Presidents & Heads of States, ROJ-TSH
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
Rojas Pinilla, Gustavo
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a professional soldier and dictator of Colombia (1953â57) whose corrupt and authoritarian......
RoldĂłs Aguilera, Jaime
Jaime RoldĂłs Aguilera was a lawyer elected president of Ecuador in 1979. After graduating from the University of......
Romero, Carlos Humberto
Carlos Humberto Romero was a former general, elected president of El Salvador in 1977 and deposed in 1979. Romero,......
RomĂĄn y Reyes, VĂctor Manuel
RomĂĄn y Reyes, VĂctor Manuel was the president of Nicaragua (1947â1950) under the aegis of the Somoza regime. An......
Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States (1933â45). The only president elected to the......
Roosevelt, Theodore
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States (1901â09) and a writer, naturalist, and soldier.......
Rouhani, Hassan
Hassan Rouhani is a centrist Iranian politician and cleric who served as president of Iran (2013â21) and is known......
Rousseff, Dilma
Dilma Rousseff is a Brazilian politician who in 2011 became Brazilâs first female president. She was reelected......
Roxas (y Acuna), Manuel
Manuel Roxas was a political leader and the first president (1946â48) of the independent Republic of the Philippines.......
Ruto, William
William Ruto is a Kenyan businessman and politician who has served as president of Kenya since 2022. Before that,......
Saakashvili, Mikheil
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician who was instrumental in easing Pres. Eduard Shevardnadze from office......
Saca, Antonio
Antonio Saca is a Salvadoran sportscaster who served as president of El Salvador (2004â09). Saca was the grandson......
Sacasa, Juan Bautista
Juan Bautista Sacasa was a Nicaraguan statesman who served as his countryâs president in 1932â36. Sacasa studied......
Sadat, Anwar
Anwar Sadat was an Egyptian army officer and politician who was president of Egypt from 1970 until his assassination......
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq (1979â2003) whose brutal rule was marked by costly and unsuccessful wars......
Saied, Kais
Kais Saied is a Tunisian law professor and politician who serves as president of Tunisia (2019â ). He rose to prominence......
Saleh, Ali Abdullah
Ali Abdullah Saleh was a Yemeni military officer and president of Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) from 1978 until......
Salinas de Gortari, Carlos
Carlos Salinas de Gortari is an economist and politician who was president of Mexico from 1988 to 1994. The son......
Sall, Macky
Macky Sall is a Senegalese geologist and politician who served as prime minister (2004â07) and as president (2012â24)......
Sambi, Ahmed Abdallah
Ahmed Abdallah Sambi is a Comorian politician, businessman, and Islamic scholar who served as president of Comoros......
Samper, Ernesto
Ernesto Samper is a Colombian economist, lawyer, and politician who served as president of Colombia (1994â98).......
Sankara, Thomas
Thomas Sankara was a military officer and proponent of Pan-Africanism who was installed as president of Upper Volta......
Santa Anna, Antonio LĂłpez de
Antonio LĂłpez de Santa Anna was a Mexican army officer and statesman who was the storm centre of Mexicoâs politics......
Santander, Francisco de Paula
Francisco de Paula Santander was a soldier and statesman who fought beside SimĂłn BolĂvar in the war for South American......
Santer, Jacques
Jacques Santer is a Luxembourgian politician who served as prime minister of Luxembourg (1984â95) and president......
Santos Montejo, Eduardo
Eduardo Santos Montejo was a prominent Latin American journalist and the president of Colombia from 1938 to 1942.......
Santos, Juan Manuel
Juan Manuel Santos is a Colombian politician who cofounded (2005) the Social Party of National Unity (Partido Social......
Saragat, Giuseppe
Giuseppe Saragat was a statesman and founder of the Socialist Party of Italian Workers (PSLI), who held many ministerial......
Sarkozy, Nicolas
Nicolas Sarkozy is a French politician who served as president of France (2007â12). Sarkozy was born to immigrant......
Sarmiento, Domingo Faustino
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento was an educator, statesman, and writer who rose from a position as a rural schoolmaster......
Scalfaro, Oscar Luigi
Oscar Luigi Scalfaro was a lawyer and politician who was president of Italy from 1992 to 1999. Educated at the......
Segni, Antonio
Antonio Segni was an Italian statesman, twice premier (1955â57, 1959â60), and the fourth president (1962â64) of......
