Plaza of Presidents

Between the George H. W. Bush Gallery and the Memorial Courtyard, is the Plaza of Presidents. All ten presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George H. W. Bush served the United States either militarily or as Commander-in-Chief during the four years of the United States’ involvement in World War II.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

United States Commander-in-Chief, 1941-1945

“As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Long will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt – 32^nd President of the United States – 1933-1945

Harry S. Truman

United States Commander-in-Chief, 1945

“We must work to bind up the wounds of a suffering world – to build an abiding peace, a peace rooted in justice and in law.”

Harry S. Truman – 33^rd President of the United States – 1945-1953

Dwight D. Eisenhower

General of the Army, United States Army

Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, 1943-1945

“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only one who has seen its brutality, its stupidity.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower – 34^th President of the United States – 1953-1961

John F. Kennedy

Lieutenant, United States Navy Reserve

Service in the Pacific, 1943

“…the courage of a man who does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures, is the basis of all human morality.”

John F. Kennedy – 35^th President of the United States – 1961-1963

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Reserve

Service in the Pacific, 1942

“President Roosevelt wanted his own eyes and ears in the filed. I was the Navy Officer picked to go.”

Lyndon B. Johnson – 36^th President of the United States – 1963-1969

Richard M. Nixon

Lieutenant, United States Navy Reserve

Service in the Pacific, 1943-1944

“Our people have always done their best work when the odds were the greatest.”

Richard M. Nixon – 37^th President of the United States – 1969-1974

Gerald R. Ford

Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Reserve

Service in the Pacific, 1943-1944

“Before the war, I was a typical Midwest isolationist. I returned understanding we could never be isolated again.”

Gerald R. Ford – 38^th President of the United States – 1974-1977

James E. Carter, Jr.

Midshipman, United States Navy

United States Naval Academy, 1943-1946

“No one ever thought the Japanese would surrender, so there seemed to be no alternative to a massive invasion.”

James E. Carter, Jr. - 39^th President of the United States – 1977-1981

Ronald Reagan

Captain, United States Army Reserve

Army Air Force Intelligence, 1942-1945

“Most of the men who never experienced combat had an almost reverent feeling for the men who did face the enemy.”

Ronald Reagan – 40^th President of the United States – 1981-1989

George H. W. Bush

Lieutenant (j.g.), United States Navy Reserve

Service in the Pacific, 1943-1946

“I have often wondered why me, why was I spared when the others died. I’ll never know the answer to that question; but I do know that terrifying experience helped me to become a man.”

George H. W. Bush – 41^st President of the United States – 1989-1993

For virtual tours of the Plaza of Presidents and other places to see on our site, follow this link: http://www.nimitz-museum.org/virtualtours/highlites/tourfiles/flash/index_fs.html