TWENTY-SECOND AMENDMENT RATIFIED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Our First POTUS, George Washington, set the precedent of serving no more than two terms, but no law or amendment restricted the number of terms or years a president could serve until the ratification of the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution on February 27, 1951.
The 22nd Amendment states: "No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice...." The amendment passed a Republican-controlled Congress on March 21, 1947. It had been proposed in response to Democrat POTUS Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to four terms.
In 1940, FDR became the first president to win a third term. Although elected to a fourth in 1944, FDR died on April 12, 1945.
According to Constitution Daily, in 1944, Republican New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey saw a potential 16 years for one president as a "threat to democracy." In supporting a constitutional amendment restricting the POTUS to two terms, Governor Dewey described a four term presidency as...
"the most dangerous (threat) to our freedom ever proposed."
JFK+50 NOTE
FDR was not the first POTUS who wanted a third term. Ulysses S. Grant wanted one in 1880 but the Republican Party did not nominate him. Theodore Roosevelt, after serving two terms as a Republican, sought a third term running as a Progressive Party candidate in 1912.
The county in which we live (Knox County, TN) was carried by FDR in 1932, 1936 and 1940. Gov. Dewey won Knox County in 1944 although FDR won the state of Tennessee.
SOURCES
"FDR's third term election and the 22nd Amendment," November 5, 2019, Constitution Daily, www.constitutioncenter.org/
"22nd Amendment: Two Term Limit on Presidency, www.constitutioncenter.org/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Our First POTUS, George Washington, set the precedent of serving no more than two terms, but no law or amendment restricted the number of terms or years a president could serve until the ratification of the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution on February 27, 1951.
The 22nd Amendment states: "No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice...." The amendment passed a Republican-controlled Congress on March 21, 1947. It had been proposed in response to Democrat POTUS Franklin D. Roosevelt's election to four terms.
In 1940, FDR became the first president to win a third term. Although elected to a fourth in 1944, FDR died on April 12, 1945.
According to Constitution Daily, in 1944, Republican New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey saw a potential 16 years for one president as a "threat to democracy." In supporting a constitutional amendment restricting the POTUS to two terms, Governor Dewey described a four term presidency as...
"the most dangerous (threat) to our freedom ever proposed."
JFK+50 NOTE
FDR was not the first POTUS who wanted a third term. Ulysses S. Grant wanted one in 1880 but the Republican Party did not nominate him. Theodore Roosevelt, after serving two terms as a Republican, sought a third term running as a Progressive Party candidate in 1912.
The county in which we live (Knox County, TN) was carried by FDR in 1932, 1936 and 1940. Gov. Dewey won Knox County in 1944 although FDR won the state of Tennessee.
SOURCES
"FDR's third term election and the 22nd Amendment," November 5, 2019, Constitution Daily, www.constitutioncenter.org/
"22nd Amendment: Two Term Limit on Presidency, www.constitutioncenter.org/
22nd Amendment (1951)
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