Being president of the United States is one of the most coveted jobs in the country, as evidenced by the many candidates we hear from every election year. Getting to choose the direction of the country is pretty appealing, even if it is a ton of work to both get the job and to actually do it.
One thing no one tells you is that the job doesn't stop when the presidency is over. Even former presidents are expected to do a lot, like attend events, raise funds, give speeches, and do tons of interviews about what it was like to be commander-in-chief.
As a democratic country, the United States faces the issue of how to maintain consistency in government with regard to intelligence and defense when presidential administrations have the potential to change every four years. To ensure a smooth transition of power, then, it has long been typical for intelligence briefings to be given to presidential nominees, meaning that such figures, which include former president Donald Trump, may receive highly sensitive information even before they lay their hands on the levers of power. Similarly, former presidents who are no longer running are also allowed to receive intelligence briefings, though in recent years such practices have come under scrutiny from politicians and the intelligence community.
Do you think your job is stressful, cuts too far into your family life, or doesn't have enough vacation time? Well, imagine being president of the United States. Not only does the president have to work nonstop almost every day for the next four — or eight! — years, but every tiny decision they make will determine whether people live or die, if other nations remain stable, or what the entire mood of that day's news cycle will be. No wonder everyone thinks presidents age so much faster than the rest of us.
For only the third time in U.S. history, there are five former U.S. presidents alive at the same time (as of February 2023). There have been way more times in the country's history — six to be exact — when there were no living ex-presidents. That may have to do with the usual steps politicians take to get to the top, which means they're no spring chickens when they finally arrive. On average, they're already middle-aged when they're able to make the leap to the leader of the nation.
Learn things you may not know about the individuals who have held the highest office in the U.S. and what it means to be president.
