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.

The Declaration of Independence - written by Thomas Jefferson and edited, principally, by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams - is depicted here, in its ...

This document, from the National Archives, is the draft of President Reagan's famous speech which he delivered in Berlin.  Included here is the p...

In March of 1945, Albert Einstein wrote another letter to President Roosevelt.  He urged caution as America moved forward with the development of...

Although he was a pacifist, who despised war, Albert Einstein also realized that if Hitler and his scientists were the first to discover how to build ...

This image depicts the second page of a letter - from Albert Einstein to President Roosevelt - which changed the world.

Emancipation Proclamation, by Abraham Lincoln. Click on the Document to make it larger.

Emancipation Proclamation, by Abraham Lincoln - page 2. Click on the Document to enlarge it.  

Facsimilie of a memo detailing EX COMM discussions regarding a U.S. response to Cuba.  They percieved their options to be a blockade or an i...

Facsimilie copy of a memorandum,dated October 22, 1962, from U.S. President Kennedy establishing the Executive Committee of the National Security Coun...

This image depicts the first page of Executive Order 9981, signed by President Truman, which - for the first time in American history - gave equal rig...

Image of the second page of Executive Order 9981, signed by President Truman. Click on the image for a better view.

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention issued a report on the 13th of September, 1787 preparing for the first federal elections.

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