George Washington was first in war, and first among our presidents
Next, Adams, his vice-president, as leader took up residence
The people turned to Jefferson because their cause he pleaded
James Madison and the British War of 1812 succeeded

Next, James Monroe, who did bestow an era of good feelings
And John Q. Adams followed him, for extra power appealing
When Jackson won at New Orleans, the voters said, "We need him!"
Then he arranged for little Mat Van Buren to succeed him

Tippecanoe stayed one short month, old William Henry Harrison
John Tyler finished up his term, but there was no comparison
Next, Mexico was challenged by James Polk, who took in Texas
Then General Zachary Taylor won, but slavery did vex us
When Taylor died, Mill Filmore tried, but never took his place, sir
And Franklin Pierce met troubles that he really couldn't face, sir
Bachelor Buchanan found he hadn't what was needed
So they called on old Abe Lincoln, and the southern states seceded
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Lincoln won the Civil War but then a bullet reached him
Andrew Johnson took his place, but Congress near impeached him
We next elected U. S. Grant, whose friends got busy stealing
Then Hayes, who wasn't bad, but won by wheeling and by dealing

Brave Garfield then presided well 'til Guiteau got too nervous
And honest Chester Arthur came, with rules for civil service
New Jersey's Grover Cleveland tried to help the Indian Nations
Then Harrison brought six new states, but Indians got short rations

Cleveland then was twenty-fourth as well as twenty-second
And though McKinley humbled Spain, assassination beckoned
Teddy Roosevelt shook a stick at trusts who tried to bust us
William Howard Taft came next and then became Chief Justice

Though Woodrow Wilson fought a war, for peace he kept on tolling
And Harding died of shame because his Teapot Dome kept boiling
Coolidge, silent Cal, took charge, never changed expression
Then Herbert Hoover came to town, and with him the Depression
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Roosevelt brought a brand New Deal, four terms in office winning
But Truman finished World War II, the Atom Age beginning
Ike Eisenhower took us from Korea without malice
The Peace Corps came with Kennedy, but he was shot in Dallas

The war in Vietnam so troubled Johnson, he retired
Then Nixon wooed the Chinese, but resigned lest he be fired
Next Gerald Ford was sandwiched in, then Georgia's Jimmy Carter
But hostages and economics made his efforts harder

Ronald Reagan led us well, but debt went through the ceiling
George Bush went to the White House, and the Soviets went reeling
Bill Clinton won the office next, they called him a go-getter
His second term was stormy, but it seemed that times were better
Two hundred years and more have passed since Washington's election
We haven't done too badly in the process of selection
The people choose a leader and then tell him where to lead 'em
And somehow we keep travelling on the road to peace and freedom