American Presidents Documents

U.S. Presidents have varying backgrounds and political persuasions. Only one was unanimously elected. They can have little or lasting influence. These stories are about individuals with the power to make a difference at home and abroad.

This is page two of the letter to President Lincoln, from Frederic Bates, warning of an assassination plot. Bates had apparently overheard a discussi...

Among President Lincoln's papers, which are maintained at the Library of Congress, is a letter warning the President of an assassination plot against ...

When William Banning lost his son George in Korea, the bereaved father—from New Canaan, Connecticut—sent a letter to President Truman. &nb...

When soldiers captured John Wilkes Booth, they found his diary.  At some point, the diary was turned over to the FBI where certain pages were dig...

One week after her husband's death, Jackie Kennedy told reporter Theodore White that the Kennedy era was like "Camelot." It was her way of making sure...

FDR did not use "infamy" in his first-draft as this original shows.

Newspaper article detailing the events of the assassination of President McKinley by witnesses at the scene. Click on the image for a better view.

This original document, from the U.S. Navy, announces the death of President Roosevelt to members of the Navy.  The country was still at war when...

This image depicts one of the pages of Thomas Jefferson's original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence.  It reflects edits by Benjamin...

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