20. Januar

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” he said at his inauguration. The term was six weeks short of four years, ended early by the Twentieth Amendment.

The first term to begin on 20 January. His 1937 plan to add up to six justices to the Supreme Court failed in the Senate.

The first term to begin on 20 January. His 1937 plan to add up to six justices to the Supreme Court failed in the Senate.

The only president elected to a third term, in 1940, breaking Washington’s custom. The United States entered the Second World War after Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

Reinhard Heydrich brought 15 senior SS, Party and government officials to a lakeside villa in Berlin to coordinate the “Final Solution”. The minutes counted 11 million Jews in Europe, including Britain and neutral countries, to be deported east. The decision to murder them had already been taken.

Inaugurated on the South Portico of the White House with a speech of under 600 words. The term lasted 82 days.

The only president elected to a third term, in 1940, breaking Washington’s custom. The United States entered the Second World War after Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

Germany surrendered in May 1945. Truman authorized the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, and Japan surrendered formally on 2 September 1945.

He won in 1948 after an early Chicago Daily Tribune headline declared “Dewey Defeats Truman”. His 1949 inauguration was the first televised.

A five-star general who had never held elected office. The Korean War armistice was signed in July 1953.

He won in 1948 after an early Chicago Daily Tribune headline declared “Dewey Defeats Truman”. His 1949 inauguration was the first televised.

A five-star general who had never held elected office. The Korean War armistice was signed in July 1953.

The first president barred from re-election by the 22nd Amendment. Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, and his farewell address warned of the “military-industrial complex”.

The first president barred from re-election by the 22nd Amendment. Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, and his farewell address warned of the “military-industrial complex”.

At 43 the youngest person elected president, and the first Catholic. His term included the Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

He signed the Civil Rights Act on 2 July 1964. For 14 months there was no vice president: the Constitution had no way to fill the office.

Elected with 61.1 percent of the popular vote. He signed the Voting Rights Act and Medicare in 1965, and on 31 March 1968 announced he would not seek re-election.

Elected with 61.1 percent of the popular vote. He signed the Voting Rights Act and Medicare in 1965, and on 31 March 1968 announced he would not seek re-election.

He spoke by telephone to the Apollo 11 crew on the Moon in July 1969 and visited China in February 1972. The Watergate break-in came that June.

He spoke by telephone to the Apollo 11 crew on the Moon in July 1969 and visited China in February 1972. The Watergate break-in came that June.

Re-elected with 520 electoral votes. The investigations of the Watergate break-in and its cover-up ended the term 18 months in.

He pardoned Nixon on 8 September 1974. His own vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, was also appointed under the 25th Amendment: for two years neither office was held by someone elected to it.

He brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978. He lived to 100, longer than any other president, and died in December 2024.

He brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978. He lived to 100, longer than any other president, and died in December 2024.

The first inaugurated on the Capitol’s West Front. Minutes after the oath Iran released the 52 American hostages it had held for 444 days.

The first inaugurated on the Capitol’s West Front. Minutes after the oath Iran released the 52 American hostages it had held for 444 days.

Re-elected with 525 electoral votes, the most ever. Cold moved the public inauguration into the Capitol Rotunda. He and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty in December 1987.

The first sitting vice president elected since Martin Van Buren in 1836. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and the Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991.

Re-elected with 525 electoral votes, the most ever. Cold moved the public inauguration into the Capitol Rotunda. He and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty in December 1987.

The first president born after the Second World War. He won with 43 percent of the popular vote in a three-way race with George H. W. Bush and Ross Perot.

The first sitting vice president elected since Martin Van Buren in 1836. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and the Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991.

The first president born after the Second World War. He won with 43 percent of the popular vote in a three-way race with George H. W. Bush and Ross Perot.

The federal budget ran a surplus from fiscal 1998 to 2001, the first since 1969.

The federal budget ran a surplus from fiscal 1998 to 2001, the first since 1969.

Son of the 41st president: the second father and son to both hold the office, after the Adamses. The September 11 attacks came eight months into his term.

Son of the 41st president: the second father and son to both hold the office, after the Adamses. The September 11 attacks came eight months into his term.

Re-elected with 50.7 percent of the popular vote. The financial crisis of 2008 came in his last months.

He signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010 and received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The oath was fumbled on inauguration day and given again the next evening in the White House.

Re-elected with 50.7 percent of the popular vote. The financial crisis of 2008 came in his last months.

On the West Front of the Capitol, before one of the largest crowds ever gathered on the National Mall, estimated at about 1.8 million.

He signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010 and received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The oath was fumbled on inauguration day and given again the next evening in the White House.

20 January 2013 was a Sunday, so he was sworn in privately that day and publicly on the 21st: four oaths in all, as many as Franklin Roosevelt took.

After 31 months in hibernation beyond Jupiter’s orbit, Rosetta’s alarm clock went off. The first signal reached the control room in Darmstadt later than hoped, and the wait of several minutes had its team on edge.

20 January 2013 was a Sunday, so he was sworn in privately that day and publicly on the 21st: four oaths in all, as many as Franklin Roosevelt took.

The first president with no prior government or military service. He won the Electoral College 304–227 while Hillary Clinton led the popular vote, the fifth time a winner had not led it.

The first president with no prior government or military service. He won the Electoral College 304–227 while Hillary Clinton led the popular vote, the fifth time a winner had not led it.

At 78 the oldest president yet inaugurated; Kamala Harris became the first woman vice president, and on 19 November 2021 the first woman to hold presidential power, as acting president for 85 minutes. He withdrew from the 2024 race on 21 July 2024.

The second president to serve non-consecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland, and so both the 45th and the 47th. Cold moved the inauguration into the Capitol Rotunda. The term is scheduled to end at noon on 20 January 2029.

At 78 the oldest president yet inaugurated; Kamala Harris became the first woman vice president, and on 19 November 2021 the first woman to hold presidential power, as acting president for 85 minutes. He withdrew from the 2024 race on 21 July 2024.