Election1940
FDR Wins Unprecedented Third Term
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to a third term as president, breaking the two-term tradition established by George Washington. Roosevelt would later win a fourth term in 1944, leading to the ratification of the 22nd Amendment limiting presidents to two terms.
Why It Matters
FDR's third and fourth terms prompted a constitutional amendment codifying presidential term limits, reinforcing the principle that no individual should hold executive power indefinitely.