Presidential Powerhouses

In 1789, when George Washington took office as the nation's first president, the United States was an experiment that could easily fail. Only a few years earlier, the fledgling democracy had broken away from British rule. The thirteen states were vying for power and had only reluctantly accepted a strong central government. Whoever led that central government would face many challenges. Most Americans believed Washington was the right person for the job. He worked to revive the struggling economy, secure the nation's borders, and gain the respect of other nations. And by inventing many of his duties and powers as he went along, he shaped the presidency into a strong and influential office.

When Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office in 1932, the United States was in crisis. The Great Depression had left many people unemployed, homeless, and desperate. Roosevelt established a "New Deal," which set the country on a path to recovery. Roosevelt's administration also faced severe threats from overseas, eventually drawing the United States into World War II. In his historically long presidency, Roosevelt lead the country through an international conflict, help bring an end to the Great Depression, and launch a new era of prosperity for the United States-all while confined to a wheelchair. Follow the setbacks and achievements of FDR's presidency as he worked to rebuild the nation from within and defend it abroad.

Despite being notoriously shy, the fourth president of the United States, James Madison, proved a formidable commander in chief. He oversaw the War of 1812 while also working to build unity among the states and preserve Americans' individual rights.

When John F. Kennedy became the youngest person ever elected president of the United States in 1961, he stepped to the forefront of an invisible battleground. The Cold War standoff between America and the Soviet Union threatened to lead to nuclear war and worldwide destruction. Kennedy also faced domestic turmoil with the civil rights movement. Despite these challenges, Kennedy worked to bring the country into a "New Frontier." He supported space exploration, the arts, education, and groundbreaking social programs. He took a controversial stand in favor of civil rights legislation, and navigated dangerous webs of foreign affairs. Kennedy inspired the nation with his hopes for the future and his efforts to make them a reality.

During Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, he led the United States through an international conflict, helped bring an end to the Great Depression, and launched a new era of prosperity for the country-all while confined to a wheelchair.

In 1789, when George Washington took office as the nation's first president, the United States was an experiment that could easily fail. He worked to revive the struggling economy, secure the nation's borders, and gain the respect of other nations.

By the time he became the fourth president of the United States in 1807, James Madison was already a legend. Although he was a short, slight man with a quiet voice, he had played an instrumental role in crafting the US Constitution. As president, he oversaw the country's first international conflict since the American Revolution when tensions with Great Britain led to the War of 1812. He worked to build unity among the states and to preserve many Americans' individual rights-even as larger divisions over slavery and American Indian policy simmered across the country. For a man who was notoriously shy, Madison proved a formidable commander in chief, from his internal policies to his wartime leadership.

In 1961, John F. Kennedy became the youngest person ever elected president of the United States. His short but eventful presidency inspired the nation with hope for a future into the "New Frontier," despite domestic and international turmoil.