President of the United States

The President of the United States (often abbreviated "POTUS") is the head of state of the United States. Under the U.S. Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The full title is President of the United States of America.

Presidential salary and benefits

The First U.S. Congress voted to pay George Washington a salary of $25,000 a year — a significant sum in 1789. Washington, already a successful man, refused to accept his salary.

Related Topics:
First U.S. Congress - 1789

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Since 2001, the President has earned a salary of $400,000 a year.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Traditionally, the President, as the most important official in the U.S. government, is the highest-paid government employee. Consequently, the President's salary serves as a cap of sorts for all other federal officials, such as the Chief Justice. The raise for 2001 was approved by Congress and President Bill Clinton in 1999 because other officials who receive annual cost-of-living increases had salaries approaching the President's. Consequently, in order to raise the salaries of the other federal employees, the President's salary had to be raised as well.

Related Topics:
U.S. government - Chief Justice - 2001 - 1999

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Modern Presidents enjoy many non-salary benefits such as living and working in the spacious White House mansion in Washington, DC. While traveling, the President is able to conduct all the functions of the office aboard several specially built Boeing 747s, which take the call sign Air Force One when the President is aboard. The President travels around Washington in an armored Cadillac limousine, equipped with bullet-proof windows and tires and a self-contained ventilation system in the event of a biological or chemical attack. When traveling longer distances around the Washington area or on presidential trips, the President travels aboard the presidential helicopter, which takes the call sign Marine One when the president is aboard. Additionally, the President has full use of Camp David in Maryland, a sprawling retreat occasionally used as a casual setting for hosting foreign dignitaries.

Related Topics:
White House - Washington, DC - Boeing 747 - Air Force One - Cadillac - Marine One - Camp David - Maryland

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The President and his family are protected at all times by an extensive Secret Service detail. Until 1997, all former Presidents and their families were protected by the Secret Service until the President's death. The last President to have lifetime Secret Service protection is Bill Clinton; George W. Bush and all subsequent Presidents will be protected by the Secret Service for a maximum of 10 years after leaving office.

Related Topics:
Secret Service - 1997

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Presidents continue to enjoy other benefits after leaving office such as free mailing privileges, free office space, the right to hold a diplomatic passport and budgets for office help and staff assistance. However, it was not until after Harry S. Truman (1958) that Presidents received a pension after they left office. Additionally, since the presidency of Herbert Hoover, Presidents receive funding from the National Archives and Records Administration upon leaving office to establish their own presidential library. These are not traditional libraries, but rather repositories for preserving and making available the papers, records, and other historical materials for each President since Herbert Hoover.

Related Topics:
Diplomatic passport - Harry S. Truman - 1958 - National Archives and Records Administration - Presidential library

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The President has the use of:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Air Force One
• Army One
• Coast Guard One
• Executive One
• Marine One
• Navy One