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(Image source: The White House)
BY ZACH TOOMBS
The costs of being commander-in-chief don’t stop when you leave office. Between security,
travel and their pensions, former U.S. presidents cost the government $3.7 million in 2012.
That’s according to the Congressional Research Service. The pension totals up to $200,000
a year for each former president. There’s also the financial toll of maintaining an
office with full staffing. So, of the four living former leaders, who’s the costliest?
(Via C-SPAN)
That honor goes to George W. Bush, who left office in 2009 and cost taxpayers $1.3 million
last year. The 43rd president made $86,000 worth of phone calls, spent $60,000 on travel
and $395,000 to maintain his office. (Via ABC)
President Clinton, overall cost a bit less — about $980,000. But he did spend more
on office costs: $442,000 in all. Of course, Clinton pulls in a good amount of money on
his own. (Via CBS)
Politico reports from the time he left the White House up to 2011, he made $75 million
from speaking engagements.
George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter cost the third and fourth most, respectively. Bush
41 racked up $842,000 in costs — Jimmy Carter, $518,000.
Though the former presidents themselves aren’t the only ones benefitting. NPR notes the Former
Presidents Act also provides the widow of a former leader with a $20,000 a year allowance.
For Nancy Reagan, that includes $14,000 of postage — and nothing else.
But this $3.7 million price tag is actually less than what former presidents have cost
the U.S. in several previous years. In 2003, it totalled up to $4.1 million. And, altogether,
since 1998 — $52.3 million.