1. The Executive Branch

2. Some presidential trivia…
Youngest: Theodore Roosevelt (42)
Oldest: Ronald Reagan (69)
Longest Inaugural Address: William Henry Harrison (105 minutes)
Shortest Term: William Henry Harrison (32 days)
Longest Term: Franklin Roosevelt (12 years)
Tallest: Abraham Lincoln (6 feet, 4 inches)

3. Trivia, continued…. The ‘Teddy Bear’ was named for Theodore Roosevelt
Largest feet: Warren Harding (Size 14)
John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic President
Father-Son combos: John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush

4. ….and more trivia….
President with most Grammy Awards: Barack Obama (2, both for Spoken Word performance)
Shortest and lightest President: James Madison (5 feet, 4 inches and +/- 100 pounds
Only President to not belong to a political party: George Washington
President who regularly went skinny dipping in the Potomac River: John Quincy Adams

5. The Roles of the President
Chief of State
Chief Executive
Chief Administrator
Chief Diplomat
Commander in Chief
Chief Legislator
Chief of Party
Chief Citizen

6. Chief of State
The ceremonial head of the government and the symbol of all Americans
“…the personal embodiment and representative of their dignity and majesty”

7. Chief Executive
The President has broad powers to carry out and enforce the laws of the United States

8. Chief Administrator Head of government offices 2.7 million employees
2.5 trillion dollar budget

9. Chief Diplomat
The President conducts foreign policy and is the nation’s spokesperson to the rest of the world

10. Commander in Chief The President is the head of the armed forces
The Constitution says this person must be a civilian and not an active military member
Washington, Grant, Eisenhower

11. Chief Legislator
The President is the main source of public policies and for the most part sets the agenda for what Congress works on

12. Chief of Party
The President is the leader of his or her political party.
Parties are not mentioned in the Constitution

13. Chief Citizen
The moral leader of the nation and the person who protects the interests of the people

14. Term and Compensation
The President serves a FOUR year term. According to the 22nd Amendment, he or she may only serve two full terms (or ten years in case he or she took over during another person’s term)
Some Presidents have called for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment. What do you think?

15. So you want to be President…
What are the formal qualifications?
A “natural born citizen” of the United States
Be at least 35 years of age
14 years a resident within the United States
At least 100 million Americans meet these requirements!

16. $$$ 1789: $25,000 2001: $400,000 + $50,000/yr expenses
A nice house, big staff, protection, cars, Air Force One, Camp David, travel and entertainment funds and great health care!

17. Are you sure you want to be President?

18. The Vice President
“I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may become everything.”
--- John Adams
“ The Vice Presidency isn’t worth a pitcher of warm spit.”
--- John Nance Garner

19. The Vice Presidency
Vice President must meet all the same qualifications as the President
VPs take over if President dies, resigns, or is incapacitated (25th Amendment)
Duties: Presides over Senate (breaks ties)
and helps to decide if the President is incapacitated