sent to his granddaughter, Cornelia Jefferson Randolph.

When George Washington was young, he copied down 101 rules of social behavior that would later become a book of his titled Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.

Watch as Abraham Lincoln recites his famed Gettysburg Address while touring New York City.

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

When it came to words of affection, these presidents didn't need the aid of speechwriters.

America knew them as POTUS and FLOTUS, but here are the names they gave each other in private.

Take a look back at the origins of and history behind the customary salute to the American flag.

Voting on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November seems arbitrary, but there is actually a logical reason for it. Franchesca Ramsey takes a close look at how farming influenced Election Day.

A new president has been elected! What happens next? Franchesca Ramsey explores the big day for the change in presidency, from the Oath of Office to moving into the White House.

Get a quick rundown of some things you might not know about the history of U.S. presidential elections.

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.

While this year’s election may seem like the nastiest campaign in political history, historian David Eisenbach looks back at our nation's other political mudslinging matchups.

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

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

Today, every President is restricted to serving two full terms in office. But that wasn't always the case. Historian David Eisenbach explains why.

The vice presidency is more than just a stepping stone to the presidency. Ebro Darden of Hot97 explains what really goes into being the nation's second-in-command.

With all the talk about experience, you might be surprised to learn there are actually only a few qualifications to become President. Ebro Darden explains.

Lara Spencer breaks down how presidential politics can sometimes feel like a family reunion.

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

Red and blue are closely associated with the top two parties in the United States, but it's only been that way for a little more than a decade. George Stephanopoulos discusses where the colors came from.

Democrats and Republicans dominate the headlines, but there are dozens of third parties active in the United States. David Eisenbach explains how we became a two-party system.

Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for President Obama, sheds light on the formula for crafting a perfect stump speech.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

White House photographer Pete Souza's vivid images document President Barack Obama's historic two terms in office.

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.

Mini-biography on the life of Harry S. Truman.

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

Did JFK actually say he was a jelly doughnut? Find out the real translation of “Ich bin ein Berliner.”

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

Find out why Nixon described himself as an introvert in an extrovert's job, and how his personality type may have affected his presidency.

LBJ spent time after college teaching impoverished Mexican-American immigrants on the border of Texas and Mexico, an experience that shaped his personality and presidential ambitions.

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

Find out what happened when poor health sidelined Woodrow Wilson for several years of his presidency.

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

In 1884, speculation swirled around Grover Cleveland, and the idea that he may have fathered a child out of wedlock.

Andrew Johnson's deal for the purchase of Alaska was initially mocked, but has since proven to be a monumental bargain for the nation.

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

The Oval Office has been filled with extraordinary presidents, but did you know about these not-so-famous firsts?

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?

Historian David Eisenbach uncovers some little-known, eye-opening details about the life of John F. Kennedy.

John F. Kennedy utilizes television to his advantage by presenting dynamic attention grabbing advertisements.

At 33, Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft of America's historic Declaration of Independence, which was approved by the Continental Congress after several days of debate and revisions on July 4, 1776.

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

Excerpts from Harry Truman's inaugural address on Thursday, January 30, 1940.

Explore the presidency of William McKinley, from his modernization of political news distribution to his war policy and assassination.

In this ad, McGoverns defense cuts are criticized, questioning the candidates priorities for national security.

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

Lyndon Johnson's presidency is remembered in part for his handling of the Vietnam War, but he also advanced civil rights and equality throughout the nation.

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

Andrew Jackson called himself a Jeffersonian Democrat, while Thomas Jefferson called Jackson a dangerous man. Find out more about this "hero of the common man."

President Lyndon B. Johnson confidently gives his resignation speech as he steps down from the office of the presidency on March 31st of 1968.

In 1988, Michael Dukakis' campaign was destroyed by an ad the Bush campaign ran using footage of Dukakis having fun driving a tank.

Uncover the Bay of Tonkin Incident on the shores of North Vietnam. U.S. warships retaliated against attacks from the Vietnamese by sinking two of their ships.

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

Why did so many people think Warren G. Harding wasn't fit to be president?

Theodore Roosevelt believed America's greatest evil was too much power in the hands of corporate America. Find out what happened when he took on J.P. Morgan, the nation's most powerful financier.

Host David Eisenbach reveals the process where one president transfers their duties of office to the next president.

At the end of a long press conference, then President Dwight Eisenhower was asked about his Vice President, Richard Nixon. He hesitated and replied that he couldnt remember Nixons contributions

Franklin D. Roosevelt's capable handling of two major crises, the depression and WWII, earned him a legacy as one of the greatest U.S. multi-term presidents.

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

People around the world mourn the death of the thirty-fifth president of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

During the Democratic Convention of 1964, Robert Kennedy addressed a supportive and vocal crowd.

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

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

Examine the military career and political beliefs of the 12th U.S. President Zachary Taylor, and explore his surprising role in the expansion of slavery.

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

Host David Eisenbach describes the historic significance of the process by which a newly elected candidate assumes the role of President of the United States of America.

An excerpt from Barack H. Obama's inaugural address on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Despite thinking he had more to accomplish, Teddy Roosevelt was determined to keep his promise not to run for reelection. Instead, he joined the Bull Moose party to protect his policies in preparation for his departure.

The terms Battle of The Petticoats, the spoils system and Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet all spawned from Andrew Jackson's presidency. Discover what they mean, and the scandal that surrounded them.

President Gerald Ford escapes assassination just 17 days after a previous attempt was made on his life.

Explore the highs and lows of ninth U.S. President William Henry Harrison's administration, from his lengthy inaugural address to his death in office.

