answers: George Washington
context: Abraham Lincoln to be nominated for a second term, although he lost the 1840 election, and so only served one term. In spite of the strong two-term tradition, a few presidents prior to Franklin Roosevelt did attempt to secure a third term. Following Ulysses S. Grant's reelection victory in 1872, there were serious discussions within Republican political circles about the possibility of his running again in 1876. Interest in a third term for Grant evaporated however, in the light of negative public opinion and opposition from members of Congress, and Grant left the presidency in 1877, after two terms. Even </s> elect the president, and the president's role). Many—including Alexander Hamilton and James Madison—supported a lifetime appointment for presidents, while others favored fixed terms appointments. Virginia's George Mason denounced the life-tenure proposal as tantamount to establishment of an elective monarchy. Ultimately, the Framers approved four-year terms with no restriction on the amount of time a person could serve as president. Though dismissed by the Constitutional Convention, the concept of term limits for U.S. presidents took hold during the presidencies of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. As his second term entered its final year in 1796, George Washington was exhausted from years </s> vice president would take over who was not elected and his goal would fail. (He in fact did die in 1799 two years into the new term). The election went forward and he was absolutely neutral between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. He personally did not feel bound by a two-term limit. In the 1780s, about half the states provided term limits for governors. The Constitutional convention of 1787 discussed the issue and decided not to do so. "The matter was fairly discussed in the Convention," Washington wrote in 1788, "and to my full convictions ... I can see no
question: what u.s. president established the precedent of not seeking more than two terms in office