Do you know what jobs our famous US presidents took on after leaving office? We’re about to spill the tea!
The sixth president of America, John Quincy Adams, once said, “There’s nothing more pathetic in life than a former president.” Ouch. Harsh? Maybe. Well, sure, actually. But figuring out what to do after running the country for four or eight years isn’t exactly an easy task.
Thankfully, our former leaders don’t leave the White House empty-handed. Thanks to the Former Presidents Act of 1958, they receive a generous pension, staff, office space, medical perks, and even ten years of Secret Service protection.
But not every popular politician wants to retire after such an important job—they reinvent themselves. Barack Obama, for instance, got into producing award-winning documentaries, while George Washington ran one of Virginia’s top whiskey distilleries. The possibilities are endless for these strong men, and we’re here to discover everything!
Do you want to know who became an actor, professor, or even a fisherman? Then keep reading, because these are the surprising careers US presidents took on after leaving office:
1. Thomas Jefferson—university founder
Since being a Founding Father of our amazing country wasn’t enough, Thomas Jefferson, the man who was the third US president, went on to found something else after his mandate: a university.
Ten years after he stopped rolling the country, in 1819, Mr. Jefferson established the University of Virginia, which opened six years later. According to the National Park Service, the former politician pictured an “academic village” built around a tree-lined lawn. He believed it was the perfect setting for learning and discovery.
And honestly? He was, without a doubt, onto something. Today, the University of Virginia isn’t just a top school but is also considered one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country.
…Pretty cool, right?
2. George W. Bush—painter
After being the US president for two terms, George W. Bush decided to do something else for a change, so he leaned into his creative side. In 2012, the former politician began taking painting classes with Gail Norfleet, a talented Dallas-based artist.
One year later, the public found out about his new, colorful hobby after an email hack. The good news? The former leader didn’t allow those early criticisms to get to him and spoil his new passion.
In 2017, Mr. W. Bush released “Portraits of Courage,” a stunning book of paintings of members of the U.S. military. If this sounds like something you’d like to check out, click here and get your copy!
But that’s not all! Four years later, the former U.S. president released “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants,” a powerful collection that highlighted portraits and stories of American immigrants.
…Did you know about this?
3. Bill Clinton—recording artist
The next US president we’ll talk about in today’s article is Bill Clinton. He moved from politics to a totally different career after leaving office, one that helped him win two Grammy Awards.
The former politician is popular for being a great saxophone player, but the two Grammys we’ve previously mentioned are for something totally different: spoken-word albums. Yes, you’ve read that right.
Mr. Clinton narrated the children’s book “Wolf Tracks”, which brought him his first Grammy in 2004. Only a year later, he received his second award of this kind for narrating his autobiography, “My Life.”
While Bill Clinton was the first US president to win a Grammy, he definitely wasn’t the last. In fact, he may have paved the way for other presidents to earn similar honors.
Barack Obama won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album twice—in 2006 and 2008—and Jimmy Carter went on to win three times after that.
…Who knew our leaders are such good storytellers?
4. George Washington—whiskey distiller
After stepping down as commander-in-chief in 1797, George Washington didn’t just kick back and relax at Mount Vernon. He decided to embrace an entirely different venture: whiskey. His savvy farm manager convinced him to build a distillery on the estate that same year, and Mr. Washington, always open to smart business ideas, agreed. Turns out, it was an excellent move.
Believe it or not, by 1799, the former leader’s distillery was producing roughly 11,000 gallons of whiskey, making it one of the largest operations in the entire country at the time. In comparison, the average Virginia distillery produced only around 650 gallons a year.
The former president’s whiskey was sold in unbranded wooden barrels to nearby merchants and became an incredible success. His product was so appreciated that it became one of the most profitable projects at Mount Vernon.
…What can we say? This is proof that Mr. Washington knew how to do business!
