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Here's What 16 US Presidents Looked Like At The Beginning Vs. End Of Their Terms, And It Shows What A Difference 4 (Or Sometimes 8) Stressful Years Make

BuzzFeed

10 September 2024 at 8:16 pm·4-min read

1.16th President Abraham Lincoln after the 1860 election:

A portrait of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, wearing a suit and bow tie — Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

The last photograph ever taken of Lincoln in April 1865:

A historical portrait of Abraham Lincoln with a beard, wearing a suit and bow tie — Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector / Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Abraham Lincoln, wearing a suit with a bow tie, looking to the side in a formal portrait

Black and white portrait of Abraham Lincoln with a solemn expression, wearing a bow tie and suit

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive, Print Collector / Print Collector/Getty Images

2.32nd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, at the beginning of his Presidency in 1933:

Franklin D. Roosevelt in a formal robe seated at a table playing solitaire with a focused expression — *Note: FDR served four terms, but I won't bore you with pictures of four different inaugurations. Instead, I chose to show images of the beginning of his presidency, the mid-point, and the year before he passed away.
Keystone Features/Hulton Archive / Getty Images

FDR at the midpoint of his Presidency in 1939:

Franklin D. Roosevelt sits at a desk with several microphones in front of him, including WOL, CBS, NBC, and MBS — Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

FDR near the end of his presidency, in 1944:

Franklin D. Roosevelt sits at a desk with a microphone, delivering a speech, smiling. Papers and pens are on the desk in front of him — Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Franklin D. Roosevelt, dressed in a patterned robe and tie, is seated at a table playing solitaire with a deck of cards

Franklin D. Roosevelt smiling at his desk with a vintage microphone and open documents in front of him

Keystone Features / Getty Images, Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

3.33rd President Harry S. Truman in July 1945:

Harry S. Truman, dressed in a suit, sits at a desk, pointing to an open book, surrounded by papers and photos in an office — Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Truman after his re-election in November 1948:

Harry S. Truman holding a "Chicago Daily Tribune" newspaper with the headline "Dewey Defeats Truman," smiling confidently — Underwood Archives / Getty Images

Truman near the end of his presidency in 1952:

Harry S. Truman, wearing a suit, sits in a chair smiling behind a microphone. Other people are partially visible in the background — Bettman via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Harry S. Truman, dressed in a suit and bow tie, is sitting at his desk, pointing to a book

Harry S. Truman, seated and smiling behind a microphone, wearing a light-colored suit, circa mid-20th century, with a few people standing in the background

Keystone-france / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images, Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

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4.34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953:

Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a suit with arms crossed, poses for a formal portrait against a plain background — Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Eisenhower after his 1957 re-election:

Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a suit and tie, looking directly at the camera. Background features a flag and drapery — Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Eisenhower near the end of his presidency in 1960:

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon smiling and shaking hands in a formal setting, both wearing suits — Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Dwight D. Eisenhower, wearing a suit and tie, poses with arms crossed in front of a wooden background

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon smiling and shaking hands in a formal setting with curtains in the background

Keystone-france / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images, Universal History Archive / Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

5.35th President John F. Kennedy on Election Day 1960:

John F. Kennedy, in a suit and tie, stands smiling and holding a piece of paper. Draped American flags are visible in the background. A woman and a police hat are in the foreground — Bettman via Getty Images

JFK in June 1963, only five months before his assassination:

John F. Kennedy speaks passionately at a microphone, dressed in a suit and tie. A crowd is visible behind him — Gutberlet/picture alliance via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

John F. Kennedy stands smiling in front of patriotic bunting and holds a document. Two individuals are partially visible in the background

A man wearing a dark suit and white shirt speaks passionately into multiple microphones in an outdoor setting

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive, Picture Alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images

36th President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964:

A man in a suit and tie sits at a wooden table in front of a patterned curtain — Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

LBJ near the end of his presidency in July 1968:

Lyndon B. Johnson speaking at a podium with microphones, dressed in a suit and tie. He is in a room with a patterned curtain backdrop — Bettman via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Lyndon B. Johnson, wearing a dark suit and tie, sits at a desk with patterned curtains in the background

Lyndon B. Johnson stands at a podium, speaking into microphones, wearing a suit and tie with a pin on his jacket

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

6.37th President Richard Nixon in September 1969:

Richard Nixon in a formal portrait, wearing a dark suit and tie, with a neutral expression, against a plain background — Bettmann / Getty Images

Nixon in July 1972, four months before his re-election:

Richard Nixon, wearing a suit and tie, is posed looking directly at the camera with an American flag in the background — © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Nixon in April 1974, four months before his resignation:

Richard Nixon at a desk holding papers with a stack of binders labeled "Watergate" behind him, flag and presidential seal in the background — Bettman via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Richard Nixon in a formal portrait, wearing a dark suit jacket, dress shirt, and tie against a neutral background

Richard Nixon sitting at a desk with papers in hand and a stack of binders beside him

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

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7.38th President Gerald Ford in 1974:

Gerald Ford, in a suit and tie, stands with arms crossed in front of U.S. flags and presidential seal — Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Ford shortly before the 1976 election:

Gerald Ford sits at a desk in an office with an American flag and curtain in the background. He wears a suit and striped tie — Bettman via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Gerald Ford, in a suit with crossed arms, stands in front of U.S. flags

Gerald Ford, dressed in a suit and tie, seated at a desk in an official setting with an American flag in the background

Photo 12 / Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

8.39th President Jimmy Carter in February 1977:

