10 Lean back and relax (if you can)
Obama’s first talk show appearance following his resignation
The president is rarely idle for more than an hour at a time. The day is dominated by conference calls, meetings with world leaders, strategy talks with advisors, and demands from the national media. There isn’t much downtime at work other from sleep. Thus, there is a big comedown when it finishes and the new guy is sworn in. On his first day of freedom after leaving office in January 2017, Barack Obama awoke and immediately failed. “I was quite content with my decision to sleep in,” he later reminisced to David Letterman. “I kind of liked stumbling around the house, asking questions like, “Does the coffee maker work?” and arguing with Michelle over who gets to use the wardrobe.”
Bill Clinton went through a similar experience following his service. Clinton was surprised to discover breakfast wasn’t ready when he woke up after serving a lengthy term as governor of Arkansas and then eight years in the White House. Clinton had to start cooking for himself all of a sudden, by himself, without the assistance of White House staff.
More than most, George W. Bush adapted to life after the White House somewhat well. He was just as startled as the rest by the sudden descent from the demanding job. But Bush soon discovered that he liked to spend time alone on his ranch in Texas. Additionally, he started painting as a new pastime. The former president works as an artist these days. He is skilled at it as well, having published a book of his artwork called Portraits of Courage in 2017.[1]
9 Grab That Check—Eternally!
The amount of money taxpayers use to fund former presidents
After holding the position of commander in chief, there is no higher place to go in one’s career. Being the head of the free world is the greatest promotion. Naturally, former presidents engage in charitable activity and support of nonprofit organisations. But the presidency is the ultimate in terms of career. For that, former leaders also receive compensation. Pensions for presidents are safe and ample. Amazingly, though, things weren’t always that way. Harry S. Truman concluded his term in 1953 and went back to Missouri. His monthly military pension of $112.56 was all the money he possessed.
Politicians became alarmed upon realising that the absence of a safety net might expose past leaders to bribery or blackmail. Thus, the Former Presidents Act was passed by Congress in 1958. Ex-presidents are entitled by law to a lifetime pension, security personnel, health insurance, and other benefits. These days, that pension is little over $200,000 annually. Presidents may also ask for additional funding for expenses if they want to “maintain the dignity” of the office when their term is over. Never again will an ex-president hurt for money!
That being said, there is dispute around the pension. These days, former presidents frequently discover that their years after leaving the White House are especially profitable. Telling stories about their tenure in office can make leaders millions of dollars through speaking engagements and book sales. Indeed, political pundits are questioning if the pension hasn’t reached the end of its useful life. But the money keeps coming in, at least for the time being. Given the demanding schedules many leaders maintain while in government, perhaps it makes sense.[2]
8 Secret Service Employees Remain
What it takes to safeguard the former president is explained by a former Secret Service agent.
You will never live in anonymity as the President of the United States of America. For the remainder of their life, former White House residents will always be recognised. Additionally, they could be targeted because of their knowledge of national secrets. It wouldn’t be a good idea to release a former president without providing them appropriate security. This is known to the Secret Service. The men and women in black suits look out for former presidents for the rest of their lives. Their families are also covered for life. Additionally, until they reach adulthood, their kids remain under strict supervision.
Remarkably, lifetime assistance from the Secret Service wasn’t always offered. Congress enacted a statute in 1994 that restricted the first ten years of ex-presidential protection. Senators at the time argued that after ten years, retired commanders should be able to cover their own security costs. However, the terror attacks on September 11, 2011 changed that way of thinking. Lifetime security and complete family protection had been fully reauthorized by 2013.
Nevertheless, some presidents would rather do it alone. Richard Nixon, in fact, made the decision to completely forego Secret Service supervision. Nixon originally hired the Secret Service following his notorious resignation in 1974. However, he decided to fully give up protection in 1985. Without their careful supervision, he spent the final ten years of his life.[3]
7 Every Medical Arrangement You Can Manage
The Advantages and Rewards for Past Presidents – Let’s Share Fascinating Knowledge
Former leaders also get access to healthcare in addition to those delicious pension benefits. Former leaders of state are entitled to lifetime coverage for presidential health care, just like members of Congress. Interestingly though, there are differences in the coverage. George H.W. Bush only had federal health insurance through the General Services Administration in his later years.
Jimmy Carter continues to receive medical care paid for the GSA monies. But the reason is that each of those men served just one term as president. Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama—three two-term politicians—are all eligible for substantially greater annual funding. They were able to receive significantly greater approved insurance benefits throughout their extended White House stays.
