FEMA Camp Administrator
Cathcon
Atlas Star
Posts: 27,284
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« on: September 21, 2013, 11:43:21 AM » |
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« edited: September 21, 2013, 02:05:07 PM by Former Acting Governor Cathcon (F-ME) »
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In the last century, several post-presidential careers have been marked mainly by humanitarian work. Those that maintained high visibility following leaving the office tended to focus on humanitarian efforts. Two of the best examples would be Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter who, despite disastrous presidencies, would manage to redeem themselves in the years following. Bill Clinton with his Clinton Foundation serves as another good example. But what of Presidents that maintained a political career following handing off the reigns of power? We've had a few. The below list concerns those that held office or were nominees following the presidency.
George Washington (Independent-Virginia) President: April 30th, 1789-March 4th, 1797 Senior Officer of the Army: July 13th, 1798-December 14th, 1799
John Quincy Adams (Democratic Republican, National Republican-Massachusetts) President: March 4th, 1825-March 4th, 1829 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from MA's 12th District: March 4th, 1833-March 4th, 1843 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from MA's 8th District: March 4th, 1843-February 23rd, 1848
Martin Van Buren (Democrat-New York) President: March 4th, 1837-Marrch 4th, 1841 Nominee of the Free Soil Party for President: 1848
John Tyler (Whig, Independent Democrat-Virginia) President: April 4th, 1841–March 4th, 1845 Delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress: February 4th, 1861-January 18th, 1862 Representative-Elect to the Confederate House of Representatives: 1861-1862
Millard Fillmore (Whig-New York) President: July 9th, 1850-March 4th, 1853 Nominee of the American Party for President: 1856
Andrew Johnson (Democrat, National Union-Tennessee) President: April 15th, 1865-March 4th, 1869 United States Senator from Tennessee: March 4th, 1875 – July 31st, 1875
Theodore Roosevelt (Republican-New York) President: September 14th, 1901-March 4th, 1909 Nominee of the Progressive Party for President: 1912
William Howard Taft (Republican-Ohio) President: March 4th, 1909-March 4th, 1913 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States: July 11th, 1921-February 3rd, 1930
One thing I'd like to note is that, aside from Washington, the amount of these gentlemen who either succeeded slain Presidents or succeeded popular Presidents. The observation doesn't apply to Theodore Roosevelt necessarily, but is more poignant for John Tyler and Millard Fillmore, both of whom succeeded Whig Presidents and found themselves utterly rejected by their party. Johnson as well faced the same problem succeeding Lincoln. All three of these men would be doomed to less than a term a piece, and that, in theory, could lead them to being hungry for a comeback of sorts. The same could be said for men like Adams, Van Buren, and Taft. Adams' election was never seen as really legitimate, and Van Buren and Taft both saw unsuccessful terms and resistance from members of their own party having succeeded immensely popular populist Presidents. All of these men would likely not have been entirely satisfied with their presidencies and might be looking for their own redemption of sorts.
Thoughts? And does anyone know of any other presidents that had political careers of sorts following leaving office?
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