No United States president has ever been "thrown out of office" through the formal impeachment and removal process. While several presidents have faced impeachment proceedings, none have been successfully removed from their position.
Understanding "Thrown Out of Office" in U.S. Politics
In the context of the U.S. presidency, being "thrown out of office" typically refers to **impeachment and removal**. This is a constitutional procedure outlined in the [U.S. Constitution, Article I](https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-article-i). The process involves two main stages:- Impeachment by the House of Representatives: The House can vote to impeach (formally accuse) a president of "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Impeachment is often compared to a grand jury indictment.
- Trial and Removal by the Senate: If impeached by the House, the president then faces a trial in the Senate. A two-thirds vote by the Senate is required to convict and remove a president from office.
Presidents Who Faced Impeachment (But Were Not Removed)
Historically, three U.S. presidents have been formally impeached by the House of Representatives. However, in each case, they were acquitted by the United States Senate, meaning they were not removed from their position and completed their terms (or, in Donald Trump's second impeachment, had already left office).The presidents who were impeached are:
- Andrew Johnson (1868): Impeached primarily for violating the Tenure of Office Act. He was acquitted by the Senate by a single vote.
- Bill Clinton (1998): Impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice related to a sexual harassment lawsuit. He was acquitted by the Senate on both articles.
- Donald Trump (2019 and 2021): The only president to be impeached twice.
- His first impeachment (2019) was for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress regarding his dealings with Ukraine. He was acquitted by the Senate.
- His second impeachment (2021) was for incitement of insurrection following the January 6th Capitol attack. He was acquitted by the Senate after he had already left office.
It is crucial to understand that impeachment by the House of Representatives is a formal accusation, not a removal from office. The actual removal only occurs if the Senate convicts the president after a trial. As the historical record shows, while a president can be impeached, none have been removed from office by a Senate conviction. This means that despite facing serious accusations and formal proceedings, every U.S. president has completed their term unless they resigned (like Richard Nixon, who resigned before impeachment proceedings concluded in the House) or died in office.
Summary of Impeached Presidents
| President | Year(s) Impeached | Articles of Impeachment (Primary Charges) | Senate Outcome | Status After Impeachment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson | 1868 | Violation of Tenure of Office Act | Acquitted | Completed his term |
| Bill Clinton | 1998 | Perjury, Obstruction of Justice | Acquitted | Completed his term |
| Donald Trump | 2019, 2021 | Abuse of Power, Obstruction of Congress (2019); Incitement of Insurrection (2021) | Acquitted (both times) | Completed his first term (2019); left office before second trial concluded (2021) |
This table clearly illustrates that none of these presidents were "thrown out of office" as a result of impeachment. The process of impeachment in the United States is a significant check on presidential power, but it has not yet led to the successful removal of a president.
