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Washington's Last Term
During 8-9 years as the first president of the United States, George Washington would retire as president of the United States after 2 terms. Many people begged Washington to continue as president, but due to his growing distaste in politics, he never sought to do such a thing. It was this choice not to run again, that would set the 2-term precedent to come for all presidents, until the 1930-1940's. -
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The Failed Candidates
Two presidents would try, and fail, to run for a third term in the presidency. President Ulysses S. Grant would attempt to run for third term, but several scandals centering around him would lead the Republic party to have Grant replaced. The second, Theodore Roosevelt, would run in 1912 as a candidate for a third party, but a shot to the chest would interrupt Theodore's campaign trip in Milwaukee, and he would drop out soon after. -
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Election
Franklin Delano Roosevelt would be elected during the 1930's as the U.S's 32nd president. This was also the time where the U.S was suffering its greatest economic crash. It was hoped that he would be able to pull the American people out of the Great Depression. This he did, by implementing several programs and policies to stimulate the economy. These would become known as the New Deal. -
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Roosevelt's(first) 2 terms
Roosevelt would continue being president for around 7-8 more years, in which his entire job centered around improving the economy. It was during Roosevelt's first two terms that the second World War was beginning, and the United States was becoming keenly aware of it. The year 1941 was supposed to be when a new president would take his place, but that actually wouldn't end up happening . -
The Third Term
During the 1940 Presidential Election, Roosevelt would run for presidency yet again. It was because of Roosevelt's promises to bring the country out of its poverty and the war, that helped boost his ratings into actually winning the election. This was groundbreaking because it broke the 2 -term precedent that George Washington established. -
Term Four
After the 1944 election, and for the second time. Franklin Roosevelt would serve for another term outside of the standardized two terms. However, it was also the closest election that Roosevelt won, as Thomas E. Dewey, a prior governor of New York, and his opponent, was nearing Roosevelt's vote count in terms of popular votes.
(The photo shown is of Thomas Dewey) -
Roosevelt's Passing
During a trip to Warm Springs, Georgia for a portrait, Roosevelt would collapse due to a Cerebral Hemorrhage and be declared dead the same day. It was also during that day that Harry S. Truman would take the oath of office. However, the unique situation with Franklin's presidency would lead to the House of Representatives worrying that the same thing may happen again. Thus sparked a call to action by the Legislative Branch. -
Proposal of the 22nd
Two years after Truman's passing, the House of Representatives would begin to propose a "Joint Resolution 27". This imposed a hard limit of 2 terms for all future presidents, with 4 years per term. This proposal, now an amendment, would be passed on to the states for ratification on March 21. -
Ratification
4 years of deliberation after the proposal, the amendment was successfully adopted into the Constitution as the 22nd. Harry S. Truman, prior vice president and now the successor to Theodore, would be the first president to be affected by the new amendment, only serving up until 1953. However, the 22nd was met with mixed reception among the general public. The Democratic Republic especially, did not approve of the addition -
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Push for Removal
Five years after the 22nd Amendment's ratification, the country was slowly being more and more opposed. A total of 54 joint resolutions in the following 50 years would seek Repeal. One such campaign was held by Ronald Reagan in 1989. He believed that the amendment infringed on the rights of the Democrats, even though he was a Republican. None of these attempts were completely successful.