American presidents hold the most powerful office on earth and occupy a unique place at the center of national and world events. At once chief executive, head of state, commander-in-chief, and leader of a political party, the President of the United States is also a prominent cultural figure, and a bellwether of the society he governs.
In this award-winning collection, explore documentaries, biographies, interviews, articles, image galleries and more for an in-depth look at the history of the American presidency.
One of the greatest dramas in American politics, President Jimmy Carter was overwhelmingly voted out of office in a humiliating defeat in 1980, only to become one of the most admired statesmen and humanitarians in America and the world.
What happens when the president is unable to serve? Explore the dramatic period between 1963 and 1976, when a grief-stricken, then scandal-stricken America was forced to define the role of the vice president and the process of succession.
A passionate ideologue who preached a simple gospel of lower taxes, less government, and anti-communism, Ronald Reagan left the White House one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century — and one of the most controversial.
LBJ exploited his mastery of the legislative process to shepherd a collection of progressive programs through Congress with astounding success, but his visions of a Great Society were swallowed up in the quagmire of Vietnam.
The latest in our award-winning series of presidential biographies, this film looks at the life and presidency of George W. Bush, from his unorthodox road to the presidency to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the myriad of challenges he faced over his two terms, from the war in Iraq to the 2008 financial crisis.
A president who rose from a broken childhood to become one of the most successful politicians in modern American history and one of the most complex and conflicted characters to ever stride across the public stage.
The life and career of our 41st president, from his service in World War II to the Oval Office, and his role as the patriarch of a political family whose influence is unequaled in modern American life.
One of the greatest dramas in American politics, President Jimmy Carter was overwhelmingly voted out of office in a humiliating defeat in 1980, only to become one of the most admired statesmen and humanitarians in America and the world.
The enigmatic nature of the Nixon presidency combined comparatively progressive legislative initiatives with a flagrant abuse of presidential power and the public trust.
Forever enshrined in myth by an assassin's bullet, Kennedy's presidency long defied objective appraisal. Part of the award-winning Presidents collection.
An unknown politician from Missouri who suddenly found himself president, Harry Truman was the least prepared of all the men who had held the highest office, but he would prove to be a surprise — the unlikely rise of a gritty American original.
Engendering both admiration and scorn, FDR exerted unflinching leadership during the most tumultuous period in U.S. history since the Civil War and was the most vital figure in the nation during his 13 years in the White House.
President Woodrow Wilson led America during World War I, created the Federal Reserve, and helped create the League of Nations. Part of the award-winning collection The Presidents.
Author, soldier, scientist, outdoorsman and caring father, he was the youngest man to become president. Part of the award-winning Presidents collection.
From energy crisis to recession and the financial crisis in 2008, how have our presidents handled the economy, Watch these clips from American Experience's Presidents Collection.
The U.S. President has not always had a protective detail. Only after the murder of President McKinley in 1901 did Congress assign the task of presidental protection to the Secret Service.
Who's the Boss? Americans Impacting the Oval Office
A combative and outspoken leader in the women's suffrage movement, Alice Paul broke away from the National American Woman Suffrage Association to form the more radical National Woman's Party.
A descendant of John Ball, the medieval English preacher who led the first popular rebellion in England, George Washington led his own fight for independence in America.
James Madison, the fourth president, the "Father of the Constitution," co-authored The Federalist Papers, helped to establish a system of checks and balances for the federal government.
Andrew Jackson embodied the ideal of the self-made American man, and his populist appeal lay in his message of inclusion against what he characterized as entrenched establishment interests.
William Harrison, a frontier army general whose fame (and nickname) was assured at the battle of Tippecanoe, spent only 32 days in office before dying.
For much of his life, Grant failed at every occupation he tried. But his remarkable talents as a soldier and leader saved his country from falling apart.
When he was nominated by the Republican Party for president in 1876, Hayes' resume included service as a Civil War officer, a congressman and a governor of Ohio.
Chester Arthur's sense of fairness affected his concept of foreign relations. He tried to lower tariffs in general and negotiated trade agreements with partners in the Western Hemisphere.
Elected after the closing of the American frontier to the west, McKinley found new ways to expand in the Pacific and Caribbean following the Spanish American War.
Calvin Coolidge's 1923 State of the Union address to Congress was the first ever to be broadcast via radio. He would continue to use the medium effectively, giving at least one radio address per month.
Gerald Ford, who had never entered a national election, succeeded to both the vice presidency and the presidency without having received a single vote.
Read about the life of 41st President of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush, a man born to both economic and political privilege, and tutored in modesty.
