Eleven presidents served less than 4 years. Unsurprisingly, this is mostly a case of the president's death in office and the vice president serving the remainder of the term.
William Henry Harrison (1841) started his career as a military man, mostly fighting Indians along the frontiers of early America. His most famous battle was Tippecanoe, which became part of his campaign slogan: "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too." Prior to the presidency, he had been governor of Indiana, a Senator from Ohio, and a Representative in the House. The first Whig to win the presidency, he gave a 2 hour inaugural address on a cold and wet day. A month later, he died of pneumonia. He was 68, the oldest president to that time.
John Tyler (1841-1845) was a Virginian who had been governor, senator, and representative for his state. He had only been vice president for a month before being elevated to "Acting President." Tyler decisively announced that he was "President" and moved into the White House. Thus, he set the precedent that was not codified until the 25th Amendment in 1967. Not nominated for re-election, Tyler watched the campaign between Polk and Clay. When Polk won, Tyler pushed for Texas Annexation. Of interest, Tyler has a living grandson! Harrison Ruffin Tyler, who is 95 as of this writing.
Zachary Taylor (1849-1850) had spent his career in the military, mostly fighting Indians along the American frontiers. He earned the name "Rough and Ready" during the Second Seminole War. His victories during the Mexican American War (1846-1848) brought him to the attention of the Whig Party. He won the nomination and defeated Lewis Cass and Martin Van Buren in the 1848 election. He died of cholera in July 1850.
Millard Filmore (1850-1853) had been a congressman and New York Comptroller before his election as vice president. He took over after Taylor's death. He swept away Taylor's cabinet, much to their surprise. He sent Commodore Perry to Japan but left office before Perry arrived. He was not popular within his party and was not tapped for the 1852 election; General Winfield Scott was chosen instead. In 1856, he ran for president as a third-party candidate, winning only the state of Maryland.
Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) had been governor of Tennessee, a senator, and a congressman before he became Lincoln's second vice president. Assuming the presidency on Lincoln's death, Johnson was soon at odds with the Radical Republicans. He became the first president to be impeached. In 1868, Johnson sought the Democratic nomination but lost out to Horatio Seymour.
James Garfield (1881) had been a major general during the Civil War and a congressman from Ohio afterwards. He had only been president for 4 months when a disappointed office-seeker shot him twice. He lingered for 2 and a half months before dying.
Chester Arthur (1881-1885) had a variety of appointive political offices in New York prior to become vice president. He had been fired by President Hayes, who planned to reform the patronage system. Interestingly, Arthur embraced civil service reform as president. Though he considered running for re-election, his poor health and diffident party argued against it. He congratulated the Republican nominee, James G. Blaine, who would lose to Grover Cleveland in 1884.
Warren Harding (1921-1923) was a newspaper man who turned to politics. Elected in 1920 to return the country to 'Normalcy' after the war, he cut taxes, called for disarmament, limited immigration, and pushed anti-lynching legislation. Soon after his death in July 1923, a variety of scandals arose to tarnish the otherwise popular president, most notably Teapot Dome and his adulterous affairs.
John F Kennedy (1961-1963) had been a Navy lieutenant during WWII, a representative in the House, and a Senator before being elected president. Though brief, his presidency was eventful. Cuba figured prominently with both the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. He escalated US involvement in Vietnam. He called for the US to land on the moon, called upon Americans to ask what they could do for their country, cut taxes, and appointed Thurgood Marshall to the US Court of Appeals. Like Harding, adulterous affairs were exposed after his death.
Gerald Ford (1974-1977) is the only man to serve as President who was not elected. He was confirmed by the Senate to replace Spiro Agnew, who had resigned. He then ascended to the presidency upon Nixon's resignation. Ford had been a congressman who served on the Warren Commission to investigate JFK's assassination. The uneasy peace in Vietnam collapsed and Ford was unable to muster support for South Vietnam, resulting in the communist takeover. Ford pardoned Nixon, which he said was to end the tragedy. This did not play well for his re-election.
Joseph Biden (2021-present) is the current president and still has about a year to go in his first term. Prior to being elected president, he had served in the Senate (36 years) and as President Obama's VP (8 years). Biden's has been an eventful presidency both domestically and internationally. Ukraine and Middle East wars, withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years, saber rattling in China, and waves of illegal immigrants across the southern border have been the headlines. His son, Hunter, has been a constant source of scandal. The conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, infrastructure & climate concerns have been the domestic concerns. As it stands, Biden polls quite low. At 81, he is the oldest man to be president.
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