# What is the longest an American president can serve?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-an-american-president-can-serve/343900>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 10, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-an-american-president-can-serve/343900 "2006-02-10T19:24:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-an-american-president-can-serve/343900/21 "2006-02-11T03:16:29Z")

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And as I have pointed out in past threads on this topic, the 22nd Amendment is as subject to change as any other part of the Constitution. In theory, it could be revoked in the same manner it was enacted, and Bill Clinton and/or George W. Bush would be free to run for a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and so on term.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-an-american-president-can-serve/343900/22 "2006-02-11T03:44:32Z")

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> [@ivylass](#):
>
> I’m ashamed I don’t know this, but how did FDR get elected four times? Was the law not in effect, or did they put in on hiatus during WWII?

The amendment was passed as a direct reaction to the length of FDR’s tenure.

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-an-american-president-can-serve/343900/23 "2006-02-11T03:57:54Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> The amendment was passed as a direct reaction to the length of FDR’s tenure.

Yep, Harry Truman was the last guy with a shot for a third term since the amendment didn’t apply to the president in place when it was ratified.

Thank goodness for the amendment, can you imagine four terms of Bush?

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-longest-an-american-president-can-serve/343900/24 "2006-02-11T04:19:43Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> Thank goodness for the amendment, can you imagine four terms of Bush?

This being GQ, it’s not really the place for partisan political comments, though if you dislike Bush enough to feel glad about the 22nd, how do you feel about it depriving you of four terms of Clinton?

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