United States president, Jimmy Carter, was buried in a state funeral earlier today. His funeral was attended by the five remaining living U.S. presidents: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. This is the first time in more than six years that the full “presidents club” have gathered together in the same place.
Over the last 30 years, five former American presidents have died. Richard Nixon died in 1994, Gerald Ford died in 2006, Ronald Reagan died in 2004, and George H.W. Bush died in 2018.
The five remaining U.S. presidents are known for the respective achievements, and mistakes, that defined their terms in office. What they have in common though, is that they have all served their terms after the Cold War, with some having to deal with era-defining moments including terror attacks, pandemics, and financial crises.
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, a Democrat, was born in 1946 and served as President of the U.S. from 1993 to 2001, making him the country’s 42nd president. He is best known for developing the U.S. economy, by signing policies such as the NAFTA treaty, and for modernizing the Democratic Party’s platform, focusing on centrist policies.
Some of these policies included the 1996 Welfare Reform, and the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which helped achieve federal budget surpluses.
Notably, President Clinton oversaw the rise of the internet economy in the mid-90s and played a crucial role in the Dayton Accords which helped end the war in Bosnia. He also went through an impeachment in 1998 after lying under oath about having an extramarital affair while in office.
George W Bush
George W. Bush was also born in 1946 and is also 78 years old. He served as a Republican President from 2001 to 2009 and during one of the most complex periods in modern American history.
In his first year as President, he had to handle the worst attack ever on American soil: the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. This kicked off the war on terror, starting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which would both go on to have a great impact in the U.S. and beyond.
Domestically, Bush was best known for his No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, which reformed education standards, for introducing tax cuts, and implementing Medicare Part D, adding prescription drug benefits to private health plans. His administration also faced the devastating hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the beginning of the 2008 financial crisis.
Barack Obama, the youngest living US President
Barack Obama, a Democrat, served as U.S. president from 2009 to 2017, making him the 44th person to occupy the position. Obama was also the first African American president in U.S. history. Born in 1961, he is now 63.
His most notable policies came in the early 2010’s. He implemented the Affordable Care Act in 2010, effectively expanding healthcare access; the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, to strengthen financial regulations after the recession; and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration policy in 2012. This offered protection to undocumented child migrants.
Obama was also tasked with recovering the biggest economy on the planet after the 2008 recession. Notably, he also ordered the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011 and promoted climate policy, which is best reflected by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Donald Trump
President-elect Donald Trump was the 45th president of the U.S. when he took office in 2017, and will become the 47th president as he returns to the White House a second time this January 20, 2025. Born in 1946, he is 78 years old.
Trump has changed the landscape of American politics, being best known for his America First Agenda, and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Some of the most notable policies from his first term were his Tax Cuts and Job Acts, which largely prioritized business; the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) free trade agreement; and stricter immigration controls.
One of the most controversial presidents in U.S. history, Trump is also known for being impeached (and acquitted) twice in 2019 and 2021; navigating the country through the COVID-19 pandemic; and the assault on the capitol on January 6 2021 following his electoral loss.
Joe Biden, the oldest living US President
President Joe Biden will leave office in a matter of days. At 82, he is the oldest president to have ever served.
Having been tasked with leading the country in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, he implemented a series of notable policies, including the American Rescue Plan of 2021, with stimulus packages to help stabilize the economy; the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; and the 2022 Chips and Science act.
Notably, President Biden oversaw the U.S.’ controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan; managed the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and the economic aftermath of the pandemic; and managed the U.S. response to Israel’s war on Gaza.