So today I wanted to figure out which U.S. Presidents served two full terms, right? Started simple - just typed "two term presidents" into a search box. Got a huge pile of websites shouting facts at me, some saying Washington, Jefferson, others adding Reagan and Clinton. Felt confused, like which ones actually completed two terms without dying or resigning?
Grabbed my dog-eared notebook - the old school paper kind. Scribbled down names as I found them online. Then crossed out Lincoln 'cause he only served part of second term, same with FDR dying early in his fourth. Messy crossed out lines everywhere.
Big problem:
- Wikipedia lists were overwhelming, with all those election year numbers
- Some sites had annoying auto-play videos covering the text
- Phone battery died halfway through, lost my scribbles
Sat frustrated on my couch remembering sixth grade history class. Hummed that Schoolhouse Rock song quietly. Then it clicked - term limit is eight years unless they came in after a resignation. Needed presidents who served roughly eight consecutive years.
Started over. Looked at presidential portraits one by one on a white government webpage:
- Washington? Served eight years total
- Jefferson? Eight years
- James Madison? Another eight
- James Monroe? Yeah eight years
- Skipped way down to Grant - two terms
- Grover Cleveland? Weird case - two non-consecutive terms
- Woodrow Wilson - eight years total
- Eisenhower - two full terms
- Reagan - 1981 to 1989, yep
- Clinton - 1993-2001, finished both
- Bush Jr. - eight years
- Obama - 2009-2017, both terms done
Counted 'em up - total eighteen presidents served two full terms from Washington through Obama. The trick was ignoring partial terms and assassinations.
Felt silly afterwards. Could've just asked my nephew's high school history teacher instead of wasting two hours cross-referencing blurry notes with dying electronics. But hey, now I've got this scribbled checklist stuck to my fridge door with a novelty magnet. Next time someone asks at a barbecue, I'm ready.
