Celebrity is not a word that many people really associate with past and present Presidents of the United States. The truth is, the President of the United States is probably the most scrutinized celebrity in all the world. His every word is recorded for posterity and his every move his watched. Some presidents stood up very well to this scrutiny. We're going to take a look at a few who people feel were the most popular of all time.

In putting together a most popular list, it would be impossible not to include President John F. Kennedy as one of the most popular of all time. Kennedy was an icon. His life, even before he became President as a hero during World War II as chronicled in the movie PT 109, was one of great accomplishments. Sadly, most of his popularity revolved around his alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe and his untimely death in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, when he was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. Of course Oswald's guilt was never really proven as he was gunned down by nightclub owner Jack Ruby. Kennedy's Presidency, because of these events, was almost surreal. To this day he is still brought up in newspapers, articles and many other areas of the media including TV and movies.

Another very popular president was Ronald Reagan. Part of his popularity may have had something to do with the fact that before he ever even got into politics, Reagan was an actor and a very likable person. His charm and charisma carried over into his political life as Governor of California and as the President of the United States. Reagan brought the country to a time of great prosperity during his two terms in office. Some of his achievements were so innovative that they were known as the Reagan Revolution. But if all this wasn't enough, Reagan was also the victim of an attempted assassination attempt. Fortunately, the attempt was unsuccessful. But this only served to increase his popularity with a country that already loved him.

Probably, there was no more popular President of the United States than Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt became President during one of the worst times in United States history. It was the low point of the Great Depression. At the time he was elected there were over 13 million people unemployed. Almost every bank in the country was closed. But Roosevelt was not afraid of the challenge in front of him. In his first 100 days in office he proposed a program to bring prosperity back to the country. Congress enacted his reform programs, which included the WPA. Aid was given to business and agriculture. Those who were unemployed and in danger of losing their homes and farms were given relief. By 1935 the nation was beginning to pull out of the worst depression in its history.

Even though some businessmen and bankers were afraid of his New Deal programs, his popularity with the people of the United States was so great that he was elected to 4 terms of office, the only President in the history of the United States to have that honor. It was because of this that an amendment was made that no President could be elected to more than two terms of office.

There were other popular Presidents, but these three were probably the most popular that the United States ever had, at least during a time when popularity was linked to being a celebrity. And these three Presidents were most certainly all celebrities.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Celebrities