Presidents & Heads of States, HUE-LUG
President, in government, the officer in whom the chief executive power of a nation is vested. The president of a republic is the head of state, but the actual power of the president varies from country to country; in the United States, Africa, and Latin America the presidential office is charged with great powers and responsibilities, but the office is relatively weak and largely ceremonial in Europe and in many countries where the prime minister, or premier, functions as the chief executive officer.
Presidents & Heads of States Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Huerta, Victoriano
Victoriano Huerta was the dictatorial president of Mexico (Feb. 18, 1913–July 15, 1914), whose regime united disparate......
Humala, Ollanta
Ollanta Humala was a former Peruvian army commander and politician who led an unsuccessful military coup against......
Husain, Zakir
Zakir Husain was an Indian politician who served as the second vice president of India (1962–67) and the country’s......
Husak, Gustav
Gustav Husak was a Slovak Communist who was Czechoslovakia’s leader from 1969 to 1989. Husak joined the Communist......
Hyde, Douglas
Douglas Hyde was a distinguished Gaelic scholar and writer and the first president of the Republic of Ireland (Éire).......
Hélou, Charles
Charles Hélou was the president of Lebanon from 1964 to 1970. Hélou was educated at St. Joseph’s University (1919–29)......
Ibáñez del Campo, Carlos
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean president from 1927 to 1931 and from 1952 to 1958. Although by preference......
Iliescu, Ion
Ion Iliescu was a Romanian politician who twice served as president of Romania (1990–96; 2000–04). Iliescu received......
Ilves, Toomas Hendrik
Toomas Hendrik Ilves is a politician who served as president of Estonia (2006–16). Ilves was born to Estonian refugees......
indictments of Donald Trump
In March 2023 Donald Trump became the first current or former U.S. president to be charged with a crime. In the......
Irigoyen, Hipólito
Hipólito Irigoyen was an Argentine statesman who became his country’s first president elected by broad popular......
Isaias Afwerki
Isaias Afwerki is an Eritrean independence leader and has been the president of Eritrea since 1993. When Isaias......
Issoufou, Mahamadou
Mahamadou Issoufou was a Nigerien politician who served as president of Niger from 2011 to 2021. During the late......
Jackson, Andrew
Andrew Jackson was a military hero and the seventh president of the United States (1829–37). He was the first U.S.......
Jagan, Cheddi
Cheddi Jagan was a politician and union activist who in 1953 became the first popularly elected prime minister......
Jagan, Janet
Janet Jagan was an American-born Guyanese politician who was the first white president of Guyana (1997–99) and......
Jaruzelski, Wojciech Witold
Wojciech Witold Jaruzelski was a Polish army general and political leader who served as premier (1981–85), chairman......
Jawara, Sir Dawda Kairaba
Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara was a politician and veterinarian who was The Gambia’s prime minister from 1962 to 1970......
Jayewardene, J.R.
J.R. Jayewardene was a lawyer and public official who served as president of Sri Lanka from 1978 to 1989. The son......
Jefferson, Thomas
Thomas Jefferson was the draftsman of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and the nation’s first......
Jiang Zemin
Jiang Zemin was a Chinese official who was general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP; 1989–2002) and......
Johnson, Andrew
Andrew Johnson was the 17th president of the United States (1865–69), who took office upon the assassination of......
Johnson, Lyndon B.
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th president of the United States (1963–69). A moderate Democrat and vigorous leader......
Jonathan, Goodluck
Goodluck Jonathan is a Nigerian zoologist and politician who served as vice president (2007–10) and president (2010–15)......
João Lourenço
João Lourenço is an Angolan politician and, since 2017, the president of Angola. He has been a longtime member......
Juncker, Jean-Claude
Jean-Claude Juncker is a Luxembourgian politician who served as prime minister of Luxembourg (1995–2013) and later......
Justo, Agustín Pedro
Agustín Pedro Justo was an army officer and president (1932–38) of Argentina. After studying at military academies,......
Juárez, Benito
Benito Juárez was president of Mexico from 1861 to 1872. For three years (1864–67), he fought against foreign occupation......
Kabila, Joseph
Joseph Kabila is a politician and former military officer who was president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo......
Kabila, Laurent
Laurent Kabila was the leader of a rebellion that overthrew President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire in May 1997. He......
Kaczyński, Lech
Lech Kaczyński was a politician who served as president of Poland (2005–10). Kaczyński and his identical twin,......
Kagame, Paul
Paul Kagame is a former Rwandan military leader who is now a politician. He led the Rwandan Patriot Front (RPF)......
Kalinin, Mikhail Ivanovich
Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin was a communist leader and statesman who was the formal head of the Soviet state from......
