Updated September 2, 2020 29.3K votes 5.4K voters 402.0K views
This list of US presidents before and after major historical events gives visual insight into the presidential aging process. The ways in which big decisions, political scandals, and international warfare take a toll on a president becomes abundantly clear with the photographs below. See the ways in which World War II affected the Commander in Chief or the drastic difference between a pre-Iran-Contra Ronald Reagan and a post-Iran-Contra Ronald Reagan.
From FDR to LBJ, these presidential before and after photos are astounding. This job comes with gray hairs and wrinkles, as President Bill Clinton learned the hard way, given this appearance once impeachment was on the table. Speaking of impeachment, Richard Nixon got even saggier after the Watergate scandal, just as George W. Bush became far crustier once he was knee deep in the Iraq War. Even President Barack Obama shows intense aging after Benghazi and HealthCare.gov.
Which historical events took the biggest toll on sitting US presidents? Upvote the photos below that show the most drastic difference between the appearance of these US political leaders early in their terms, and later on, after the realities of politics and government affairs wore them down.
FDR came to office under stressful times that would age any man, but Pearl Harbor rendered him a ghost of his former self. The launch of World War II took a toll on President Roosevelt, as his hair thinned and skin wrinkled from the stress.
Facing arguably the most arduous task of any executive before or since, Lincoln's years maintaining the Union took a visible toll on him. His already gaunt appearance grew even gaunter throughout the Civil War, and his previously dark beard grew more silver and wispy.
Even after September 11th, George Bush looked like your average Baby Boomer. But after the absolute stress and total chaos of the Iraq War, you can see a far grayer and wrinklier President Bush.
On the left is a pre-Benghazi, pre-HealthCare.gov, pre-ISIS, pre-Newtown, pre-San Bernadino, pre-candidate Donald Trump president named Barack Obama (at his very first State of the Union address). On the right is noticeably grayer Obama at his last State of the Union in 2016.
Bill Clinton's wrinkles decided to show up after a woman named Monica Lewinsky entered his life -- or perhaps a man named Kenneth Starr. President Clinton's impeachment trials were evidently quite stressful.
