Throughout the history of the United States, a number of presidents have sought a second term in office but were ultimately unsuccessful. Voters have denied reelection to nearly a dozen one-term U.S. presidents, with four of these instances occurring since World War II. The most recent example is Donald Trump, a Republican who was defeated by Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
This raises a significant question: Is a single four-year term sufficient for a president to demonstrate their leadership and effectively govern? The complexities of the U.S. political system, particularly the congressional legislative process, can make it challenging for a president to implement substantial and noticeable changes within just four years. This can leave incumbent presidents vulnerable to challengers who effectively question their progress, echoing the famous question posed by Bill Clinton in his successful campaign against George H.W. Bush: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?”
So, how many presidents in U.S. history have been limited to a single term? And what factors led to voters turning away from them when they sought reelection? Here’s a detailed look at the U.S. presidents who served only one term.
Donald Trump (2017-2021)
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Donald J. Trump, a Republican, served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. His bid for reelection in 2020 was unsuccessful, as he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, who had previously served as Vice President under Barack Obama.
Trump’s presidency was marked by significant political polarization and division within the United States. His four years were characterized by an “America First” approach to international policy, frequent controversy and scandals, high staff turnover within his administration, ongoing conflicts with the media, an impeachment process, and heightened racial tensions across the country.
While the U.S. economy experienced some gains in the initial years of his term, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 triggered a severe economic downturn, the most significant since the Great Depression. Trump faced considerable criticism for his administration’s response to the pandemic, which resulted in a staggering loss of American lives. Despite these challenges and controversies, Trump garnered 47% of the popular vote in 2020, indicating a substantial and unwavering base of support within the Republican party.
George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
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George H.W. Bush, the 41st president and a Republican, held office from 1989 to 1993. He sought reelection in 1992 but was defeated by Democrat Bill Clinton, who went on to serve two full terms.
Despite significant foreign policy successes, particularly the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War, Bush faced growing discontent at home. His White House biography notes that despite “unprecedented popularity” from these international triumphs, he “was unable to withstand discontent at home from a faltering economy, rising violence in inner cities, and continued high deficit spending.” These domestic issues overshadowed his foreign policy achievements and contributed to his loss to Clinton in the 1992 election.
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
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Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, was the 39th U.S. President, serving from 1977 to 1981. He ran for reelection in 1980 but lost to Republican Ronald Reagan, who subsequently served two terms.
Carter’s presidency was plagued by a number of significant challenges, including a struggling economy marked by high inflation and the Iran hostage crisis. His White House biography points to the hostage situation as a key factor in his defeat, stating, “The consequences of Iran’s holding Americans captive, together with continuing inflation at home, contributed to Carter’s defeat in 1980.” The hostage crisis dominated news cycles during the final 14 months of his administration, casting a shadow over his presidency. Ironically, Iran released the 52 American hostages on the very day Carter left office.
Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
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Gerald R. Ford, a Republican, served as the 38th President from 1974 to 1977. He sought a full term in 1976 but was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter, adding Carter to the list of one-term presidents after his own loss four years later.
Ford faced an uphill battle from the start. He assumed the presidency in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, after being appointed Vice President and then succeeding Richard Nixon upon Nixon’s resignation. As his White House biography notes, “Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks,” including “mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace.” Despite his efforts, he was unable to overcome these significant challenges in a short period and lost the election to Carter. Adding to the unusual nature of his presidency, Gerald Ford was the only president who was never actually elected to either the presidential or vice-presidential office.
Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)
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Herbert Hoover, a Republican, was the 31st President, serving from 1929 to 1933. He ran for reelection in 1932 but was overwhelmingly defeated by Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would go on to serve more terms than any other president in U.S. history.
Hoover’s presidency is almost entirely defined by the onset of the Great Depression. The stock market crash of 1929 occurred just months into his term, plunging the United States into a severe and prolonged economic crisis. Hoover became a scapegoat for the nation’s economic woes. His White House biography notes his belief in limited government intervention, stating, “while people must not suffer from hunger and cold, caring for them must be primarily a local and voluntary responsibility.” This approach was widely criticized as insufficient to address the scale of the Depression, and “his opponents in Congress…unfairly painted him as a callous and cruel President.” The economic devastation of the Great Depression sealed Hoover’s fate as a one-term president.
William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
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William Howard Taft, a Republican, was the 27th President, serving from 1909 to 1913. He sought reelection in 1912 but was defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who served two terms.
Taft’s single term was marked by a significant rift within the Republican party. According to his White House biography, “Taft alienated many liberal Republicans who later formed the Progressive Party, by defending the Payne-Aldrich Act which unexpectedly continued high tariff rates.” He further angered progressives by siding with his Secretary of the Interior in a controversy related to conservation policies, contradicting the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, his predecessor.
