Eisenhower had enjoyed a successful presidency, ending the Korean War and overseeing economic growth. A second term in office was put in doubt in 1955 when he suffered a heart attack. A full recovery led to his renomination, but he then underwent abdominal surgery. Eisenhower’s ill-health turned focus upon the... More
Massachusetts senator and Roman Catholic John F. Kennedy, with Lyndon B. Johnson for vice president, were the Democratic candidates running against Republican Richard Nixon and his strong running-mate Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. The Democrats focussed on civil rights, and the expansion of defence and foreign aid. The Republicans were keen... More
Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson had taken office after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. He had successfully calmed a panicked nation and placed civil rights at the centre of his agenda, overseeing the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Barry M. Goldwater was the Republican candidate... More
In 1974, Nixon had become the first US president to resign, following the Watergate scandal. Vice President Gerald R. Ford succeeded him and, following tough competition from California governor Ronald Reagan in the primaries, was voted in as the Republican presidential candidate. For the Democrats, Jimmy Carter emerged as a... More
With Reagan approaching the end of his second term, the Republicans struggled to find a successor. Despite initial competition and losses in the primaries, Vice President George Bush ended up as the only candidate in the running. He chose lesser-known senator Dan Quayle as running mate. The Democratic candidacy race... More
The election of 1992 was a contest between the incumbent Republican president George Bush, Democratic candidate and Arkansas governor Bill Clinton, and self-made billionaire and independent candidate Ross Perot. From the outset, Bush’s campaign was marred by the poor state of the economy and his failure to uphold his ‘No... More
President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore were renominated to run for a second term in office on the Democratic ticket. For the Republicans, former US senator Bob Dole became presidential candidate. Ross Perot, who had also run independently in 1992, was the candidate for the Reform party but... More
In one of the closest and most controversial US elections in history, Democrat Al Gore was in the running against Republican George W. Bush. Despite eight years experience as vice president, Gore was often overshadowed by the scandal of Clinton’s second term. Bush, meanwhile, divided opinion with his speaking style... More
With the ongoing war in Iraq, questions over weapons of mass destruction, and the aftermath of 9/11, the key issue in the election of 2004 was terrorism. The incumbent Republican president George W. Bush was running against Massachusetts senator and Democratic candidate John Kerry. Aside from Iraq – which Kerry... More
When President George W. Bush left office after a second term, the Republican candidate aiming to replace him was Arizona senator John McCain, along with Sarah Palin (the first female nominated to a Republican national ticket). They were up against Illinois senator Barack Obama, with Joe Biden for vice president.... More
President Barack Obama faced a tough election after a first term troubled by slow economic recovery, high unemployment and opposition to healthcare reforms. He faced Republican candidate Mitt Romney, who touted his experience as both governor and businessman as demonstrating his suitability for the presidency. He pledged to deliver where... More
The 58th US presidential election was held on 8 November 2016. The Republican candidate was businessman and property tycoon Donald Trump, with Indiana governor Mike Pence as his running mate. The Democratic candidate was former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with US Senator for Virginia, Tim Kaine, running for vice... More