5. Calvin Coolidge—newspaper columnist
While many US presidents write their autobiographies and memoirs after leaving office, Calvin Coolidge chose to do things a little differently—he started writing newspaper columns.
After finishing his term as the 30th American president, Mr. Coolidge published “Thinking Things Over With Calvin Coolidge” from 1930 to 1931. The column was nationally syndicated through the McClure Newspaper chain.
It turns out the former leader had a real passion for writing—he had already published his autobiography in 1929. And honestly? As a writer myself, I totally get it.
6. Barack Obama—film producer
One of the most loved US presidents, Barack Obama, did quite a few things after leaving the White House in 2017. The former leader traveled the world and wrote a memoir—“A Promised Land” (pretty good; it’s worth checking out).
But the thing that left many people impressed—myself included—was the fact that he signed a deal with Netflix. In 2018, Mr. and Mrs. Obama announced they had signed a multiyear agreement with the streaming giant to produce content under their imprint, Higher Ground Productions.
According to Netflix, the deal includes a range of scripted and unscripted series, full-length documentaries, and feature films. And if you thought this wasn’t a serious flex, think again—Higher Ground Productions has already acquired “Bloom”, a stylish drama about the fashion world in post–World War II New York City, and “American Factory”, a gripping documentary about post-industrial Ohio.
…What are your thoughts on this career shift? Leave a comment below, and let’s chat!
7. Ronald Reagan—knight
Okay, okay, this US president didn’t ride off into the sunset as a cowboy here, but he did get something pretty iconic after leaving office: Mr. Reagan was knighted by the Queen of England herself.
Here’s how the story goes: on June 15th, 1989, Queen Elizabeth II honored him with one of Britain’s highest titles—Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath. That’s not bad at all for a gorgeous former Hollywood actor turned into the president of America, right?
But he wasn’t the only one to receive such a title. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush also received the same distinction.
But what exactly does knighthood get a former US president? Well, what’s for sure is that they don’t walk around with shining armor or swords, but the cool thing is that they can technically add “Sir” to their names.
And let’s be honest for a second—bragging rights like that last a lifetime. Being a leader of the free world isn’t easy after all, and a little royal recognition doesn’t hurt anybody!
8. William Howard Taft—Supreme Court justice
Continuing with all the jobs our favorite US presidents had after leaving the White House, it’s now time to talk about William Howard Taft. As the 27th leader of America, he decided to serve his beloved country differently after leaving the political world behind. This time, Mr. Taft decided to become a Supreme Court justice.
He served America from 1909 to 1913, and in 1921, President Warren Harding appointed him to the highest court in the land. William Howard Taft was so excited and honored to receive such an important appointment that he once wrote he didn’t even remember when he was president.
…Did you know about this story? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
9. Grover Cleveland—president (again)
Once a US president, always a president? Well… maybe. While some leaders struggle to find a second act after their presidency, Grover Cleveland avoided those issues by running again.
He served two non-consecutive terms, first from 1885 to 1889, then from 1893 to 1897. Even though he lost the 1888 election to Republican Benjamin Harrison, winning the popular vote but losing the electoral vote, his political story didn’t end there. Four years later, he was reelected.
For years, Cleveland was the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, but he was recently dethroned when Donald Trump began his own second, non-consecutive term in 2025.
10. John Quincy Adams—nine-term congressman
John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, served his country in numerous ways. In 1830, shortly after leaving the presidency, he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served nine terms until he died in 1848.
He was even referred to as the “Father of the House” (if you’re interested in finding out more about this topic, leave a comment below, and we’ll take care of it ASAP) at one point. Having spent so much time in America’s capital, he passed away there as well.
On February 21st, 1848, while casting a “no” vote regarding the Mexican War, he staggered and fell as he stood to speak. Other members of the House helped him to a couch and then carried the couch to Speaker Robert Winthrop’s office.
