From George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, FDR to Richard Nixon, presidents have been defining and redefining the office while testing the boundaries of presidential power. This exhibit explores the nature of executive power under the Constitution, and how various presidents have exercised it over time. Discover both key actions by well-known presidents as well as the constitutional legacies of lesser known “forgotten presidents,” and the impact that they all have had while holding our nation’s highest office.

July 22, 2016 – May 7, 2017

Most of the documents in this exhibit were from the National Archives and its presidential libraries.

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience.

The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and presidential libraries, and online at www.archives.gov.