PRESIDENTS
nearly 40 years that a U.S. President set foot on the Washington College campus. Nevertheless, the former commander-in-chief is in good company. Five of his predecessors—George Washington, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy—came to the College before him. A sixth—Herbert Hoover—was granted an honorary degree in absentia.
Clockwise from top: Harry S.Truman addressed the graduating class on June 1, 1946. He was the second sitting president to visit during the tenure of College President Gilbert Mead. On October 21, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt pitched his New Deal to thousands of spectators gathered for the inauguration of President Mead. It was a media coup rivaled only by the George Bush visit, with radio and newspaper coverage as well as RKO newsreel exposure. John F. Kennedy launched his Maryland campaign for the Democratic nomination at Washington College on May 11, 1960. Kennedy promised to return to campus as a sitting president. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was granted an honorary degree of law at commencement on June 7, 1954.