Seitz, Karl
Karl Seitz was a politician, acting head of Austria (1919â20) after the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire,......
Senghor, LĂ©opold
LĂ©opold Senghor was a poet, teacher, and statesman, the first president of Senegal, and a major proponent of the......
Shagari, Shehu
Shehu Shagari was a Nigerian politician, president of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983. Shagariâs great-grandfather founded......
Sharaa, Ahmed al-
Ahmed al-Sharaa is the president (2025â ) of Syriaâs interim government, having commanded the Syrian Civil War......
Sharma, Shankar Dayal
Shankar Dayal Sharma was an Indian lawyer and politician who was president of India from 1992 to 1997. Sharma pursued......
Shazar, Zalman
Zalman Shazar was an Israeli journalist, scholar, and politician who was the third president of Israel (1963â73).......
Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan was the president of the United Arab Emirates (2004â22) and emir of Abu Dhabi......
Shevardnadze, Eduard
Eduard Shevardnadze was a Georgian politician, who was foreign minister of the Soviet Union (1985â90, 1991) and......
Siad Barre, Mohamed
Mohamed Siad Barre was the president of Somalia who held dictatorial rule over the country from October 1969, when......
Siegwart-MĂŒller, Constantin
Constantin Siegwart-MĂŒller was a Swiss politician who headed the Ultramontane Party at Lucerne and became the leader......
Simons, Walter
Walter Simons was a German jurist who served as interim president of the Weimar Republic, from March to May 1925.......
Singh, Zail
Zail Singh was an Indian politician who was the first Sikh to serve as president of India (1982â87). The Operation......
Sirleaf, Ellen Johnson
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician and economist who was president of Liberia (2006â18). She was the......
Sisi, Abdel Fattah al-
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is an Egyptian military officer who became Egyptâs de facto leader in July 2013, after the......
Smetona, Antanas
Antanas Smetona was a Lithuanian statesman and journalist who in 1919 became the first president of Lithuania and......
Soares, MĂĄrio
MĂĄrio Soares was a Portuguese politician and lawyer who in 1986 became Portugalâs first elected civilian head of......
Solyom, Laszlo
Laszlo Solyom was a Hungarian academic, lawyer, and politician who was president of Hungary (2005â10). Solyom studied......
Somoza Debayle, Anastasio
Anastasio Somoza Debayle was the third member of the Somoza dynasty to be president of Nicaragua (1967â79), who......
Somoza Debayle, Luis
Luis Somoza Debayle was the president of Nicaragua (1956â63), successor to his father, Anastasio Somoza Debayle,......
Somoza, Anastasio
Anastasio Somoza was a soldier-politician who was dictator of Nicaragua for 20 years. Preferring the use of patronage......
Sonko, Ousmane
Ousmane Sonko is a Senegalese politician and former prime minister (2024â26) who has served as president of Senegalâs......
Soulouque, Faustin-Ălie
Faustin-Ălie Soulouque was a Haitian slave, president, and later emperor of Haiti, who represented the black majority......
Souphanouvong
Souphanouvong was the leader of the revolutionary Pathet Lao movement and the first president of Communist-governed......
Steinmeier, Frank-Walter
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is a German Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands; SPD) politician......
Stevens, Siaka
Siaka Stevens was a Sierra Leonean prime minister (1967 and 1968â71) and president (1971â85) who survived in office......
Steyn, Marthinus Theunis
Marthinus Theunis Steyn was the leader of the Orange Free State and its Afrikaner nationalist president before......
Stroessner, Alfredo
Alfredo Stroessner was a military leader, who became president of Paraguay after leading an army coup in 1954.......
Stubb, Alexander
Alexander Stubb is the president of Finland (2024â ). Stubb is the first person from Finlandâs Swedish-speaking......
StÀmpfli, Jakob
Jakob StÀmpfli was a radical politician, three times president of the Swiss Confederation. A radical Bernese lawyer......
StÄhlberg, Kaarlo Juho
Kaarlo Juho StÄhlberg was the architect of the Finnish constitution and the first president of independent Finland.......
Subianto, Prabowo
Prabowo Subianto is a former general of the Indonesian army and businessman who is now president of Indonesia (2024â......
Sucre, Antonio José de
Antonio José de Sucre was the liberator of Ecuador and Peru, and one of the most respected leaders of the Latin......
Suharto
Suharto was an army officer and political leader who was president of Indonesia from 1967 to 1998. His three decades......
