Speaking Fees for Former Presidents Top $750,000

[L. Coyote]

https://www.thoughtco.com/former-presidents-speaking-fees-3368127

The president of the United States is paid $400,000 a year while in office. He also earns a substantial pension for the resident his life under the Former Presidents Act of 1958. But, just like most politicians, presidents don't endure the rigors of the campaign trail and put up with life as the most scrutinized leader in the world for the money. The cash really starts rolling in when our commanders-in-chief leave the White House and hit the speaking circuit. .........

Gerald Ford was the first to take advantage of a president's status after leaving office, according to Mark K. Updegrove, the author of Second Acts: Presidential Lives and Legacies After the White House. Ford earned as much as $40,000 per speech after leaving office in 1977, Updegrove wrote. Others before him, including Harry Truman, deliberately avoided speaking for money, saying they believed the practice was exploitative.

Here's a look at how much our four living former presidents earn on the speaking trail. ..........

[Skittles]

1. cashing in

it's the American way

[True Dough]

2. Jimmy Carter is such a bargain!

At $50,000.

[pangaia]

4. He gives most of it away to charities.

"We give money. We don't take it."

And THERE YOU GO!!

The rest of them...??

blechk....

[True Dough]

5. I wonder if he's ever been tempted

to be paid in tacos?

[pangaia]

6. LOL !!!!

You don't miss much, do ya?

[True Dough]

7. Well, Carter was into world peace

Maybe tacos are the key!

[pangaia]

9. THAT'S it... Tacos for speeches..!!

[True Dough]

10. Barack-o

Taco!

Jimmy-chonga!

[BeyondGeography]

3. It's out of control

And it's making people cynical, part of the larger public/private moneypalooza that's creating opportunities for anger-exploiting crackpots and demagogues. Not just here either. Look at what happened to Labor post-Tony Blair and his global net-worth building tour.

Harry Truman had it right, but it's a much more tempting world today.

[meadowlark5]

8. Why do we even know how much he was paid?

Is this public information or something? He's not an elected official anymore so I assume he's not required to report these speaking fees? Is it public knowledge because of the event he spoke at?

We can't see our president's tax returns but now we are going to dissect every penny Obama earns as a private citizen?

[mopinko]

11. rly

[AgadorSparticus]

12. Because the poutrage du jour is that he is not saintly enough.