When Was The Last Time?

[Canon Shooter]

When was the last time a sitting President elected to not run for re-election?

I know Grover Cleveland served four years, didn't run for re-election, then came back four years later. I'm talking about a President deciding that four years was enough and throwing in the towel...

 

[1srelluc]

Technically LBJ but he served-out JFK's term....1963 to 1969.

 

[gipper]

Technically LBJ but he served-out JFK's term....1963 to 1969.

No. LBJ ran in 1964 against Goldwater and won. He could have run in 1968, but chose not to.

 

[1srelluc]

No. LBJ ran in 1964 against Goldwater and won. He could have run in 1968, but chose not to.

No shit, I thought they just let him stay a extra four years on his good looks.

 

[hjmick]

No. LBJ ran in 1964 against Goldwater and won. He could have run in 1968, but chose not to.

Right, so he didn't run for re-election.

Kennedy was killed by Oswald. LBJ, not elected, became president. He then ran for president and was elected. Then he chose not to run for re-election.

 

[rightwinger]

Technically LBJ but he served-out JFK's term....1963 to 1969.

LBJ was a sitting President eligible to run and chose not to.
He died shortly after

 

[gipper]

Right, so he didn't run for re-election.

Kennedy was killed by Oswald. LBJ, not elected, became president. He then ran for president and was elected. Then he chose not to run for re-election.

No one expected LBJ not to run in 1968. Unlike dumb old Joe, most expected LBJ would run.

 

[rightwinger]

No one expected LBJ not to run in 1968. Unlike dumb old Joe, most expected LBJ would run.

Until he got to the first primary and saw how poorly he ran

 

[gipper]

Until he got to the first primary and saw how poorly he ran

His dumb war in Vietnam and RFK winning big, made it impossible for him.

 

[rightwinger]

His dumb war in Vietnam and RFK winning big, made it impossible for him.

I seem to remember RFK came in after LBJ dropped out
I think it was McCarthy

 

[eagle7-31]

I seem to remember RFK came in after LBJ dropped out
I think it was McCarthy

Correct. And the McCarthy people were mad at RFK for doing that.