Which president served four terms?

Which president served four terms?

• A. Franklin D. Roosevelt
• B. John Adams
• C. Thomas Jefferson
• D. James Madison

Answer: (A)

Four terms were possible because there was no constitutional limit on the number of terms a president could serve at the time. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms, taking office in 1933 and winning reelection in 1936, 1940, and 1944. His leadership through the Great Depression with the New Deal and through most of World War II earned broad public support that sustained consecutive victories. He remains the only U.S. president to serve four terms; he died in office during the fourth term, and Vice President Truman completed that term. The two-term limit that later constrained future presidents was established by the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951. In comparison, John Adams served one term, while Thomas Jefferson and James Madison each served two terms.

Four terms were possible because there was no constitutional limit on the number of terms a president could serve at the time. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms, taking office in 1933 and winning reelection in 1936, 1940, and 1944. His leadership through the Great Depression with the New Deal and through most of World War II earned broad public support that sustained consecutive victories. He remains the only U.S. president to serve four terms; he died in office during the fourth term, and Vice President Truman completed that term. The two-term limit that later constrained future presidents was established by the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951. In comparison, John Adams served one term, while Thomas Jefferson and James Madison each served two terms.