Jimmy Carter, smiling, dressed in a suit and tie, stands in front of an American flag and a bookshelf — Bettman via Getty Images

Carter in March 1980:

Jimmy Carter standing at a podium giving a speech, wearing a suit and tie, with the American flag in the background — Chuck Fishman / Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Jimmy Carter, wearing a suit and tie, smiles while posing in front of a bookshelf and an American flag

Jimmy Carter speaks at a podium with microphones in front of him. U.S. flag is partially visible in the background

Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

9.40th President Ronald Reagan in January 1981:

Ronald Reagan, smiling, dressed in a suit with a red tie, an American flag in the background — Harry Langdon / Getty Images

Reagan's 1985 portrait:

Ronald Reagan, wearing a suit and tie, smiles for an official portrait with a flag in the background — Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Reagan, giving his farewell speech in January 1989:

Ronald Reagan sits at a desk in an office, holding documents and smiling at the camera — Diana Walker / Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Ronald Reagan, wearing a suit and red tie, smiles while posing with his hands resting on a surface in front of an American flag

Ronald Reagan sitting at a desk, holding papers, in an office setting. He is wearing a suit and tie

Harry Langdon / Getty Images, Diana Walker / Getty Images

10.41st President George H.W. Bush in January 1989:

George H.W. Bush, wearing a dark suit and tie, sits in a patterned armchair, hands clasped — Cynthia Johnson / Getty Images

Bush near the end of his presidency in 1992:

George H.W. Bush smiles while wearing a suit and tie, standing in front of a microphone — Diana Walker / Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

An elderly man in a suit with a relaxed expression, seated in a patterned chair

George H. W. Bush, wearing glasses, a dark suit, and a striped tie, smiles at an event in front of a microphone

Cynthia Johnson / Getty Images, Diana Walker / Getty Images

11.42nd President Bill Clinton being sworn in at his first inauguration in January 1993:

Bill Clinton taking the presidential oath next to Hillary Clinton, a judge, and Chelsea Clinton during his inauguration ceremony — Cynthia Johnson / Getty Images

Clinton at his second inauguration in January 1997:

Bill Clinton waves to a crowd from behind a podium while Newt Gingrich stands nearby, surrounded by other individuals — LUKE FRAZZA/AFP via Getty Images

Clinton near the end of his second term in December 2000:

Bill Clinton speaks at a podium with a chart showing national debt trends in the background. Text on the chart reads "America Debt Free By The End Of The Decade." — Mario Tama / AFP via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Bill Clinton taking the oath of office beside Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton during his presidential inauguration ceremony

Bill Clinton gives a speech at a podium, gesturing with his hand. A chart behind him shows U.S. debt trends from 1984 to 2009, with text

Cynthia Johnson / Getty Images, Mario Tama / AFP via Getty Images

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12.An official White House portrait of 43rd President George W. Bush in February 2001:

A smiling person in a suit and red tie is posing in front of an American flag — White House / Newsmakers

Bush after his re-election in February 2005:

George W. Bush speaks at a podium with the Presidential Seal. A man in glasses and a suit is seated to his right — G. Fabiano-Pool / Getty Images

Bush delivering a farewell speech at the end of his second term in January 2009:

George W. Bush in a suit with an American flag pin, delivering a speech — JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

George W. Bush, wearing a suit, red tie, and white shirt, smiles in front of an American flag backdrop

George W. Bush speaks in front of a blurred background that includes the American flag. He wears a dark suit, white shirt, and blue tie

Getty Images, Jewel Samad / AFP via Getty Images

13.44th President Barack Obama at the final Presidential debate in October 2008:

Barack Obama sits at a desk, smiling and wearing a suit with a striped tie. He appears relaxed and confident — Emmanuel Dunand / AFP via Getty Images

Obama in 2012, the year his first term ended:

Barack Obama stands at a podium with the U.S. presidential seal, speaking during an event, with American flags in the background — Nurphoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Obama near the end of his second term in 2016:

Barack Obama at a podium, speaking and pointing into the distance with an American flag in the background — Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Barack Obama, in a suit and striped tie, is smiling and seated at a desk, with a blurred background suggesting a formal setting

Barack Obama speaks at a podium, gesturing with his right hand. An American flag is in the background

Emmanuel Dunand / AFP via Getty Images, Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images

14.45th President Donald Trump at his inauguration in 2017:

Donald Trump speaks at a podium during an outdoor event. He is wearing a suit and overcoat, and is gesturing with his right hand — MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Trump at the final presidential debate in 2020:

Donald Trump speaking at a debate, gesturing with his hands while wearing a suit and red tie — Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Donald Trump speaks at a podium with a presidential seal during an outdoor event. He's wearing a suit with a red tie

Donald Trump speaks during a debate, wearing a suit and red tie, with hands raised and a serious expression. Blue background with indistinct text

Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images, Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

15.Current President Joe Biden during the swearing-in of his new administration on January 20, 2021:

Joe Biden stands at a podium with the Seal of the President of the United States, speaking into microphones — Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Biden in June 2024:

Joe Biden stands behind a podium during a CNN event, dressed in a formal suit and tie, on a blue-themed stage — Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Here's a side-by-side comparison:

Joe Biden stands at a podium with the Seal of the President of the United States, speaking into microphones

Joe Biden stands at a podium during a CNN event, wearing a suit and tie. The background displays the CNN logo and graphics

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images, The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images

Which president do you think changed the most? Let us know in the comments!