This division within the Republican ranks became irreparable when Theodore Roosevelt challenged Taft for the presidency. When Taft received the Republican nomination, Roosevelt left the party to lead the Progressive (“Bull Moose”) Party. This split the Republican vote, guaranteeing Woodrow Wilson’s victory and making Taft a one-term president.
Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)
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Benjamin Harrison, a Republican, was the 23rd President, serving from 1889 to 1893. He ran for reelection in 1892 but lost to Democrat Grover Cleveland, who had previously served as president and would serve again, becoming the only president to serve non-consecutive terms.
Harrison’s administration faced economic headwinds that undermined his reelection bid. His White House biography notes that “Harrison’s administration suffered politically after a substantial Treasury surplus evaporated, and prosperity seemed about to disappear as well.” The economic downturn contributed to significant Democratic gains in the 1890 congressional elections. Despite Harrison’s cooperation with Congress on party legislation, Republican leaders distanced themselves from him. While renominated by his party in 1892, he was ultimately defeated by Cleveland.
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889 & 1893-1897)
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Democrat Grover Cleveland holds a unique place in U.S. presidential history. He served as both the 22nd and 24th President, from 1885 to 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897. While not technically a one-term president overall, Cleveland lost his bid for reelection in 1888 to Republican Benjamin Harrison, making him relevant to this discussion of presidents who failed to secure a second consecutive term.
Cleveland’s stance on tariffs played a significant role in his 1888 defeat. His White House biography recounts, “In December 1887 he called on Congress to reduce high protective tariffs.” Despite being warned that this position would provide Republicans with a strong campaign issue, Cleveland famously retorted, “What is the use of being elected or reelected unless you stand for something?” His principled but politically risky position on tariffs contributed to his loss to Harrison in 1888.
Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
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Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, was the 8th President, serving from 1837 to 1841. He sought reelection in 1840 but was defeated by Whig candidate William Henry Harrison, though Harrison died shortly after taking office.
Van Buren’s presidency was quickly overshadowed by economic hardship. His White House biography states, “The country was prosperous, but less than three months later the panic of 1837 punctured the prosperity.” The Panic of 1837, a major financial crisis, struck the nation early in his term.
Van Buren’s response focused on government solvency, but his efforts were insufficient to alleviate the widespread economic distress. “Declaring that the panic was due to recklessness in business and overexpansion of credit, Van Buren devoted himself to maintaining the solvency of the national Government.” Despite his efforts, the economic downturn led to his defeat in the 1840 election.
John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
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John Quincy Adams, the 6th President, served from 1825 to 1829. He ran for reelection in 1828 but lost to Andrew Jackson, marking a significant shift in American politics towards populism.
Adams faced intense political opposition and accusations during his term. His White House biography describes his reelection campaign as “an ordeal Adams did not easily bear,” noting that his “Jacksonian opponents accused him of corruption and public plunder.” These attacks, combined with a changing political landscape, led to his defeat by Jackson in the 1828 election.
John Adams (1797-1801)
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John Adams, a Federalist and one of America’s Founding Fathers, was the 2nd President, serving from 1797 to 1801. He was defeated in his reelection bid in 1800 by Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, in a pivotal election that marked a transfer of power between parties.
Adams’ presidency was hampered by political divisions within his own Federalist party. His White House biography explains, “In the campaign of 1800 the Republicans were united and effective, the Federalists badly divided.” This internal division within the Federalists, coupled with the rising strength and unity of the Democratic-Republicans under Jefferson, led to Adams’ defeat and the end of his presidency after a single term.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) – A Unique Case
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While Lyndon B. Johnson served for six years, from 1963 to 1969, he can arguably be considered a one-term president in this context. Johnson became president through succession after John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.
Elected to his own term in 1964, Johnson achieved significant legislative victories, pushing through his “Great Society” programs. However, his presidency became increasingly defined by the Vietnam War. Facing growing public opposition to the war, Johnson made a stunning announcement on March 31, 1968: he would halt bombing in North Vietnam to seek peace negotiations, and he would not seek reelection. Although eligible to run for a second full term, Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection effectively made him a one-term president in terms of elected terms.
Presidential Terms: Length and Limitations
The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, formally established the two-term limit for presidents. Prior to this, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the only president to serve more than two terms, winning four presidential elections and serving a record 4,222 days.
Conversely, the shortest presidential term belongs to William Henry Harrison, who died just 31 days after taking office in 1841.
Despite the challenges faced by one-term presidents, it’s worth noting that they receive the same presidential retirement benefits as those who serve two terms, including a pension, staffed office, and other allowances. This recognition underscores the significant service they provide to the nation, even if their time in the highest office is limited to a single term.