Sukarno
Sukarno was the leader of the Indonesian independence movement and Indonesiaâs first president (1949â66), who suppressed......
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang [Pinyin: Guomindang]), known as the father......
Sverdlov, Yakov Mikhaylovich
Yakov Mikhaylovich Sverdlov was a Soviet Communist Party leader and government official. His organizational skills......
Svinhufvud, Pehr Evind
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud was the first chief of state of independent Finland, as prime minister and then as president.......
Svoboda, LudvĂk
LudvĂk Svoboda was the president of Czechoslovakia (1968â75) who achieved great popularity by resisting the Soviet......
Såenz Peña, Roque
Roque Såenz Peña was the president of Argentina from 1910 until his death. He was an aristocratic conservative......
Taft, William Howard
William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States (1909â13) and 10th chief justice of the United......
Talabani, Jalal
Jalal Talabani was an Iraqi Kurdish politician who served as president of Iraq (2005â14). Talabaniâs involvement......
Taraki, Nur Mohammad
Nur Mohammad Taraki was an Afghan politician who was president and prime minister of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1979.......
Tarradellas i Joan, Josep
Josep Tarradellas i Joan was a Catalan political leader who led the struggle for an autonomous Catalonia as head......
Taylor, Charles
Charles Taylor was a Liberian politician and guerrilla leader who served as Liberiaâs president from 1997 until......
Taylor, Zachary
Zachary Taylor was the 12th president of the United States (1849â50). Elected on the ticket of the Whig Party as......
Temer, Michel
Michel Temer is a Brazilian politician who became president of Brazil in August 2016 after the Senate ousted Dilma......
Thaçi, Hashim
Hashim Thaçi is a Kosovar rebel leader and politician who served as the prime minister (2008â14) and president......
The Rise of Andrew Jackson
The Rise of Andrew Jackson, This detailed original account of the life of Andrew Jackson written for EncyclopĂŠdia......
Thein Sein
Thein Sein is a military officer and politician of Myanmar who served as president of the country (2011â16). Few......
Thiers, Adolphe
Adolphe Thiers was a French statesman, journalist, and historian, a founder and the first president (1871â73) of......
Tildy, ZoltĂĄn
ZoltĂĄn Tildy was a non-Communist statesman who was president of Hungary for a short time after World War II and......
Tinubu, Bola
Bola Tinubu is a Nigerian accountant and politician who has been president of Nigeria since 2023. Many of the details......
Tiso, Jozef
Jozef Tiso was a Slovak priest and statesman who fought for Slovak autonomy within the Czechoslovak nation during......
Tito, Josip Broz
Josip Broz Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. He was secretary-general (later president) of the Communist......
Tokayev, Kassym-Jomart
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is the president of Kazakhstan (2019â ), known before his presidency for his role in the......
Tolbert, William R.
William R. Tolbert was a West African politician who was president of Liberia from 1971 to 1980. Tolbert graduated......
Toledo, Alejandro
Alejandro Toledo is a Peruvian economist who served as president of Peru (2001â06). He was the countryâs first......
Ton Duc Thang
Ton Duc Thang was a Communist leader who succeeded Ho Chi Minh as president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam......
Torrijos, Omar
Omar Torrijos was a dictator-like leader of Panama (1968â78), who negotiated the Panama Canal treaties with the......
Touré, Amadou Toumani
Amadou Toumani Touré was a Malian politician and military leader who twice led his country. He served as interim......
Touré, Sékou
SĂ©kou TourĂ© was the first president of the Republic of Guinea (1958â84) and a leading African politician. Although......
Trujillo, Rafael
Rafael Trujillo was the dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Trujillo......
Truman, Harry S.
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd president of the United States (1945â53), who led his country through the final stages......
Trump, Donald
Donald Trump is a former real estate mogul and reality TV star who has served as the 45th and 47th president of......
Tsai Ing-wen
Tsai Ing-wen is an educator and politician who was the first female president of Taiwan (2016â24). Tsai, who is......
Tsedenbal, Yumjaagiin
Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal was a Mongolian political leader who was first prime minister (1952â74) and then head of state......
Tshisekedi, FĂ©lix
FĂ©lix Tshisekedi is a Congolese politician who has served as the fifth president of the Democratic Republic of......
Tshombe, Moise
Moise Tshombe was a politician, president of the secessionist African state of Katanga, and premier of the united......