The length of the presidency was not limited to 2 terms until 1951 in
the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
(1882-1945) was elected to 4 successive terms between 1932 and 1944.
The president's inauguration day used to be on March 4. After
Roosevelt died in office in 1945, it was changed to February 20.
Blacks could not become president until 1870 and women not until 1920.
The presidential salary remained the same for almost 100 years. It was
pegged at $25,000 per year until 1873 when it was doubled. The
president had no expense account until 1907 when $25,000 were added to
his compensation to cover expenses connected to his office. The salary
today stands at $390,000 plus $50,000 in expenses.
Retired presidents were not eligible for a state pension until 1958.
The Former President's Act gave them $25,000 a year, an office and
minimal staff. The pension today stands at c. $161,000 - the same as a
cabinet secretary.
Presidents are not elected by popular vote but by an electoral college
representing the states. John Quincy Adams (1824), Rutherford Hayes
(1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888) and George W.
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