History Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution

ulysses s. grant narrowly lost party s nomination, , chance third term in 1880.



woodrow wilson, pictured in 1923, deadlocked democratic convention in 1920, not nominated. wished run again in 1924, lacked support , died before convention.

although twenty-second amendment reaction franklin d. roosevelt s service president unprecedented 4 terms, notion of presidential term limits has long-standing roots in american politics. constitutional convention of 1787 considered issue extensively, although declined restrict amount of time person serve president. following george washington s decision retire after second elected term, numerous public figures subsequently argued had established two-term tradition served vital check against 1 person, or presidency whole, accumulating power.

in farewell address, written near end of second term, washington both reveals considered not standing reelection in 1792, , decision not seek third term in 1796 due age, not intention set precedent. eleven years later, thomas jefferson further contributed convention of voluntary two-term limit when wrote in 1807, if termination services of chief magistrate not fixed constitution, or supplied practice, office, nominally 4 years, in fact become life. 3 of next 4 presidents after jefferson—james madison, james monroe, , andrew jackson—served 2 terms, , each 1 adhered two-term principle.

in spite of strong two-term tradition, few presidents prior franklin roosevelt did attempt secure third term. ulysses s. grant, after having served president 1869 1877, sought nomination term @ 1880 republican national convention, narrowly lost james garfield, go on win 1880 election. given republican party s dominance during period, had grant been nominated, might have won third term.

theodore roosevelt succeeded presidency on september 14, 1901, following william mckinley s assassination (194 days second term), , subsequently elected full term in 1904. while declined seek third (second full) term in 1908, roosevelt did seek 1 4 years later, in election of 1912, lost woodrow wilson. wilson himself sought nomination third term in 1920, @ democratic national convention; deliberately blocked nomination of former secretary of treasury, son-in-law william gibbs mcadoo, front-runner. although ill @ time, wilson anticipated party side sitting president convention deadlocked. wilson unpopular within own party @ time, , james m. cox nominated. again contemplate running nonconsecutive third term in 1924, devising strategy comeback, again lacked support , died @ beginning of year.

franklin d. roosevelt, pictured in august 1944, elected both third , fourth term, president serve more 8 years.

franklin d. roosevelt spent months leading 1940 democratic national convention refusing state whether seek third term. vice president, john nance garner, along postmaster general james farley, announced candidacies democratic nomination. when convention came, roosevelt sent message convention, saying run if drafted, saying delegates free vote whomever pleased. delegates issued 946 votes roosevelt, 72 farley, , 61 garner; replaced garner henry a. wallace vice presidential nominee, , farley resigned postmaster general. in 1940 general election, while republican wendell willkie received 6 million more votes previous republican candidate (alfred landon) had in 1936, roosevelt still won decisively, taking 38 of 48 states. supporters cited impending war reason breaking precedent, while willkie had run against principle of third term. roosevelt first president elected third term, , remains 1 exceed 8 years in office.

four years later, in election of 1944, roosevelt defeated new york governor thomas e. dewey win unprecedented fourth term. while quelled rumors of poor health during campaign, roosevelt s health in reality deteriorating. on april 12, 1945, 82 days after fourth inauguration, suffered cerebral hemorrhage , died.

near end of 1944 campaign, thomas dewey announced support of amendment limit future presidents 2 terms. according dewey, 4 terms, or sixteen years (which roosevelt have served had lived until 1949), dangerous threat our freedom ever proposed. republican-controlled 80th congress approved joint resolution proposing amendment constitution relating terms of office of president . in march 1947; signed speaker of house joseph w. martin , acting president pro tempore of senate william f. knowland. ratification process 22nd amendment completed on february 27, 1951, 7003143900000000000♠3 years, 343 days after sent states. new amendment s 2-term limit did not apply (due grandfather clause in section 1) incumbent president, harry s. truman. remained eligible election more 2 terms.

on november 22, 1963, president john f. kennedy assassinated while riding through dealey plaza in downtown dallas, texas. vice president lyndon b. johnson, in motorcade, 3 cars back, unhurt. upon kennedy s death, johnson became nation s 36th president, , served out remaining 7002425000000000000♠1 year, 59 days of kennedy s term. under terms of 22nd amendment, johnson, ran , won full four–year term in 1964 eligible run full term in 1968 (as had served less 2 years of kennedy s term). chose not so, announcing intentions in march 31, 1968, speech nation, saying, shall not seek, , not accept, nomination of party term president. had done , won, , served full term (through january 20, 1973), total length of presidency have been 7003334700000000000♠9 years, 59 days.

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