former presidents

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Thorn in the Side of 9 US Presidents: the Assads

Marathon negotiations with Bashar al-Assad's father were nicknamed 'bladder diplomacy'

(Newser) - The Assad family has been in power in Syria since a successful coup in 1970, the last of dozens that occurred after the country, which is wedged between Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq, had declared sovereignty from France in 1946. Since then, each of nine American presidents has tried...

Historians Say 11 Presidents Were Better Than Obama

But he's still the best since Ronald Reagan: poll

(Newser) - Barack Obama was the best US president since Ronald Reagan, but he's got nothing on Abraham Lincoln. That's the takeaway from a C-SPAN survey of 91 historians who helped rank the best presidents in US history based on 10 criteria, including administrative skill, moral authority, crisis leadership, and...

America&#39;s 10 Wealthiest Presidents
America's 10
Wealthiest Presidents

America's 10 Wealthiest Presidents

The first president was also the wealthiest: 24/7 Wall Street

(Newser) - It's not clear what Donald Trump's net worth is, but low estimates have it at about $3 billion, per 24/7 Wall St . If accurate, he would become the richest president in history by far. Still, Hillary Clinton's net worth of $75 million (with husband Bill) would put...

Name That President? Americans Have Weird Answers

71% of those surveyed think we were once led by President Alexander Hamilton

(Newser) - Alexander Hamilton was many things—a bastard from the Caribbean, the founder of the Bank of New York, the father of the US Coast Guard, and the first Secretary of the Treasury, to name a few. But the man who died in a duel against Aaron Burr at the age...

Study Suggests Romney Will Outlive Obama

Researchers studied 279 elected presidents and prime ministers

(Newser) - Leading a country doesn't just bring a few unwanted gray hairs . The stressful gig also takes years off a person's life, according to a new study in the journal BMJ . Research in this area has been conflicting: A previous study found no adverse effects on life expectancy, another...

George HW Bush Leaves Hospital

Bush 41 'now resting at home': spokesman

(Newser) - George HW Bush has left the building known as Methodist Hospital in Houston a week after he was hospitalized for shortness of breath . "He is now resting at home, grateful to the doctors and nurses for their superb care," says a spokesman, as per ABC News . At 90,...

The First Bush Is Underrated

 The First Bush Is Underrated 
OPINION

The First Bush Is Underrated

Strong and moderate, HW steered the country well in his brief tenure, Ned Lamont argues

(Newser) - History does not tend to look kindly on one-term presidents—with the probable exception of James Polk, who managed to double the size of the country in four years. But Ned Lamont at Real Clear Politics wants to add "another one-termer to the pantheon: George Herbert Walker Bush."...

This President Had the Most 'Grandiose Narcissism'

Lyndon Johnson was full of himself, but it may have helped

(Newser) - When you're running the country, being narcissistic may come in handy. Psychologists and experts on presidential personalities have put together a list of the presidents who had the most "grandiose narcissism"—which, the Houston Chronicle explains, is characterized by a showy and extroverted personality. That's in...

For First Time in 8 Years, US Likes George W. Bush
For First Time in 8 Years,
US Likes George W. Bush
gallup poll

For First Time in 8 Years, US Likes George W. Bush

Gallup favorability ratings tip into positive territory

(Newser) - It's a milestone any former president would love: For the first time since 2005, more Americans approve of George W. Bush than disapprove, reports Gallup . He now stands at 49-46—up 9 in the "view favorably" category and down 13 in "view unfavorably" since he left office...

Best Quotes From the Bush Library Dedication

'We made the tough decisions,' says George W.

(Newser) - George W. Bush's presidential library got its formal dedication today in Dallas, with all five living presidents making the trip. "Oh happy day," Bush said as he took the stage. "41, it is awesome that you are here today," continued the man of honor in...

George W. Bush: 'People Are Surprised I Can Even Read'

Talks about his paintings in new interview

(Newser) - George W. Bush took up painting after leaving the presidency, and now he's offered the Dallas Morning News a look at some of his work—specifically, paintings of two of his dogs, plus two paintings of his ranch. "People are surprised" by the new hobby, he says, adding,...

Ex-Presidents Cost US $3.7M Last Year

Nancy Reagan waived her $20K pension

(Newser) - Don't expect this budget item to be chopped any time soon: The government spent $3.7 million on the four living ex-presidents last year, excluding Secret Service costs, according to a Congressional Research Service report. The cash covered pensions, benefits for office staff, and expenses like travel and postage,...

For Iraq's 10th Anniversary, Gawker Prints Bush's Email

Readers urged to wish him a 'happy Iraq War day'

(Newser) - To mark the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, Gawker has printed the private email address of George W. Bush and encouraged its readers to wish the man who ordered the invasion a "Happy Iraq War Day." The address was spotted in screenshots of correspondence published by...

History Might Decide to Like Obama Just Fine

For starters, he won a second term: Nate Silver

(Newser) - Neither of Nate Silver's picks even made it to the Super Bowl, but the stats whiz returns his gaze to politics today—specifically how President Obama might rank in history when all is said and done. Yes, he's aware that what Obama does or doesn't do in...

George HW Bush Leaves Hospital

Former president discharged after nearly 2-month stay

(Newser) - Former President George H.W. Bush has left a Houston hospital where he spent nearly two months recovering from an illness that began with a bronchitis-related cough. Bush spokesman Jim McGrath says the 88-year-old Bush was released today from Methodist Hospital. He was admitted Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving,...

Aide on Bush's Health: 'Put Harps Back in Closet'

She recommends against 'overreacting'

(Newser) - George HW Bush may still be in intensive care in a Houston hospital, but he would have a message for all those who fear he is near death—"put the harps back in the closet," an aide tells the AP . Jean Becker, the former president's longtime chief...

Elder Bush&#39;s Fever Breaks
 Elder Bush in 
 Intensive Care 
updated

Elder Bush in Intensive Care

Former president in guarded condition after 'series of setbacks'

(Newser) - Former President George HW Bush today remains in an intensive care unit at a Houston hospital, having suffered "a series of setbacks," including a stubborn fever. Bush spokesman Jim McGrath said last night that the former president has been in the ICU at Methodist Hospital since Sunday and...

Ex-President Bush to Spend Christmas in Hospital

Doctors 'cautiously optimistic,' but want him to gain strength

(Newser) - Former President George HW Bush will spend Christmas in a Texas hospital after developing a fever and weakness following a monthlong, bronchitis-like cough. A Bush spokesman said today that doctors remain "cautiously optimistic" the 88-year-old will recover, but they want to keep him in the hospital. A hospital spokesman...

Obama Now Faces the '2nd-Term Curse'

Ever since George Washington, it's been a tough 4 years

(Newser) - The election is in the bag, but the fight isn't over for President Obama. Now he must fend off the so-called "second-term curse" that has dogged presidents from George Washington to George W, writes Adam Clymer in the New York Times . Washington faced protests over a post-Revolutionary War...

Our Best Presidents Weren't 'Family Guys'

So we should stop insisting on it: Michael Kazin

(Newser) - These days, each and every political candidate can agree on one thing: How much they love their families. Voters practically insist that presidential candidates, in particular, exhibit close familial relationships—but, as Michael Kazin points out in the New Republic , hardly any of our best presidents actually fit that bill....

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