The Twenty-second Amendment of the United States Constitution sets a
term limit for the President of the United States. The Congress passed
the amendment on March 21, 1947 & it was ratified on February 27, 1951.
Democrat Harry S Truman (1945-1953) was the President who sought to make the
two-term rule absolute
Historians point to George Washington's decision not to seek a third term as evidence that the founders saw a two-term limit as convention and a bulwark against a monarchy or creation of a political dynasty. However, his Farewell Address suggested that it was because of his age that he did not seek re-election.
Thomas Jefferson spoke out in support of a two-term limit in 1807 in order that America avoided someone keeping the position "for life."
Jefferson’s immediate successors, President James Madison and President James Monroe, also adhered to the two-term principle. Indeed, prior to Franklin D. Roosevelt, few Presidents attempted to serve for more than two terms.
Ulysses S. Grant sought a third term in 1880 after serving from 1869 to 1877, but narrowly lost his party's nomination to James Garfield.
Grover Cleveland tried to serve a third term (and second consecutive term) in 1896, but did not have enough support.
Theodore Roosevelt succeeded to the presidency upon William McKinley's assassination and was elected in 1904 to a full term himself, serving from 1901 to 1909. He sought to be elected to a (non-consecutive) term in 1912 but lost to Woodrow Wilson.
Wilson himself tried to get a third term in 1920, but was too unpopular even within his own party at the time.
In 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the only president to be elected to a third term; he was extremely popular and his supporters cited WWII (the war in Europe) as a reason for breaking with precedent. In the 1944 election, he won a fourth term, but suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died in office the following year. Thus, Roosevelt was the only President to have served more than two terms.
Historians point to George Washington's decision not to seek a third term as evidence that the founders saw a two-term limit as convention and a bulwark against a monarchy or creation of a political dynasty. However, his Farewell Address suggested that it was because of his age that he did not seek re-election.
Thomas Jefferson spoke out in support of a two-term limit in 1807 in order that America avoided someone keeping the position "for life."
Jefferson’s immediate successors, President James Madison and President James Monroe, also adhered to the two-term principle. Indeed, prior to Franklin D. Roosevelt, few Presidents attempted to serve for more than two terms.
Ulysses S. Grant sought a third term in 1880 after serving from 1869 to 1877, but narrowly lost his party's nomination to James Garfield.
Grover Cleveland tried to serve a third term (and second consecutive term) in 1896, but did not have enough support.
Theodore Roosevelt succeeded to the presidency upon William McKinley's assassination and was elected in 1904 to a full term himself, serving from 1901 to 1909. He sought to be elected to a (non-consecutive) term in 1912 but lost to Woodrow Wilson.
Wilson himself tried to get a third term in 1920, but was too unpopular even within his own party at the time.
In 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the only president to be elected to a third term; he was extremely popular and his supporters cited WWII (the war in Europe) as a reason for breaking with precedent. In the 1944 election, he won a fourth term, but suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died in office the following year. Thus, Roosevelt was the only President to have served more than two terms.