Karamanlis, Konstantinos
Konstantinos Karamanlis was a Greek statesman who was prime minister from 1955 to 1963 and again from 1974 to 1980.......
Karimov, Islam
Islam Karimov was an Uzbek politician who became president of Uzbekistan in 1991. Karimov earned degrees in engineering......
Karmal, Babrak
Babrak Karmal was an Afghan politician who, backed by the Soviet Union, was president of Afghanistan from 1979......
Karzai, Hamid
Hamid Karzai is an Afghan politician who was the first elected president of Afghanistan (2004–14). Karzai was the......
Kasavubu, Joseph
Joseph Kasavubu was a statesman and the first president of the independent Congo republic from 1960 to 1965, who......
Katzir, Ephraim
Ephraim Katzir was a Russian-born scientist and politician who was the fourth president of Israel (1973–78). Katzir......
Kaunda, Kenneth
Kenneth Kaunda was a politician who led Zambia to independence in 1964 and served as that country’s president until......
Kaysone Phomvihan
Kaysone Phomvihan was a Laotian political leader and revolutionary who was a communist leader from 1955 and, following......
Keiko Fujimori
Peruvian Pres. Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi has been a central figure in the country’s political life since the......
Keita, Modibo
Modibo Keita was a socialist politician and the first president of Mali (1960–68). Keita was trained as a teacher......
Kekkonen, Urho Kaleva
Urho Kaleva Kekkonen was a Finnish prime minister (1950–53, 1954–56) and president (1956–81), noted for his Soviet-oriented......
Kennedy, John F.
John F. Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States (1961–63), who faced a number of foreign crises, especially......
Kenyatta, Jomo
Jomo Kenyatta was an African statesman and nationalist, the first prime minister (1963–64) and then the first president......
Kenyatta, Uhuru
Uhuru Kenyatta is a Kenyan businessman and politician who held several government posts before serving as president......
Khama, Ian
Ian Khama is a retired military officer and politician who served as president of Botswana from 2008 to 2018. He......
Khama, Sir Seretse
Sir Seretse Khama was the first president of Botswana (1966–80), after the former Bechuanaland protectorate gained......
Khamenei, Ali
Standing at the heart of the Islamic Republic from the 1979 Iranian Revolution until his death in 2026, Ali Khamenei......
Khan, Yahya
Yahya Khan was a professional soldier who became commander in chief of the Pakistani armed forces in 1966 and was......
Khatami, Mohammad
Mohammad Khatami is an Iranian political leader and cleric, who as president of Iran (1997–2005) emboldened reformists......
Khuri, Bishara al-
Bishara al-Khuri was a Lebanese statesman, president of Lebanon from 1943 to 1952. The son of a prominent Lebanese......
Kibaki, Mwai
Mwai Kibaki was a Kenyan politician who served as president of Kenya (2002–13). Kibaki, a member of the Kikuyu......
Kiir Mayardit, Salva
Salva Kiir Mayardit is a southern Sudanese rebel leader who in 2011 became the first president of the newly independent......
Kim Dae-Jung
Kim Dae-Jung was a South Korean politician who became a prominent opposition leader during the tenure of Pres.......
Kim Il-Sung
Kim Il-Sung was the communist leader of North Korea from 1948 until his death in 1994. He was the country’s premier......
Kim Jong-Un
Kim Jong-Un is a North Korean political official who succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, as leader of North Korea......
Kim Young-Sam
Kim Young-Sam was a South Korean politician, moderate opposition leader, and president from 1993 to 1998. Kim graduated......
Kirchner, Néstor
Néstor Kirchner was an Argentine lawyer and politician, who was president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007. Kirchner......
Klaus, Václav
Václav Klaus is a Czech economist and politician who served as prime minister (1993–97) and president (2003–13)......
Kocharian, Robert
Robert Kocharian is an Armenian politician who served as prime minister (1997–98) and president (1998–2008) of......
Komorowski, Bronisław
Bronisław Komorowski is a Polish politician who served as president of Poland (2010–15). Named acting president......
Kovind, Ram Nath
Ram Nath Kovind is an Indian lawyer and politician who served as president of India (2017–22). He was the second......
Koštunica, Vojislav
Vojislav Koštunica is a Serbian academic and politician who served as the last president (2000–03) of Yugoslavia,......
Kravchuk, Leonid
Leonid Kravchuk was the president of Ukraine from 1991 to 1994. For 30 years a Communist Party functionary, he......
Kruger, Paul
Paul Kruger was a farmer, soldier, and statesman, noted in South African history as the builder of the Afrikaner......
Kubitschek, Juscelino
Juscelino Kubitschek was the president of Brazil (1956–61) noted for his ambitious public works, especially the......
