FAQ
Who was the first president of the United States?
George Washington served as the first President from 1789 to 1797. He was unanimously elected twice by the Electoral College and voluntarily stepped down after two terms, establishing the tradition of peaceful transfer of power.
Who was the longest serving US president?
Franklin D Roosevelt was elected four times and served from 1933 until his death in 1945. After his presidency, the 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, limiting presidents to two terms.
Who was the first female head of government?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka became the first female Prime Minister in 1960. She was followed by Indira Gandhi of India in 1966 and Golda Meir of Israel in 1969.
Which presidents were assassinated?
Four US presidents were assassinated in office: Abraham Lincoln (1865), James Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901), and John F Kennedy (1963). Two others survived assassination attempts: Theodore Roosevelt (1912) and Ronald Reagan (1981).
Who served the shortest presidency?
William Henry Harrison served only 31 days in 1841 before dying of pneumonia. He gave a lengthy inauguration speech in cold weather without a hat, which was believed to have caused his fatal illness.
Which world leader served the longest?
Fidel Castro governed Cuba for 47 years from 1959 to 2006, when he transferred power to his brother Raul. Other long serving leaders include Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore at 31 years and Joseph Stalin at 29 years.