Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States of America, serving from 1977 to 1981.

Roland Mesnier (1944–2022), longtime White House pastry chef

Roland Mesnier was the White House pastry chef for 25 years, serving five presidents.

Sarah Obama (2021), matriarch of Barack Obama’s family

Sarah Obama was an educator and philanthropist who was President Barack Obama’s step-grandmother and the matriarch of his African family.

Wilson Jerman (1929–2020), former White House butler who served 11 presidents

Wilson Jerman was a former White House butler who worked for 11 presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barack Obama.

Nine People Whose Lives Were Shaped by JFK’s Assassination

For a few people, Kennedy’s assassination was more than a story to tell — it profoundly impacted their lives.

George H.W. Bush (1924–2018), 41st president of the United States

George Herbert Walker Bush served as president from 1989 to 1993.

Salute to U.S. Presidents

With the passing of George H.W. Bush, there are four living U.S. presidents we can offer a salute to: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. But what of the 39 men who have led our country and passed away? Well, they may not be able to hear our thanks, but Presidents’ Day encourages us to remember them, too. We’re doing so by focusing on one key legacy that each president left—the deeds that we remember them for, years after their deaths.

Robert F. Kennedy: Icon of Hope

While the death of is often seen as the symbolic moment when the nation lost its post-war afterglow and plunged headlong into the tumult of the 1960s, it was also a time when America came together as a nation in mourning. The assassination of President Kennedy's younger brother Bobby Kennedy less than five years later, however, took on a different tone.

Abe Lincoln's Illinois

Take a mini road trip through important Abe Lincoln history.

Remembering Presidential Inaugurations (video)

A look back at some of the great Presidential inaugurations.

Getting the Last Word on Politics (in Your Obituary)

Voters cherish the right to voice approval of (or displeasure at) at elected officials' behavior. Sometimes, personal politics even pop up in obituaries. Below are some of the funniest times when people used obituaries as a last chance to make their political views heard.

Connect the Dates: Election Week

There are threads that weave throughout history, connecting people, events and dates. The way those threads come together can be surprising and fascinating. In this new series, we explore historical intersections and cast a light on unlikely connections. This week, we take a moment to turn our focus away from next year's election and focus instead on election-year feats of the past.

PT Boat Veterans of WWII

We remember President John F. Kennedy and other real-life PT boat veterans.

JFK Quotes

President John F. Kennedy is one of the most quoted people of the 20th century, and his words have inspired for more than 50 years. Whether he was talking about civil rights, public service, the Cold War, or any other topic, people listened and took his words to heart. Here are a few of our favorite JFK quotes.

JFK: 20 Things to Know About John F. Kennedy

How much do you know about John F. Kennedy's early life and his personal time away from the Oval Office? Learn more with a few of our favorite facts about JFK.

The Kennedys

A glance at the Kennedy family tree reveals one of the most remarkable clans in American history.

10 Facts: Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal …"

10 Facts About Gerald Ford

How well do you know former president (1913–2006)? Here are 10 facts about the 38th president of the United States.

The Nixons: A Love Story

January 2013 would have marked the 100th birthday of an American icon: former president Richard Nixon . Nixon’s political legacy is a complicated one, with contradictions throughout. He escalated our involvement in the Vietnam War… and then he ended the war. He presided over the first moon landing… then scaled back the space program. He won reelection in a landslide… and then resigned in disgrace two years later. Today, he’s remembered more often as a punch line than as the successful leader of the free world.

The Remarkable Eleanor Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the most-admired first ladies of all time. And in the 50 years since her death, she has been endlessly quoted.

Obits Highlight Presidential Picks

A recent trend in the obituary pages has prompted us to create our very own, extremely unscientific, presidential poll.

Imagining JFK Alive

The day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated – Nov. 22, 1963 – is a day we all know about in great detail … yet nobody really knows the full story.

Betty Ford, Modern First Lady

Outspoken and passionate, Betty Ford used her platform as first lady to speak her mind.

Oliver Sipple: The Man Who Saved Ford

Thirty-five years ago today, President Gerald Ford’s life was saved by an ex-Marine named Oliver Sipple. As the debate over “don’t ask don’t tell” rages on, his story is worth revisiting.

July 4th: A Bad Day for Ex-Presidents

A "great day" in the lives of American revolutionaries John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the 4th of July proved important right up until the end.