Unfortunately, while he was there, he fell into a coma and died two days later, on February 23rd. Interestingly, this isn’t as unusual as the fact that three presidents have died on the Fourth of July.
…Could this be the result of a conspiracy? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about this strange coincidence and the 4th of July!
11. Dwight D. Eisenhower—cattle farmer
Did you know Dwight D. Eisenhower grew up on a beautiful farm in Abilene, Kansas? No wonder he developed a deep passion for the outdoors. After retiring from his presidency in 1961, he returned to those natural roots and moved to his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Back to basics, he raised beef cattle along with a few milking cows. Then, in 1967, the former president generously donated the house and farm to the National Park Service. If you’re curious where the 34th leader of the country spent his time, you can visit and stroll the grounds. Don’t forget to take pictures, relax, and soak in all that “political” energy!
12. Theodore Roosevelt—explorer
Even though “explorer” might not have been Theodore Roosevelt’s official post-presidency job title, you might change your opinion after you read this story. After he lost the 1912 election, he and his son went on to explore the fabulous jungles of Brazil. They were curious to check out the River of Doubt, an uncharted tributary of the Amazon.
They spent seven months on their expeditions and crossed 15,000 miles. What can we say? The former US president was indeed motivated to see the world, and he managed to see a few incredible things. Regrettably, after suffering a leg injury in a boat accident, the former American leader contracted malaria and a dangerous infection.
The good news? Mr. Roosevelt made it home safely, though the adventure took a toll on his health and left him with lingering issues that stayed with him until his passing in 1919.
13. Jimmy Carter—humanitarian
As the University of Virginia’s Miller Center once said, Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has shown Americans a remarkable example of life after the White House. In 1982, he founded the Carter Presidential Center, focusing on human rights and democracy. But that was just the beginning. He also teamed up with Habitat for Humanity International, helping to build homes for people in need.
During an interview, he reflected that while the presidency was the pinnacle of political success, his post-White House years were even more fulfilling. In 2015, at the age of 90, he said at a press conference that if he had to choose between four more years or the Carter Center, he’d choose, without a doubt, the Carter Center.
Mr. Carter accomplished some incredible things outside his presidency, too. In 1999, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2002, he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
I told you he had an interesting career! Do you agree? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so drop a comment below, and let’s chat!
…Thomas Jefferson wasn’t the only former US president to found a university. Keep reading to discover more about our academic power!
14. Millard Fillmore—university founder
Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States, embraced an academic journey after leaving the White House, and his career switch truly reflected his passion for education.
In the mid-19th century, he played a major role in founding what is now the University at Buffalo and was its first chancellor from 1846 until he died in 1874. Fillmore wasn’t just a figurehead; he actively shaped the university’s mission and development during its early days.
He believed that higher education could spark community growth and viewed the university as a way to uplift future generations. While many might not know about his contributions to the University at Buffalo, this part of his legacy shows a more subtle and positive side to his life after the presidential mandate.
Instead of stepping back from public life, Fillmore dedicated himself to fostering knowledge and strengthening the community values that continue to resonate even today.
Takeaway
What stands out most from these post-presidency paths is how diverse and refreshingly down-to-earth they are. While some important politicians remained in the spotlight, using their incredible influence to advance diplomacy, educational causes, or humanitarian efforts, others chose to embrace simpler, more relaxing, or personal pursuits like writing fiction, painting, farming, or manual labor.
Regardless of what these former US presidents decided to do with their careers after leaving office, we can’t deny that they chose paths that made them feel fulfilled, happy, and part of something bigger.
These strong and smart men remind us that even after holding the highest office in the land, the desire to make a difference, create, connect, and help make the world a better place doesn’t fade. For many of them, life after the presidency was just the beginning.
…What are your thoughts on these career paths our former presidents took on after leaving office? Which one surprised you the most? Leave a comment below! Until next time, here’s another post from Today On Politics you won’t want to miss: Exposed: 9 Most Corrupt US States in the Nation