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12 Painfully Awkward Photos Of Presidents Hanging Out Together

Presidents by themselves can be pretty awkward, but all bets are off when presidents hang out together. Is it more awkward when presidents from rival parties get together, or when presidents from the same party — say, two Democrats — are forced to make small talk? Can two — or three, or four, or five — leaders of the free world be friends? Can they be enemies?

The idea of presidents together brings about more questions than it does answers, most likely because when we think of the presidency, we think of a single person. Interdependence and group authority isn't really America's thing — it's true that we have checks and balances, but at the end of the day there's one person in charge. So what happens when these hyper-individualized individuals are in the same room?

Turns out, presidents are pretty amicable people — at least, that's what the photographic evidence says. Maybe this is due to the fact that they probably undergo serious social skills and media training before campaigning. But maybe they just get along because they're the only ones who really get it. Much like the only people who can understand what it's like to be in One Direction are the other people in One Direction, one of the only people who can understand what it's like to be President Obama is actually President Bush. So judge for yourself — how tight are the presidents?

by Zoe Ferguson

Reagan and Clinton

This is a very weird photo because it looks like Reagan and Clinton could be friends palling around, but you can also see Reagan looking at Clinton in what evolutionary researchers might call a gesture of embarrassment or submission. Fascinating.

PAUL J .RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

Eisenhower and Nixon

What on earth were they talking about just before this photo was taken? I think I’d rather not know. It looks like it was probably a deeply uncomfortable subject.

SACHS/AFP/Getty Images

Bush and Bush

Perhaps this is not the most revolutionary photo on this list, but it still counts as an awkward photo of two presidents. What do you think it’s like to have your dad as your predecessor? There’s no way that house never gets tense.

TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images

Bush and Carter

Everyone here looks a little perplexed, like they can’t quite recall how they got here. At the same time, they both look like they really know what they’re doing, and it’s very serious. Lessons of the Presidency, I suppose.

PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

Kennedy and Johnson

Even if there weren’t any real political tensions in this photo, there is definitely some dramatic irony in this photo, considering the fact that Johnson didn’t even want to be President — he was forced to take the office when Kennedy was assassinated.

AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Bush, Ford, and Clinton

Interesting polo choice here. While red is traditionally a Republican color and blue a Democratic one, it seems that Bush is wearing a light blue, while Clinton is complementing his rosy cheeks with a bright screaming red. What are these jokesters laughing about? How hilarious golf is?

PAUL J .RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

Obama and Clinton

I can’t say anything about this picture that won’t get me in trouble.

John Moore/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Obama and Bush

Bush wants to hold hands, but Obama doesn’t know how to tell him he’s not ready to take that step yet.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Carter and Clinton

Clinton definitely knows something Carter doesn’t know. Carter is wearing a face that clearly says “blissful ignorance,” while Clinton appears measurably more concerned — or perhaps he’s just mastered the Serious Beard Stroke.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

Jefferson and Washington

This is without a doubt the original awkward dual-president relationship, since it literally happened during the first U.S. presidency ever. Even if Jefferson was not yet president and this isn’t a photo of their actual faces, it definitely counts.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Carter and Bush

More hysterical laughter. Is it because their ties are matching? Or are they all just sleep deprived?

LUKE FRAZZA/AFP/Getty Images

Lincoln and Buchanan

The relationship between Lincoln and Buchanan was painfully awkward. Meanwhile, here are Obama and Lincoln hanging out together, posing as Obama smiles fondly at his predecessor.

Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images
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