Five unforgettable transfers of power in American history
By Emily Hallas
August 18, 2024 3:00 am The peaceful transfer of power is the hallmark of American democracy.
There has remained only one constant in the 247 years of the American republic. No matter the personal animus or alleged fraud, there has always ultimately been a peaceful transfer of power in the nation’s highest office. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some tense, chaotic, and even some flashing touches of humanity in the process.
Here is a look at a few of the most memorable moments in U.S. history between incumbent presidents and their successors.
‘Dear George’ launches a new era in the Oval OfficeTransfers of power can be tense affairs, but even those in the highest echelons of power appreciate a touch of humanity. As President Ronald Reagan finished his second term in 1989, he left behind just that. On the brink of the 1990s, a decade that would usher in the age of the internet and the fall of the Soviet empire, Reagan left his successor in the Oval Office a handwritten note and launched a tradition that would last for decades.
George H.W. Bush, Reagan’s vice president throughout “the Gipper’s” two terms in office before climbing to the presidency himself, was the lucky recipient of the letter.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/presidential/3122884/five-unforgettable-transfers-of-power-in-american-history/
