What is the President of the United States

posted in: First Lady, Presidents | 0

On Friday, we will inaugurate a new President of the United States.

Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Friday as our new President
Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Friday as our new President

The President of the United States is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces and leads the executive branch of the federal government.

The President of the United States is elected to a four year term and able to be re-elected one time.

The President is considered one fo the world’s most powerful political figures. The President meets with Prime Ministers, Kings or Queens, and numerous other heads of state around the world.

The President directed the foreign and domestic policy of the United States, works on treaties with foreign powers, grants federal pardons, works with Congress on law making policy, and commands the military.

In 1789, General George Washington became the first President of the United States. He was the only President to unanimously be voted into the office.

The office of President of the United States wields consider greater power than when George Washington took office. However, President Washington laid the precedence for many of the traditions we still hold today.

George Washington was the first President of the United States
George Washington was the first President of the United States

On Friday, we will inaugurate the 45th President of the United States. However, he will only be the 44th individual to hold this office. That is because Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms in office and is counted as the 22nd and 24th President.

The Electoral College indirectly elects the President of the United States.

During President Washington’s term a decision was made to build a home for the President of the United States.  President John Adams was the first President to move into the home that was named the White House.  The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC and is probably the most famous address in the country.  The structure expanded during the terms of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft to provide more office space and room.

 Each family that lives in the White House provides their own style in decorating while they live in the house.  The White House has seen several renovations over the centuries.  The house was gutted and rebuilt while President Truman was in office.  Of course, the most famous White House tour is the Nationally Televised tour Jackie Kennedy provided in the early 1960s.

The White House
The White House

The longest serving President was Franklin Deleano Roosevelt who served as President for four terms and twelve years {he died in the early part of his fourth term}.

In 1951, the 22nd Amendment was passed with prohibits anyone from being elected to a third term.

Of the 44 men that have held the office of President of the United States, only one was never married. That was James Buchanan.

All of the Presidents wives have served as First Lady. This is also a role whose duties have grown over the decades. Some Presidents such as Andrew Jackson, were widowed while in office. In those instances nieces, cousins, daughters and granddaughters usually served in the role of First Lady.

Many Americans have their favorite and least favorite Presidents and First Ladies. However, how much do we really know about these men and women that have led our country. This is even more true for the Presidents and First Lady that served in earlier decades and centuries.

Today the First Lady is involved with political campaigns, managing the White House, establishing her own platform of social causes, representing the President at various events and even setting fashion statements. The First Ladies of today hold a position completely different than that of Lady Washington held back in 1789.

Dolley Madison was referred to as First Lady at her funeral
Dolley Madison was referred to as First Lady at her funeral

The term First Lady did not begin to circulate around Washington, D.C. until after 1849. However, there is a 1838 newspaper article that refers to Martha Washington as the First Lady. Reports say Dolley Madison was referred to as First Lady at her funeral in 1849, although no documentation remains to prove this claim. The title began to gain nationwide recognition from a journalist in 1877 and by the 1930s was in wide use across the United States.

We will begin a new series on Monday’s delving into the lives and Presidency of the men who have held the office of President of the United States. Then following that, we will look at the First Lady {or Ladies} for that President later in the week.

I hope you will join me for this exciting and interesting look thru history.

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