However, this does not imply that Carter has been left hanging. Throughout his lengthy, significant existence, care is provided for all times. Furthermore, a few of these men don’t even use the resources that are available! Due to his previous tenure as Vice President, the elder Bush was eligible for increased health care reimbursements. However, he actually turned down the benefits completely in his later years. Of course, it seems logical that some of these men aren’t vying for every last federal dollar available when one considers their vast worths. However, the choice is available. Following their tenure in office, former presidents will always have access to healthcare.[4]
6 I hope you’re not a fan of driving!
Guidelines for Former Presidents
It’s surprising how limited life can be for a former president. These former leaders have access to many things, but many more are off limits. Some of the most basic joys in life are really forbidden! Consider driving as an example. A person who becomes president will never go behind the wheel of a car again. Not on a public road, anyway.
George W. Bush once said that he hadn’t driven on a motorway in decades. That’s the only way he uses his pickup now, on his Texas ranch. This is for the obvious reason of security and safety. It is simply too dangerous for a former president to drive. Those employees can just do it for them since they have lifetime protection from the Secret Service. Since Lyndon Baines Johnson drove on a public road in the 1960s, no president has actually driven themselves.
Although not officially required by the Secret Service, the no-driving policy is highly advised. All presidents and vice presidents have complied with the request since LBJ’s joyride. They are not required to enjoy it, though. The requirement to not drive was once cited by Bill Clinton as one of the main disadvantages of federal public service.
Joe Biden, the current president, is likewise not fond of it. Fortunately, these guys are still permitted to drive around in golf carts on secured grounds. Biden stated that not being able to drive was “the one thing I hate about this job” when he was Obama’s second-in-command. It may not be much, but it’s all they have![5]
5 Secret Life? How about a private life?
The History of Reaganomics and Its Controversial Nature
It’s hardly surprising that former presidents are in high demand after leaving office. Dealing with the public is an aspect of the work. Nor is it limited to a local area. For the remainder of their lives, past presidents are followed by international media. These leaders never again get to be anonymous. Billions of individuals throughout the world have access to news and details. Under that scrutiny, day-to-day living is challenging and relentless. Living the life of a former president bears some similarities to that of a Hollywood celebrity. However, the fallout from tough political choices doesn’t have to be dealt with by those celebrities.
Consider Ronald Reagan as an example. He ended his tenure in January 1989 with great success. However, the consequences of his policy decisions proved terrible as time went on. Reagan was derided for his economic policies and their consequences decades after he retired. Bill Clinton experienced the same problem. In the 1990s, his hard-on-crime attitude gained popularity. He had a rather quiet and successful two terms as president. However, opinions on his criminal justice policies had shifted by the 2010s. Clinton came under fire for the atrocities of mass imprisonment two decades after his presidency came to an end on a positive note. He even went so far as to apologise for his views on crime after feeling criticism from the public. That it transpired twenty years later was only a byproduct of the job.
This is what these leaders voluntarily sign up for, of course. We have to live with the policies they enact. Even in the court of public opinion, they are held accountable when things go wrong. It’s still a frustrating aspect of retirement to have critics still praising your work 25 years later![6]
4 Avoid Pointing Out the Next Guy
George W. Bush and Barack Obama Attack President Trump Without Identifying Him | The 11th Hour | MSNBC
Not even previous presidents are above the law. Yet pressure to comply with the law isn’t the only thing placed on former leaders. Actually, retired commanders follow a set of strong recommendations and unwritten guidelines, such as the previously mentioned driving ban. The most significant of these concerns the heirs to the presidency. It is customary for outgoing presidents to refrain from criticising their successor. It makes sense theoretically—former presidents did spend time in the White House. After their terms were up, elections were held again, and society proceeded. So give the new head of state the freedom to carry out their duties! Of course, this isn’t a formal rule; it’s just a social habit. However, former presidents have (for the most part) taken their adherence to it seriously.
That all somewhat changed in 2016 with the election of Donald Trump. Furthermore, it wasn’t only that Democrats wanted to make fun of Republicans. Actually, during Trump’s administration, harsh criticism of his policies came from both George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Bush went so far as to refer to the former reality TV star as a “blowhard.” Nevertheless, neither of the past leaders mentioned Trump by name when making their criticisms. That illustrates the effectiveness of the “no criticism” policy at work. Former leaders make every effort to maintain the tradition, even if criticising the president of the United States in this way may still be indecent.[7]
3 This Is A Very Exclusive Club
Why Did Clinton and Bush Become Friends?
