By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present

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Go directly to the collection, By Popular Demand: Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies, 1789-Present, in American Memory, or view a Summary of Resources related to the collection.

1) Elections

The collection provides a glimpse of the election procedure for the office of president. Most of the images are official portraits taken after presidential inaugurations. However, there are images of Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan, and William Henry Harrison while they were still candidates for office. (Fillmore had served as president earlier and was running again.)

Millard Fillmore, American candidate for the president of the United States. [1856]

Search on Fillmore, Buchanan and Harrison to see candidates' pictures and this campaign poster. The bibliographic notes give this description: A large woodcut proof for a campaign banner or poster for the Native American party's 1856 presidential candidate. A bust portrait of Millard Fillmore appears in a roundel, flanked by allegorical figures of Justice (left) and Liberty (right). Both figures wear classical gowns and tiaras. Justice holds a large sword and scales, Liberty a staff and Phrygian cap and the Constitution. Atop the roundel perches an eagle, with American flags on either side. Below are a document "The Union" (left) and bundled fasces (right).

James Buchanan, Democratic Candidate for the president of the United States. [1856]

Search on James Buchanan for this campaign poster. The bibliographic description of it is as follows: Proof for a large woodcut campaign poster or banner for Democratic presidential nominee James Buchanan. A bust-length portrait of Buchanan (apparently taken from Mathew Brady's 1854 daguerreotype portrait) is flanked by American flags and laurel branches. Students can study more about elections by reviewing the Feature Presentation: Elections ...The American Way.

2) Inaugurations

The Death of President Garfield: Judge Brady administering the Presidential oath to Vice-President Arthur. [September 20th 1881]

Search on Arthur, Jackson, McKinley, and Wilson for images of inaugurations. Students will find this illustration of Vice President Chester Arthur being given the oath of office in New York after the assassination of James Garfield. Students can learn more about inaugurations by studying the Feature Presentation: Inaugurations.

3) Assassinations

a) Sadly, four United States presidents have been assassinated -- Abraham Lincoln in 1865, James A. Garfield in 1881, William McKinley in 1901, and John F. Kennedy in 1963. There are images relating to the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley in the collection. Students might use these images as springboards to find out the circumstances of each assassination including; the location of the tragic event, presumed causes, effects of the assassination, and presidential successors.

Search on assassination for images dealing with assassinations. Students will find this quote from a reward poster distributed after the murder of President Abraham Lincoln:

"$100,000 reward! The murderer of our late beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, is still at large." [1865]

LIBERAL REWARD will be paid for any information that shall conduce to the arrest of either of the above-named criminals or their accomplices. All persons harboring or secreting the said persons, or either of them, or aiding or assisting their concealment or escape will be treated as accomplices in the murder of the President and the attempted assassination of the Secretary of State, and shall be subject to trial before a Military Commission and the punishment of DEATH. Let the stain of innocent blood be removed from the land by the arrest and punishment of the murderers. All good citizens are exhorted to aid public justice on this occasion. Every man should consider his own conscience charged with this solemn duty, and rest neither night nor day until it be accomplished. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

b) By viewing the following image, students will find that President William McKinley was assassinated at the 1901 Pan American Exposition (held in Buffalo, New York). With further research, they will discover that the day before McKinley was shot, he delivered an important speech modifying his high-tariff policy. At a reception the next day, the assassin pretended to extend his hand in congratulations, but instead shot the president twice. Discuss the precautions that are designed to prevent assassinations today.

Assassination of President McKinley. Czolgosz shoots President McKinley with a concealed revolver, at Pan-American Exposition reception, Sept. 6th, 1901. [c1905]

4) National and International Events

The collection shows a number of national and international events, such as battles, that contributed to the appeal of certain presidential candidates.

"A little more grape Capt. Bragg." General Taylor at the Battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847. General Taylor on horseback, in midst of battle scene. [c1847]

Search on Taylor for this painting of General Zachary Taylor in the Battle of Buena Vista, Mexico, during the Mexican War. Taylor's victories contributed greatly to his later success as a presidential candidate.

Gen. William Henry Harrison. Campaign banner showing Harrison on horseback; surrounded by 12 vignettes of his home, military service, and political activity. [c1840]

Search on Harrison for this 1840 campaign banner showing General William Henry Harrison. In 1811, Harrison was general of troops at a battle near the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers (in what is now Indiana) during the Indian Wars. Harrison's victory at the Battle of Tippecanoe helped him win the presidency in 1840 when he and John Tyler ran with the campaign slogan of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too."

4) Declarations and Proclamations

The collection shows several declarations and proclamations that mark key events in our nation's history, such as declaring independence, proclaiming freedom for slaves, and declaring war.

Declaration of Independence. July 4th, 1776 painted by J. Trumbull. [1876]

Search on Declaration of Independence for this engraving depicting the group who created and signed the Declaration of Independence.

President Roosevelt signing the declaration of war against Japan. [December 1941]

Search on declaration of war to see this photograph of President Franklin D. Roosevelt signing the declaration of war against Japan in 1941, which marked the United States' entry into World War II.