Breaking the Two-Term Tradition: FDR, the 22nd Amendment & Third Term Debates
"If one man is indispensable, then none of us is free."
The Two-Term Tradition
For 144 years, an unwritten rule governed American democracy—until one man broke it
"The second feature I dislike, and greatly dislike, is the abandonment in every instance of the necessity of rotation in office, and most particularly in the case of the President. Reason and Experience tell us that the First magistrate will always be re-elected if he may be re-elected. He is then an officer for life."
George Washington
Washington established the two-term tradition by declining a third term in 1796. In 1799, urged to run again, he cited toxic partisanship.
Ulysses S. Grant
Grant sought the 1880 Republican nomination for a third (non-consecutive) term. He led for 36 ballots but lost to James Garfield.
Theodore Roosevelt
After declining in 1908, TR challenged Taft in 1912 as a Bull Moose candidate. Shot during the campaign, he still beat Taft but split the GOP vote.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
FDR is the only president elected more than twice. Amid the Depression and WWII, he argued America shouldn't "change horses in midstream."
FDR's Four Presidential Elections
The 22nd Amendment
"The 22nd Amendment is stupid and one of the worst amendments of the Constitution, with the exception of the Prohibition Amendment."
Presidents vs. The Amendment
Multiple presidents from both parties have criticized the 22nd Amendment
"I would push for a repeal of the 22nd Amendment because it infringes on people's democratic rights."
"The 22nd Amendment should be altered to limit presidents to two consecutive terms but then allow for non-consecutive terms, because of longer life expectancies."
Presidents Barred by the 22nd Amendment
54+ Attempts to Repeal
Members of both parties have tried—and failed—to repeal the 22nd Amendment
🐘 Republican Attempts
- Rep. Guy Vander Jagt (R-MI) — 1986-91During Reagan's presidency
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — 1995During Clinton's presidency
- Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) — Jan 2025For non-consecutive presidents
🐴 Democratic Attempts
- Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) — 1989During G.H.W. Bush's presidency
- Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) — 1995-99During Clinton's presidency
- Rep. José Serrano (D-NY) — 1997-2013Nine attempts under 3 presidents!
| Year | Sponsor | Party | Sitting President | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Rep. Guy Vander Jagt | R | Reagan (R) | Failed |
| 1989 | Sen. Harry Reid | D | G.H.W. Bush (R) | Failed |
| 1995 | Sen. Mitch McConnell | R | Clinton (D) | Failed |
| 1997–2013 | Rep. José Serrano (9×) | D | Clinton, Bush, Obama | All Failed |
| 2025 | Rep. Andy Ogles | R | Trump (R) | Pending |
Why Repeal Never Succeeds
Repealing an amendment requires 2/3 of Congress plus 3/4 of states. The opposing party will never vote to give a popular president an advantage. The only amendment ever repealed—Prohibition—required another full amendment (the 21st) to do so.
Complete Timeline
George Washington retires after two terms, establishing the unwritten tradition.
Ulysses Grant seeks a third non-consecutive term but loses the nomination to Garfield.
Theodore Roosevelt runs as a third-party candidate, splitting the Republican vote.
Franklin Roosevelt becomes the first president elected to a third term.
Republican-controlled Congress approves term limits unanimously among GOP members.
Minnesota becomes the 36th state to ratify. Presidential term limits take effect.
Members of both parties introduce repeal bills. None have ever reached a floor vote.
The Third Term Question: A Visual History of Presidential Term Limits
Sources: National Constitution Center, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, National Archives, GovTrack.us