Life after the Oval Office: What your favorite presidents did after leaving White House
What former Presidents did after leaving Oval Office, from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump
What happens after presidents leave the most powerful office in the world has always been a source of intense fascination. Let's take a look at the careers that the former US presidents pursued after leaving the White House.
Richard Nixon
After resigning from the presidency in 1974, Richard Nixon became a writer and public speaker. He made more than $2 million by selling his memoir. Nixon built a considerable fortune from his stints as a writer and public speaker which helped him to pay the fees of his lawyer for the Watergate Scandal, per PEOPLE. Presidential historian Jeffrey Engel noted, "Nixon spent the rest of his life trying to rehabilitate his reputation but in a very savvy, Nixon-like way."
Gerald Ford
After completing his presidential term in 1977, Gerald Ford went on to become a public speaker and board of presidents of several organizations, per Wall Street Journal. In 1999, Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton for his contribution to steering the country through the controversial Watergate scandal.
Jimmy Carter
After leaving the White House in 1980, the oldest living president at 99, Jimmy Carter "became the Christian missionary he’s already wanted to be," per Engel. As a humanitarian, Carter worked for charitable causes including Habitat for Humanity, teaching Sunday schools, and opening the Carter Center. He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his contributions to humanitarian causes.
Ronald Reagan
After completing his two presidential terms, Ronald Reagan moved back to Los Angeles and facilitated the opening of the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley in 1991. In 1994, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and spent the rest of his life mostly out of public view before he died in 2004.
George HW Bush
The 41st President of the United States had a varied post-presidential life after leaving office in 1993. He returned to his home in Houston, Texas, and became a board member of several local companies. He also volunteered at the local church and facilitated the opening of his presidential library at the Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
Bill Clinton
After serving two terms and leaving the Oval Office in 2001, Bill Clinton stayed in public life through his involvement in the William Clinton Foundation. He also oversaw the opening of his presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas.
George W Bush
After serving his two terms as the President, George W Bush left the Oval Office in 2009. After leaving the office, he mostly stayed out of politics and chose to become an amateur painter. He also presided over the founding of the George W Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University.
Barack Obama
As the youngest outgoing president, Barack Obama, after leaving office in 2017, Obama spent an idyllic retired life for the first few years. He has stayed largely out of American politics except for voicing his support to the current President Joe Biden during the 2020 election. He has also published the two-volume memoir 'A Promised Land' which has become an instant hit and has often delivered public speeches.
Donald Trump
After serving one term as the President, the 77-year-old veteran politician Donald Trump is gearing up for reelection in the 2024 presidential election.