George Washington began the two-term tradition by declining to run for office a third time, despite widespread calls for him to continue. Thomas Jefferson, president number three, and several of his successors also wrote that presidents serving more than two consecutive terms were more like monarchs. It was an unwritten rule, and one that several presidents knowingly tried to break, running for third terms. All except one were defeated.

On this day, February 27, in 1951, following the only presidency in history that lasted more than two terms, an official two-term limit was imposed in the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only American president in history to serve more than two consecutive terms. He was completing his second term in office when the Nazis swept over Europe, beginning WW II. The grave threat facing Europe, as well as the United States, made him decide to break with tradition and run for a third term. FDR argued only he had the requisite experience to deal with the Nazi menace, but even many of his supporters disagreed with his decision to run. His opponent in the general election Wendell Wilkie made much of the third-term run, but ultimately lost the vote 54% to 44%.