Our Last Ten Presidents and Their Accomplishments

Born: May 29, 1917, Brookline, Massachusetts. Died: November 22, 1963. Party: Democratic. Age when inaugurated: 43. Term: 1961-1963. In 1962, the U.S. and the Soviet Union hovered on the brink of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy eventually forced the Soviets to back down. He was assassinated in the third year of his term. Famous Fact: Kennedy is the only Roman Catholic to become President.

Born: August 27, 1908, near Stonewall, Texas. Died: January 22, 1973. Party: Democratic. Age when inaugurated: 55. Term: 1963-1969. Johnson passed sweeping antipoverty and civil rights programs. However, he also involved the U.S. in the unpopular Vietnam War. Famous Fact: Johnson was sworn into office on an airplane after the Kennedy assassination.

Born: January 9, 1913, Yorba Linda, California. Died: April 22, 1994. Party: Republican. Age when inaugurated: 56. Term: 1969-1974. During Nixon's first term, he improved relations with the Soviet Union and China and wound down the Vietnam War. Famous Fact: Nixon is the only U.S. President in history to resign his office.

Born: July 14, 1913, Omaha, Nebraska. Death: December 26, 2006. Party: Republican. Age when inaugurated: 61. Term: 1974-1977. Ford became Vice President after Nixon's Vice President resigned. Became President after Nixon resigned. Credited with saying that there was no longer Soviet domination in Eastern Europe. Famous Fact: Ford is the only President never elected President or Vice President.

Born: October 1, 1924, Plains, Georgia. Party: Democratic. Age when inaugurated: 52. Term: 1977-1981. Carter had success promoting Middle East peace. Carter has served as a diplomat. Famous Fact: Since leaving office, Carter has traveled the world doing charity work.

Born: February 6, 1911, Tampico, Illinois. Died June 5, 2004. Party: Republican. Age when inaugurated: 69. Term: 1981-1989. Reagan is credited with reviving national pride after the turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s. He enjoyed great popularity. Famous Fact: Reagan is the only President to survive after being wounded by a would-be assassin.

Born: June 12, 1924, Milton, Massachusetts. Party: Republican. Age when inaugurated: 64. Term: 1989-1993. During Bush's term, the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War ended. He also led the U.S. in the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq. Famous Fact: Bush was the first sitting Vice President to be elected President since Martin Van Buren.

Born: August 19, 1946, Hope, Arkansas. Party: Democratic. Age when inaugurated: 46. Term: 1993-2000. Clinton achieved goals such as passage of the NAFTA trade agreement and cuts in the budget deficit. Credited with a budget surplus when leaving office. Famous Fact: At 16, Clinton met President Kennedy at the White House. It inspired his interest in politics.

Born: July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. Party: Republican. Age when inaugurated: 55. Term: 2001–2008. Just eight months after being sworn in, President Bush had to unite a mournful country after the September 11th terrorist attacks. A self-proclaimed wartime commander-in-chief, President Bush, like his father, led the United States into war against Iraq. Famous Fact: Before focusing on national politics, George Bush was the managing partner and part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team from 1989-1998.

Born: August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Party: Democrat. Age when inaugurated: 47 Term: 2009-2012 Increased infrastructure spending, the US auto industry rescue plan, expanded health care for 4 million more children, and the reform the nation’s healthcare system. Awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Famous Fact: A law professor at the University of Chicago Law School, and he is the first President of the United States of African-American ancestry and was re-elected in 2012.