Although there has never been any formal connection between American University and the White House, eight presidents, one vice president who became president, and two former presidents have all visited campus. AU’s Board of Trustees included a sitting U.S. president for its first thirty years. The longest serving trustees were Herbert Hoover (1945-1950) and Theodore Roosevelt (1900-1919). AU awarded honorary degrees to four sitting presidents.

A new exhibit on the first floor of Bender Library features photographs from these significant moments in AU’s history. Visitors can also hear excerpts from speeches made by John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. The exhibit will be on display through Inauguration Day 2017.

Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the cornerstone laying for the McKinley building on May 14, 1902

Former President Gerald R. Ford gave two separate speeches at AU on December 13, 1978.

President Barack Obama spoke about immigration reform at AU on July 1, 2010.