We now know that being president is a difficult job. Every day, choices involving life or death are made. Debates about important policies never end. Important decisions need to be taken. People’s lives will be impacted by their decisions, possibly decades later. Not everyone is suited for the job’s level of scrutiny. Furthermore, these leaders have few people to relate to because there are only a small number of former presidents alive at any given moment. As a result, a lot of previous presidents make buddies.
This has been demonstrated by George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, despite their divergent political ideologies. The two become close after their separate tenure in the White House. They frequently take trips to Bush’s father’s Maine house together. In jest, Bush has referred to Clinton as his “brother from another mother.”
When former presidents join together at public gatherings, they put an end to the spectacle. It is quite uncommon to get a photo with these active former leaders. They are memorable when they arise. 2017 saw Bush, Clinton, and Obama get together in New Jersey for the President’s Cup golf competition. Those three made appearances alongside George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter later that year to raise money for storm assistance. That is quite the show-stopper—five former presidents all together in one place.
These leaders have finally finished their years of office and are free from the political trench warfare. Therefore, people come to enjoy each other in retirement, irrespective of their political affiliation. They have the ideal opportunity to bond because of their distinct work experiences. Furthermore, their tiny club is undoubtedly among the most exclusive in the entire globe.
2 Write, Why Not? There’s Only Time.
The lengthy tradition of presidents being writers
Every leader should anticipate one opportunity following their term in office: writing a memoir. For almost 150 years, people have continued to follow that practice. The first former president to publish a memoir following his term in office was James Buchanan, in the modern sense of the word. When he released his book in 1861, it was met with harsh criticism. Five years later, Buchanan made another attempt with a revised edition, frustrated. It had a similar reaction. However, things quickly changed.
The presidential memoir of Ulysses S. Grant was published by Mark Twain in 1885. It was a hit immediately. Because of Grant’s excellent writing, a lot of historians believe Twain ghostwrote the book. Whether true or not, Grant’s popularity caused the memoir industry to take off. The industry of ghostwriting has as well. Ronald Reagan’s book went offered for sale very soon after he left office in 1989. Reagan joked that his editorial assistant had written it all when he was questioned about it. He joked, “I hear it’s a terrific book.”
These days, presidential memoirs are highly desirable to the publishing industry. Publishers fought for the rights to publish Barack Obama’s life biography after he left office. In the end, Penguin Random House emerged victorious, proposing an unprecedented $65 million for both his and Michelle’s memoirs. Naturally, Obama’s historic administration contributed to securing that enormous sum. However, memoir projects have become more and more ambitious for all former presidents. It not only provides information about White House life but also offers an almost certain means of earning a large sum of money after serving in the federal government.[9]
1 And Add the Book to Your Individual Library!
CNN Describes: Presidential Mansions
A memoir isn’t the only thing to do as a president’s term comes to a close. Creating a library is actually the one longer-lasting project that every president completes. These “presidential centres” serve as living archives of the previous administration. They give the general public an opportunity to respect the past head of state and discover their legacy. They are frequently held in the hometown of a president. They include other significant mementos and office keepsakes. Presidential libraries even serve as hubs for local events in certain cases. Consider the instance of sunny Yorba Linda, California, and Richard Nixon’s library. The land is now open for private events, such as weddings. All of us want to be married with Tricky Dick’s ghost keeping an eye on us, don’t we?
Aside from being a source of amusement, presidential libraries have a political function. Franklin D. Roosevelt declared in 1939 that upon his departure from office, all of his documents will be given to the federal government. FDR was worried about document storage following a dismal string of former presidents misplacing critical letters and memos. In actuality, that problem dates back to the first president. George Washington’s presidential records were stored in a cellar on his Mount Vernon mansion after he left office. They started to get wet in the dank pit over time. Rat infestation gradually ruined several of them totally.
This loss of original source material wasn’t good for policymakers. Even still, it took years for FDR’s federal initiative to become law. The need that presidents turn over their documents upon departing the White House was officially formalised in 1978. These presidential libraries receive the paperwork so that it can be kept there indefinitely. Naturally, a large portion of it is hidden from view. Nonetheless, preserving these documents for all time helps to protect the nation’s cultural legacy. Long after they leave office, it continues to be a president’s lasting legacy.[10]
See also: Top 10 The Odd Wars in Which No One Died
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