Kuchma, Leonid
Leonid Kuchma was a Ukrainian engineer and politician who became prime minister (1992–93) and the second president......
Kuczynski, Pedro Pablo
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is a Peruvian economist and centrist politician who served as president of Peru (2016–18)......
Kufuor, John
John Kufuor is a Ghanaian businessman and politician who served as president of Ghana (2001–09). Kufuor was the......
Kumaratunga, Chandrika Bandaranaike
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is a member of a prominent Sri Lankan political family, who was the first woman......
Kwaśniewski, Aleksander
Aleksander Kwaśniewski is a Polish politician who served as president of Poland from 1995 to 2005. Kwaśniewski......
Károlyi, Mihály, Count
Mihály, Count Károlyi was a Hungarian statesman who before World War I desired a reorientation of Austro-Hungarian......
Köhler, Horst
Horst Köhler was a German economist and politician who served as managing director of the International Monetary......
Körner, Theodor
Theodor Körner was an Austrian military officer during World War I and later a statesman who served as president......
K’ung, H.H.
H.H. K’ung was a banker and businessman who was a major figure in the Chinese Nationalist government between 1928......
Lagos, Ricardo
Ricardo Lagos is a Chilean economist and politician who served as president of Chile (2000–06). Lagos earned a......
Lahoud, Émile
Émile Lahoud was a Lebanese military commander who served as president of Lebanon (1998–2007). Born into a Maronite......
Lamar, Mirabeau Buonaparte
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was the second president of the Republic of Texas. After an unsuccessful career as a......
Laugerud García, Kjell Eugenio
Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García was the president of Guatemala (1974–78), minister of defense and chief of the armed......
Laurel, José P.
José P. Laurel was a Filipino lawyer, politician, and jurist, who served as president of the Philippines (1943–45)......
Lebrun, Albert
Albert Lebrun was the 14th and last president (1932–40) of France’s Third Republic. During the first year of World......
Lee Jae-Myung
Lee Jae-Myung is the president of South Korea (2025– ), representing the left-leaning Democratic Party of Korea......
Lee Myung-Bak
Lee Myung-Bak is a South Korean business executive and politician who was president of South Korea from 2008 to......
Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui was the first Taiwan-born president (1988–2000) of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Lee attended Kyōto......
Leguía y Salcedo, Augusto Bernardino
Augusto Bernardino Leguía y Salcedo was a businessman and politician who, during the first of his two terms as......
Lenin, Vladimir
Vladimir Lenin was the founder of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks), inspirer and leader of the Bolshevik......
Leon Trotsky on Lenin
Leon Trotsky’s essay on Vladimir Lenin is historically significant not because it is trustworthy in its judgments......
Lerdo de Tejada, Sebastián
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada was the president of Mexico from 1872 to 1876. Lerdo, orphaned and impoverished as a......
Lessons of the 20th Century
The 20th century was a time of great triumph and great tragedy. I draw hope and inspiration from the countless......
Li Xiannian
Li Xiannian was a Chinese politician, one of the eight “revolutionary elders” and a leftist hard-liner who opposed......
Li Yuanhong
Li Yuanhong was the only president of the Republic of China at Beijing who served for two terms. In 1911 Li was......
Lincoln, Abraham
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States (1861–65), who preserved the Union during the American......
- Introduction
- Prairie Lawyer, Legal Career in Illinois, Herndon
- Family, Mary Todd & Sons, Religious Sense
- Whig Party, Illinois State Legislature, US Congress, Presidential Politics
- Road to Presidency, Stephen A. Douglas, Republican Party
- The Presidency, Crittenden Compromise, Fort Sumter
- Confederacy, Outbreak of American Civil War
- War Leader, Union Army, Emancipation Proclamation
- Wartime Politics, the Union Cause, 1864 Election
- Postwar Policy, Reconstruction, Assassination
- Reputation & Character, Cabinet
Liu Shaoqi
Liu Shaoqi was the chairman of the People’s Republic of China (1959–68) and chief theoretician for the Chinese......
Liverpool, Nicholas
Nicholas Liverpool was a Dominican lawyer and politician who served as president of Dominica (2003–12). Educated......
Lon Nol
Lon Nol was a soldier and politician whose overthrow of Prince Norodom Sihanouk (1970) involved Cambodia in the......
Loubet, Émile
Émile Loubet was a statesman and the seventh president of the French Third Republic, who contributed to the break......
Lucas García, Fernando Romeo
Fernando Romeo Lucas García was an army general who served as the president of Guatemala from 1978 to 1982. Lucas......
Lugo, Fernando
Fernando Lugo is a former Roman Catholic bishop who became president of Paraguay (2008–12). His inauguration ended......