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

Ted Sorensen, JFK's 1960 Campaign speechwriter, tells the story of a congratulatory misunderstanding on the campaign trail.

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

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

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

Excerpts from Ronald Reagon's inaugural address on Tuesday, January 20, 1981.

In the wake of the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt focused on America's global responsibility, but some felt his foreign policies incorporated intimidation tactics.

For his second run for the presidency, Nixon hired filmmaker Eugene Jones to produce ads that captured the turbulence and unrest in the nation at the time. Convention was one in a series -- mimicking the uneasy mood and tension in the US, suggesting that Nixon was the only man to bring the country together again.

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.

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

Follow the presidency of James Monroe, from the birth of the Monroe Doctrine to the controversy that marred his terms in office.

Abraham Lincoln was plagued by bouts of melancholy and depression throughout his life.

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

The American people stood glued to their radios as Franklin D. Roosevelt conducted his first Fireside Chat, in which he discouraged hoarding and inspired renewed faith in banks.

On August 8, 1974, Richard M. Nixon addressed the American people to announce his resignation.

Excerpts from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address on Friday, January 20, 1961.

The Daisy ad, one of the most famous political ads of all time, aired only once, but was replayed on the news and elsewhere throughout LBJs campaign. The ad, which implies that a Goldwater presidency could lead to nuclear war, is believed to have played a major role in Johnsons defeat of his opponent.

Excerpts from Bill Clinton's first inaugural address on Wednesday, January 21, 1993.

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

Excerts from Gerold R. Ford's inaugural address on Friday, August 9, 1974.

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.

The presidential intelligence center was established by President Kennedy during the Cold War and updated in 2007 with top of the line technology.

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

Excerpts from Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural address on Saturday, March 4, 1933.

Lame-duck President James Buchanan ranks near the bottom in presidential popularity polls. Find out how his mishandling of slavery and secession may have hastened the onset of the Civil War.

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.

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

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.

Theodore Roosevelt was William McKinley's vice president until tragedy struck and Roosevelt landed in McKinley's seat.

After some misinterpreted comments by President Eisenhower about Nixon that JFK used in a campaign ad against his opponent (Nixons Experience), Eisenhower fully endorses Nixon. But it was too little, too late. JFK won the election, by a slim margin.

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.

A newsreel film report on the 1953 marriage of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier.

This 1960 campaign spot makes use of JFK's relative youth and a repetitious jingle.

Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the 34th President of the United States at the Capital Building in 1953.

Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president on Air Force One the day after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He became the 36th President of the United States. His unique approach to leadership took some in the White House by surprise.

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.

Discover how President Grover Cleveland's work in helping reform the McKinley tariff helped him win reelection and become the first U.S. President to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Excerts from Richard Nixon's first inaugural address on Monday, January 20, 1969.

Find out why Franklin Pierce is sometimes remembered as one of the worst presidents in American history.

This love song to Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson celebrates his accomplishments while taking a swipe at Eisenhower.

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

During the election of 1960, presidential candidate John F. Kennedy had to overcome public concern that he might be overly influenced by his Catholic faith and the pope.

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

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.

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

In Sacramento California on September 5, 1975, Lynette Fromme attempted to kill President Gerald Ford.

Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed the Tennessee Valley Act as part of his New Deal agenda. See how this legislation was designed to help struggling Tennessee farmers.

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).

Carter reminds his fellow southerners that there had not been a president from the deep South since 1848, in a radio commercial meant to appeal to the deep South. Ultimately Carter won this region, but Ford got more white southern votes.

Discover the family life of Theodore Roosevelt and their home in Oyster Bay, Long Island named Sagamore Hill.

Jefferson soaks up the culture, art and architecture of Paris while on assignment as a trade representative.

Find out why New York Democrat and American President Martin Van Buren was considered the ultimate political machine in American politics.

An unlikely pair whose tumultuous friendship lasted half a century, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, 50 years after signing the Declaration of Independence.

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

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

Why was Chester A. Arthur, a Vermont native, considered a quintessential New Yorker? Find out this and more about the 21st U.S. president.

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

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

What did Americans think of their 23rd president, Benjamin Harrison? Find out how his hands-off approach to handling the Panic of 1893 turned public opinion against him.

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

James Madison is considered to be the "Father of the Constitution," but it was the War of 1812 that ultimately defined his presidency.

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

Despite what many considered a bland administration, the "accidental president" Millard Fillmore managed to turn his predecessor's legacy on its head.

In 1968, Richard Nixon ran on a platform for the presidency that included a "secret plan" to end the war in Vietnam.

Jackie Kennedy epitomized the youth and glamour of the Kennedy family.

Thomas Jefferson is known for penning The Declaration of Independence, but some of his earlier writings establish the pattern of challenging the British monarchy.

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

Why is Andrew Jackson--a staunch opponent of paper money--featured on the $20 bill?

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

Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act as part of his New Deal efforts to rescue flailing Americans from the devastating effects of the Depression.

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

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

Ronald Reagan galvanized the American public through his famous speeches that helped redefine American politics in the 1980s.

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

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

After George Washington took office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, a variety of challenges, he was faced with a variety of tough challenges, both foreign and domestic.

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

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

John F. Kennedy's sets the goal of the United States to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.

President Barack Obama was elected the first African-American president of the United States on November 5, 2008, transcending centuries of inequality in America.

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.

Ulysses S. Grant overcomes a lifetime of failures to lead the Union Army to victory in the Civil War.

One of the most influential founding fathers of the United States, John Adams persuaded Congress to adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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.

Find out about John Adams' political career in the newly formed United States, from his vice presidency under George Washington to his rocky term as America's chief executive.