Iconic leadership moments in presidential history

The best and the worst leadership moments of recent U.S. presidents.

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President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his first radio "Fireside Chat" in Washington in March 1933. Eight years later, Roosevelt would deliver his most historic speech to Congress a day after the Pearl Harbor attack, which he then described as "a date which will live in infamy."

/ AP

In April 1961, a U.S.-backed group of anti-Castro fighters landed at the Bay of Pigs on Cuba's southern coast. Within days, the invasion force was defeated. Of the Bay of Pigs invasion, President John F. Kennedy has said "five minutes after it began to fall in, we all looked at each other and asked, 'How could we have been so stupid?'"

President John F. Kennedy delivers his famous speech "I am a Berliner" ("ich bin ein Berliner") in front of the city hall in West Berlin concerning the Berlin Wall, June 26, 1963.

/ AP

Vice President Lyndon Johnson is sworn in aboard Air Force One, Nov. 22, 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Cecil Stoughton / AP

Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr. meet at the White House in March 1966. King referred to Johnson's election as president in 1964 as "one of America's finest hours" and supported Johnson as he worked on civil rights legislation. President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Acts in August 1965.

Yoichi R. Okamoto / LBJ Library

President Johnson and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu talk in 1968 at Pacific Command Headquarters in Honolulu at the start of two days of meetings on the Vietnam War. His leadership suffered the backlash of widespread antiwar sentiment across the United States.

/ AP

President Nixon welcomes the Apollo 11 astronauts aboard the U.S.S. Hornet in the Pacific Ocean, following America's first moon landing.

NASA / Reuters

In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China to meet with Mao Zedong — marking the first U.S. presidential visit to the country.

Andy Wong / AP

On Aug. 9, 1974, Richard Nixon waves to members of his staff outside the White House in Washington as he boards a helicopter for Andrews Air Force Base after resigning the presidency.

/ AP

President Gerald Ford grants a pardon to Richard Nixon, stating to Congress, "My conscience tells me that only I, as president, have the constitutional power to firmly shut and seal this book."

/ AP

U.S. President Ronald Reagan speaks in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Germany, Friday June 12, 1987, two years before the Berlin Wall would fall.

Roberto Pfeil / AP

U.S. President Bill Clinton with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, left, and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat after the signing of the Israeli-PLO peace accord at the White House on Sept. 13, 1993.

Gary Hershorn / Reuters

President George W. Bush stands at the site of the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 14 2001.

Win McNamee / Reuters

President Obama sits with Vice President Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton along with members of the national security team, as they receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House on May 1, 2011.

Pete Souza / AFP Photo/White House

Featured Photo Galleries

Homeowner David Firth tries to beat back a brush fire heading towards his home at Bettas Road and Low Drive as wildfire burns Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012 in Cle Elum, Wash. The fire jumped the line they were trying to make but still stands after being sprayed with water trucks and further efforts to beat it back with the help of several neighbors volunteering. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Bettina Hansen) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, NO SALES . MANDATORY CREDIT TO: BETTINA HANSEN/THE SEATTLE TIMES.

Residents evacuate as wildfires rage through the West

This year’s wildfires are more numerous and have gotten bigger than last year’s, an official says.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 16: Protesters gather outside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks is staying on August 16, 2012 in London, England. Mr Assange has been living inside Ecuador's London embassy since June 19, 2012 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Julian Assange granted political asylum by Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted asylum on Thursday by Ecuador, raising the possibility of a diplomatic showdown between British...

Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

India Independence Day, Syrian air strikes, Western wildfires, plastination and more in the day in photos

News and feature images from around the world.

Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Hoppy days are here again

President Obama is making clear his love for beer on the campaign trail as he attempts to ferment a coalition of the swilling.

Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

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Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

Homeless and adopted dogs, sand kittens, snow leopards and more in animal views.

Amazing creatures from around the world.

LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

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