Politics All the Times Former U.S. Presidents Have Gotten Together See rare photos of past commanders-in-chief reuniting to honor world events and to support each other By Diane J. Cho Diane J. Cho Diane J. Cho is the former features editor of PEOPLE, covering news, features, human interest and more. She left PEOPLE in 2022 People Editorial Guidelines and Stephanie Sengwe Updated on March 29, 2024 03:21PM EDT Close Obama, Biden and Clinton. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty The title of President of the United States has belonged to only 46 people and when you're in such a niche group, only the ones who've filled those shoes understand their weight. And that's why it's always a treat when we see former commanders-in-chief laughing, mingling and showing each other support. Below, check out these rare photos of past presidents reuniting to honor world events and to support each other — including old photos of John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon and more recent ones of president Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at a campaign fundraising event in New York. 01 of 26 Campaigning for Biden Barack Obama and Bill Clinton clap for U.S. President Joe Biden. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Former presidents Barack Obama and former Bill Clinton cheered for current commander-in-chief Joe Biden during a campaign fundraising event held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 28, 2024. 02 of 26 Taking a Moment Getty Ronald Reagan with Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter at the White House before departing to attend the funeral of Anwar Sadat in Cairo, Egypt. 03 of 26 A Presidential Quintet HAL GARB/AFP via Getty The first time five U.S. presidents — George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon — have gathered together to pose for a photo. This shot was taken in front of the Reagan Library in 1991 in Simi Valley, California. 04 of 26 Debating for Office John F. Kennedy & Richard M. Nixon. Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon exchange smiles prior to their first televised presidential candidate TV debate. 05 of 26 Commanding the Photo David Hume Kennerly/Getty Eighteen years later, another group of five presidents — George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter — gathered together, this time in the Oval Office in Washington D.C. in 2009. 06 of 26 Doing Good Together JIM CHAPIN/AFP via Getty Jimmy Carter speaks alongside George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama as they attend the Hurricane Relief concert in College Station, Texas, on Oct. 21, 2017, following Hurricane Maria. 07 of 26 Grand Opening Alex Wong/Getty Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on April 25, 2013, in Dallas. 08 of 26 Talking Sports Frank Micelotta/Getty Sportscaster Terry Bradshaw speaks with George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton in the FOX Broadcast booth during the XXXIX Super Bowl pregame show at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005, in Jacksonville, Florida. 09 of 26 Presidential Greeting PhotoQuest/Getty John F. Kennedy greets Harry S. Truman outside of the White House on Jan. 21, 1961. 10 of 26 Accompanying a Hometown Hero Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Bill Clinton waves from the stage accompanied by George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush during the official opening ceremony of the Clinton Presidential Library on Nov. 18, 2004, in Little Rock, Arkansas. 11 of 26 All About Legacy Noam Galai/Getty Bill Clinton and George W. Bush speak on stage at the HISTORYTalks Leadership & Legacy event on Feb. 29, 2020 in New York City. 12 of 26 The Presidents and Their Wives From left: Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Pat Nixon, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford. Corbis via Getty Ronald and Nancy Reagan are seen chatting with Richard and Pat Nixon in this undated shot. 13 of 26 Sunny Days Rob Carr/Getty Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton attend the trophy presentation ahead of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club on Sept. 28, 2017, in Jersey City, New Jersey. 14 of 26 Milestone Celebration Michael Smith/Newsmakers Then-President Bill Clinton poses with George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Barbara Bush, Lady Bird Johnson, then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter. The photo was taken in the State Dining Room of the White House on Nov. 9, 2000, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the White House. 15 of 26 Passing the Torch, Giving Advice PAUL RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Bill Clinton breaks into laughter as Ronald Reagan presents him with a jar of red, white and blue jelly beans that, Reagan said, kept him from going to back to cigarettes. The two met in Los Angeles on Nov. 27, 1992, to discuss Clinton's transition into the White House. 16 of 26 Optical Illusions From left: Jill Biden, Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter and Joe Biden during a Thursday visit at the Carters' home in Plains, Georgia. The Carter Center/ twitter In May 2021, the Bidens visited the Carters in Plains, Ga., and posed for this picture that made headlines for the seeming size differential between the two couples (likely the result of a photo taken with a wide-angle lens). "It was great to see President Carter," President Biden, 78, said after the meeting. "He reminded me that I was the first person to endorse him outside of Georgia. And we sat and talked about the old days." 17 of 26 Hat Trick Time Life Pictures/White House/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Ronald Reagan, actor Bob Hope and Gerald Ford pose during the USO's 40th Anniversary dinner dance at the Washington Hilton hotel in 1981. 18 of 26 Having a Laugh Win McNamee/Getty Barack Obama jokes with Bill Clinton before awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room at the White House on Nov. 20, 2013, in Washington, D.C. 19 of 26 Taking It in Stride SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush at the White House before speaking about joint relief efforts following the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. 20 of 26 Sharing in History George W. Bush, Michelle Obama. ZACH GIBSON/AFP via Getty Laura and George W. Bush and Michelle and Barack Obama enjoy the opening ceremony for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on Sept. 24, 2016, in Washington, D.C. 21 of 26 Showing Support From left: First Lady Laura Bush, President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with President George H. W. Bush (below). Paul Morse/getty At a 2018 memorial service for former First Lady Barbara Bush, her daughter-in-law (and former First Lady) Laura Bush, son President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama all stood together in a show of support for Barbara's husband, President George Bush. 22 of 26 Mourning One of Their Own Chip Somodevilla/Getty At the 2018 state funeral for George H.W. Bush, all four living presidents were seated in the front row, including Donald J. Trump (with wife Melania), Barack Obama (with wife Michelle), Bill Clinton (with wife Hillary) and Jimmy Carter (with wife Rosalynn). 23 of 26 Ushering In a New Era Former U.S. President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Three of the five living past presidents — Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — join their wives as new President and Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery following the 2021 inauguration. Outgoing President Donald Trump chose to skip the 2021 inauguration festivities, and President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn stayed home given concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic. 24 of 26 Sending a Word From left: former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama appearing in the Celebrating American inauguration special on Wednesday. getty images During an evening TV special timed to the 2021 Inauguration, the three men came together again for a pre-recorded segment that included advice for Biden, spoke of camaraderie among past presidents and emphasized the importance of a peaceful transfer of power. "I think the fact that the three of us are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of power speaks to the institutional integrity of our country," said Bush. Obama continued: "We've got to not just listen to folks we agree with, but listen to folks we don't." 25 of 26 Big Birthday! Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton. The Carter Center Bill and Hillary Clinton traveled to the Carters' home state of Georgia in July 2021 to help the couple celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary. "Such a joy to celebrate these two special people, and their incredible bond, yesterday in Georgia," the former First Lady captioned a photo of the two couples posing together. "Happy 75th anniversary, Jimmy and Rosalynn!" 26 of 26 Partners in Change Chip Somodevilla/Getty At a 2022 ceremony to mark the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act, President Joe Biden shared a laugh with President Barack Obama, for whom he'd been the Vice President.