The presidency of the United States is one of the most powerful and influential positions in the world. As the head of the executive branch, the president is responsible for enforcing laws, commanding the military, shaping foreign policy, and leading the nation.
The office has evolved significantly since its establishment in 1789, with various traditions, amendments, and historical events shaping its role.
From constitutional requirements to unexpected successions and significant moments in history, the presidency is filled with fascinating facts that highlight its importance and complexity.
Here are ten intriguing facts about the U.S. presidency that provide insight into the office and its legacy.
The Presidency Facts
1. The President Must Be a Natural-Born Citizen.
The U.S. Constitution states that only a “natural-born citizen” can serve as president. This means that anyone born on U.S. soil or born to U.S. citizen parents abroad is eligible.
This rule was included to prevent foreign influence on the highest office in the land. The Constitution also requires a president to be at least 35 years old and a resident of the United States for at least 14 years before taking office.
2. George Washington Set the Two-Term Tradition.
Although the Constitution originally placed no limit on the number of terms a president could serve, George Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms, setting an informal precedent.
Most presidents followed this tradition until Franklin D. Roosevelt broke it by winning four elections. In response, Congress passed the 22nd Amendment in 1951, officially limiting presidents to two terms or a maximum of ten years if they had served part of a predecessor’s term.
3. The Vice President Becomes President Upon a Vacancy.
If the president dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the vice president automatically assumes the presidency. This process is outlined in the Constitution and clarified in the 25th Amendment, which also allows for the temporary transfer of power if the president is incapacitated.
This has happened nine times in U.S. history, with the most famous instances being Lyndon B. Johnson taking over after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and Gerald Ford replacing Richard Nixon after his resignation.
4. Four Presidents Have Been Assassinated.
Four U.S. presidents have been assassinated while in office:
- Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in 1865, just days after the Civil War ended.
- James A. Garfield was shot in 1881 by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled office seeker, and died after months of suffering.
- William McKinley was killed in 1901 by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist who opposed the government.
- John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas by Lee Harvey Oswald.
These assassinations led to increased security measures, including the creation of the Secret Service’s presidential protection division.
5. The Youngest and Oldest Presidents.
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest person to ever become president, taking office at the age of 42 after William McKinley was assassinated. However, John F. Kennedy remains the youngest person ever elected to the presidency at age 43.
On the other hand, Joe Biden holds the record for the oldest elected president, assuming office at 78 years old in 2021. Before him, Ronald Reagan had been the oldest at 73 when he won re-election in 1984.
6. The Only President to Resign.
Richard Nixon remains the only U.S. president to resign from office. Facing almost certain impeachment over the Watergate scandal, he stepped down on August 8, 1974, rather than go through a congressional trial.
His resignation speech emphasized his belief that the country needed stability and that his departure was in the nation’s best interest. Vice President Gerald Ford was sworn in as president the next day and later pardoned Nixon, a controversial decision that many believe cost Ford the 1976 election.
7. Grover Cleveland Served Two Non-Consecutive Terms.
Grover Cleveland is the only president in U.S. history to serve two non-consecutive terms, making him both the 22nd and 24th president(That was until Trump’s reelection in 2025). He first won in 1884 but lost his reelection bid in 1888 to Benjamin Harrison despite winning the popular vote.
In a rare political comeback, Cleveland ran again in 1892 and defeated Harrison, reclaiming the presidency. Because of this unique situation, he is the only president counted twice in the numbering of presidents.
8. The Electoral College Decides the Winner.
The U.S. president is not chosen directly by the people but through the Electoral College. Each state is assigned a number of electoral votes based on its representation in Congress, meaning more populous states have greater influence.
A candidate needs at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes to win. It is possible for a candidate to win the presidency while losing the popular vote, as happened in the elections of 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016. This system continues to be a topic of debate regarding its fairness and effectiveness.
9. Presidential Oath Is Mandated by the Constitution.
The only oath explicitly required by the Constitution is the presidential oath of office. Every president must recite the oath before assuming office, as outlined in Article II, Section 1.
The oath reads:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Although the phrase “So help me God” is commonly added at the end, it is not part of the official oath but has been used by many presidents, starting with George Washington.
10. Several Presidents Have Never Been Elected as President.
A handful of presidents have taken office without ever being elected as president.
Most of them were vice presidents who assumed office upon the death of their predecessor, such as John Tyler after William Henry Harrison, Millard Fillmore after Zachary Taylor, Andrew Johnson after Abraham Lincoln, and Chester A. Arthur after James Garfield. Gerald Ford is unique because he was never elected as vice president or president.
He was appointed vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned and then became president when Richard Nixon resigned, making him the only person to hold the presidency without winning a national election.