The President of the United States in office, “pointing the world, good not awesome”, who would like to have been the President of the United States, but unfortunately according to the Constitution of the United States, the presidency of the maximum re-election 2 terms, that is, at most 8 years (except during the war, but the probability of this is very small) must be out of office.
Former U.S. presidents: Bush Sr.
So the question is, what benefits can the President of the United States get after leaving office (retirement)?
In fact, initially, the President of the United States did not have any benefits after he left office, so what’s the point of having a bicycle when you’re President? And the people who can be the president of the United States are generally the elite of society, not lacking in money, and should no longer be supported at the expense of the state.
Some of the wealthy outgoing US presidents, of course, do not care about the retirement benefits, they write their memoirs, books, and give speeches, they can also harvest a lot of dollars.
But there are those who are successful and those who are not.
Jefferson, the third U.S. president.
More well-known, such as the 3rd President of the United States Jefferson, when the President of the United States for many years, when he retired a lot of debt, although they have a few small workshops to live, but due to the farm harvest is not stable, often unable to make ends meet, and finally can only rely on the sale of land to pay off debts, living in poverty.
This glacial situation of the outgoing president’s retirement, until 1958 has improved, when the former U.S. President Harry S. Truman, a farmer, due to the original family was not well-off, after the outgoing president’s life suddenly fell into difficulties.
The reigning superpower former president, retired life is not as good as ordinary people, which made the United States, the face of the day, really can’t hang on.
U.S. President Harry S. Truman
In order to preserve the dignity of the outgoing President and to respect the international image, the United States Congress passed the Former Presidents’ Courtesies Act in 1958 to provide, at the legislative level, a decent retirement life for the outgoing President of the United States.
The Former Presidents’ Courtesies Act provides for all aspects of retirement for the outgoing President, his spouse and children, including home accommodation, medical care, security office, travel and even funerals, with the following key benefits.
First, the costs of the transition from the President to the civilian population
When the President of the United States in office, the whole family living in the White House, after leaving office, will have to find a new home to settle down, before the White House for stationed in the effort to carry out luxurious renovations, add expensive home furnishings, certainly can not take away, this expense, relocation always have to compensate is not?
President Trump’s newly renovated dirt-cheap White House offices
As the former president’s renovation of the White House cost a lot of money (Trump, who is not bad with money, spent millions of dollars to redecorate), so the cost is not a small amount of money, but also a kind of compensation.
Obama received $1.5 million right after he left office, enough for the former president’s family to make proper arrangements to furnish their new home.
Outgoing President Bush, Clinton in their office photo.
At the same time, in order to prevent the former president from suddenly falling into a state of idleness after leaving office, the former president will be provided with a private office to write his memoirs and attend to some of his official duties, depending on the place designated by him, taking into account his work ethic.
Secondly, the security of a decent living
The outgoing President of the United States will receive an annual pension (in the same amount as the annual salary of a U.S. federal government minister) from the time he leaves the White House. And it’s adjusted for inflation and fluctuations in the salaries of government employees. For example, the current pension for former presidents has risen from $25,000 for President Truman that year to $200,000 for Obama in 2017, so you can see that the increase is still significant.
This annual pension of $200,000, although it may not be a fraction of the annual income of those executives of large American companies, but maintaining the most basic life of the outgoing president is still guaranteed.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle
In addition, former First Ladies who do not have a retirement pension are entitled to receive tens of thousands of dollars as long as the former President is alive and has not dissolved the marriage, as in the case of Michelle Obama, who received $20,000.
In addition, the outgoing U.S. President, his spouse and minor children are also guaranteed medical care, with designated military hospitals providing free medical treatment.
Third, lifelong secret service security and official travel protection.
In 1965, the United States Congress legislated the obligation of the Federal Secret Service to protect the security of outgoing United States Presidents and their families, but this was changed in 1994 to provide security for outgoing Presidents and their families for 10 years only.
But as the fight against terrorists intensified during Obama’s term, in 2012, then-President Obama signed the Former President’s Protection Act of 2012, again providing lifetime protection for outgoing U.S. presidents.
At the same time, retired former United States Presidents and their wives are inevitably required to attend official events, and these travel expenses are of course reimbursed.
The Former Presidents Act of 1968, as amended, provides that a former President of the United States who leaves office may be reimbursed $1 million per year for travel expenses (including up to two aides) refunded each year, and the spouse of a departing President may also be entitled to $500,000 in travel expenses.
Fourth, the supreme guarantee of honor
Each former President of the United States is entitled to have a library named after him or her, at a location of his or her choice by the outgoing President, usually in the President’s birthplace, which is another form of “homecoming.
Reagan Presidential Library
The library is under the jurisdiction of the state and contains first-hand information such as manuscripts, documents signed by the outgoing president, telegrams, etc. To the outgoing president, this is the honor of his life, so great importance is attached to the location and design of the presidential library.
At the same time, outgoing U.S. presidents can enjoy a state funeral when they pass away, the cost of which is borne by the state, and all government agencies will lower their flags to half-mast in mourning, which can be regarded as a great praise for his life’s work for the country.
Summing up.
The treatment of the outgoing U.S. presidents can be regarded as generous in the world, which is in line with the international strength of the U.S. superpower.
At the same time, it should also be noted that the job of the President of the United States is superficially glamorous, but it is actually a lot of work. The retired former presidents of the United States have their retirement life paid for by the State, so that they can enjoy a comfortable retirement, which is also a reward for their previous service to the country.
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