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Dramatic Before-and-After Photos of How Presidents Have Aged in Office

Leading the United States of America is an incredibly large job—so much so that the impact of being president really shows physically on these men once their term is over.

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Ronald Reagan Library, Oval Office
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Being the President of the United States is arguably the most stressful job a person can have. With the public relying on you to make decisions that are best for our country and every move being documented, the pressure of the job can take a toll both mentally and in this case, physically. The stress really got to these presidents and it shows. See what unlikely jobs U.S. presidents held after leaving the White House.

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58th U.S. Presidential Inauguration
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Donald Trump, 2016

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, 2016. He stands with Vice President Mike Pence with their hands over their hearts during the National Anthem at the 58th United States Presidential Inauguration. See where each of our leaders started with this list of the first jobs of all the U.S. presidents.

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US-POLITICS-TRUMP-CUBA
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Donald Trump, 2020

Four years later, Trump makes his way down the corridor in the East Room of the White House for an event honoring Bay of Pigs veterans. Learn what perks each U.S. president gets to keep after leaving office.

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Barack Obama President-elect Barack Obama looks to the crowd as he leaves the " We are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington
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Barack Obama, 2009

President Barack Obama looks out over the crowd on the day of his inauguration as President of the United States on January 18, 2009. You know that President Obama was the first African American elected as president of the United States, but your probably don’t know these other astonishing facts about U.S. presidents.

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Barack Obama interview on ACA, Washington DC, USA - 06 Jan 2017
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Barack Obama, 2017

Obama, eight years later, talks about the Affordable Care Act during an interview with Vox.

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GEORGE W. BUSH INAUGURATION - Vice President Al Gore and Bill Clinton, Washington, America, 20/01/01
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George W. Bush, 2001

George W. Bush was sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States in 2001.

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United States President George W. Bush Delivers His Farewell Speech to the Nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., America - 15 Jan 2009
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George W. Bush, 2009

He gave his farewell speech to the nation on January 15, 2009. Presidents might be given the White House and a salary, but these are things they must pay for on their own. 

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PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON PRESS CONFERENCE ON ECONOMIC PROGRESS - 1993
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Bill Clinton, 1993

Bill Clinton addresses the crowd at an economic progress conference during his first year as president. Can you guess the U.S. state that produced the most presidents?

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DEMOCRATIC PARTY RALLY FOR THE MAYORAL CANDIDATE, MARK GREEN, BRYANT PARK, NEW YORK, AMERICA - 5 NOV 2001
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Bill Clinton, 2001

After serving as president for eight years, Clinton participates in a democratic rally.

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George H W Bush Washington 1989, Washington, USA
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George H. W. Bush, 1989

In October of his first year as president, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck northern California. Here he talks to reporters about how they are working to assess the damage. On a less-serious note, he also told reporters he never liked broccoli. So it became one of the strange things that former presidents have banned from the White House.

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George H W Bush Washington 1993, Washington, USA
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George H. W. Bush, 1993

President Bush honors Points of Light recipients at the end of his presidential term.

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Nancy Reagan Dies Aged 94 - 06 Mar 2016
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Ronald Reagan, 1981

Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th President of the United States in 1981. Here he is pictured with his wife, Nancy, waving at the crowd during the Inaugural Parade. Don’t miss the secret quirks of all 45 of the U.S. presidents.

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Nancy and Ronald Reagan Tokyo 1989, Tokyo, Japan
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Ronald Reagan, 1989

After eight years in office, former President Reagan delivers a speech in Tokyo, Japan with his wife by his side. A lot of presidents had little-known talents. Can you guess what Reagan’s was?

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Carter And Inventor 1977, Washington, USA
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Jimmy Carter, 1977

The 39th president, Jimmy Carter, shows the crowd a valve invented by Lawrence Gurick (left) used on Navy ships. Gurick was awarded $25,000 by President Carter for his efforts in the Federal Incentive Awards program. Check out the answers to the questions about the American political system that you may have been too embarrassed to ask.

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Rhein-main Air Base, West Germany, January 1981 - The 52 Freed Hostages, After Their Release From Iran, And Former Vice-president Walter Mondale Listen As Former President Jimmy Carter Speaks To A Crowd
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Jimmy Carter, 1981

After serving one term as president, Carter gives a speech at an Air Base in Germany in 1981. If these photos were shocking, you’d love these mind-blowing White House facts you probably missed in history class.

Morgan Cutolo
Morgan Cutolo is a former senior production editor at Trusted Media Brands. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2016, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. In her free time, she likes exploring the seacoast of Maine, where she lives, and snuggling up on the couch with her corgi, Eggo, to watch HGTV or The Office.