The United States of America has had some great presidents, and some mediocre presidents. It all depends on who you talk to and what their political affiliation is at the time. But it can be agreed that The Presidents of the United States have shaped the direction of the nation from 1789 when George Washington was president to 2017 when Donald Trump took office.
Here are a few interesting tidbits of knowledge about the office and some of the men than have held the position.
Each of the presidents have taken the Oath of Office (as defined in the US Constitution, Article II, Section 1). The oath is as follows, “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.”
This oath is the close to the oath that all of the Eagle Mountain Mayors and City Council members have taken when they have been sworn into office as well. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Utah, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.” Their oath is taken from the Utah State Constitution Article IV, Section 10. The same oath is also used by the City when members are appointed to serve on the different boards and commissions in Eagle Mountain. The main difference is that the local leaders take an oath to also obey and defend the Constitution of the State of Utah.
Another interesting thing to note is the change in the date the presidents term starts. If you look at the terms of presidency you will notice that from Washington to Roosevelt that the President took office on March 4th. But Truman took office on January 20th, and it has been that way since. On January 23, 1933 the 20th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was adopted. The 20th amendment changed the beginning and ending terms of the president and vice president from March 4th to January 20th. It also changed the terms of members of congress from March 4th to January 3rd. It also specifies that the term starts at noon on those dates.
Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
There is a field in VA that contains 43 20-foot tall giant busts of the U.S. Presidents that are starting to crumble and fall apart. The picture at the top of this article depicts some of them. At one point there was a park called The Presidential Park in VA. That park could not stay open due to lack of visitors. In 2010 the park filed for bankruptcy and the busts were to be destroyed before the 10 acre property was to be auctioned off. But Howard Hankins thought that would be a tragic end to these busts. So he had them moved to a farm, where they are now still standing. “In Croaker, Virginia stands a sight that would make just about anyone stop in their tracks. 43 ghostly effigies of presidents past crowd together in the tall grass. Some of the 18-to-20-foot busts have crumbling noses. Tear-like stains fall from the eyes of others. All have bashed-in heads to some degree. This could be a scene from the world’s most patriotic horror movie, but it’s all too real—and Howard Hankins’ family farm is just the latest stop on the busts’ larger-than-life journey from iconic pieces of art to zombie-like markers of America’s past.” Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/what-43-decaying-president-heads-looks-180958129/#F6jfF8mYZem7EUM2.99
Below is a list of the past and present Presidents of the United States of America.
- George Washington
April 20, 1789 – March 4, 1797
“A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” – George Washington
- John Adams
March 4, 1798 – March 4, 1801
Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people. – John Adams
- Thomas Jefferson
March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809
“that knowledge is power, that knowledge is safety, that knowledge is happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
March 4, 1809 – March 4, 1817
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives” – James Madison
- James Monroe
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825
We must support our rights or lose our character, and with it, perhaps, our liberties. – James Monroe
- John Quincy Adams
March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829
“From the experience of the past we derive instructive lessons for the future.” – John Quincy Adams
- Andrew Jackson
March 4, 1829 – March 4, 1837
“Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.” – Andrew Jackson
- Martin Van Buren
March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1841
- William Henry Harrison
March 4, 1841 – April 4, 1841 (Died in Office)
- John Tyler
April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845
- James K. Polk
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1849
- Zachary Taylor
March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850 (Died in Office)
- Millard Fillmore
July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853
- Franklin Pierce
March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857
- James Buchanan
March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861
- Abraham Lincoln
March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865 (Died in Office)
- Andrew Johnson
April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869
- Ulysses S. Grant
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877
- Rutherford B. Hayes
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881
- James Garfield
March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881 (Died in Office)
- Chester A. Arthur
September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885
- Grover Cleveland
March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1889
- Benjamin Harrison
March 4, 1889 – March 4, 1893
- Grover Cleveland
March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897
- William McKinley
March 4, 1897 – September 14, 1901 (Died in Office)
- Theodore Roosevelt
September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909
- William Howard Taft
March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913
- Woodrow Wilson
March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921
- Warren G. Harding
March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 (Died in Office)
- Calvin Coolidge
August 2, 1923 – March 4, 1929
- Herbert Hoover
March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945 (Died in Office)
- Harry S. Truman
January 29, 1953 – January 20, 1961
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961
- John F. Kennedy
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 (Died in Office)
- Lyndon B. Johnson
November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969
- Richard M. Nixon
January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 (Resigned from Office)
- Gerald R. Ford
August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977
- James Carter
January 29, 1977 – January 20, 1981
- Ronald Reagan
January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989
- George H. W. Bush
January 20, 1989 – January 20, 1993
- William J. Clinton
January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001
- George W. Bush
January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009
- Barack Obama
January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
- Donald J. Trump
January 20, 2017 – Incumbent
The picture I used at the top of the article has an interesting story. In Croaker, VA there are 43 Giant, Crumbling Presidential Heads. There was a park in VA called the Virginia’s Presidents Park. The park is now no longer and the busts were to be destroyed. The busts were moved to a 400 acre farm where they are today. You can find more info about the busts on smithsonian.com.
Other Resources
List of Presidents – History.com
List of Presidents – Wikipedia.org
Presidents – whitehouse.gov
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.