Presidents who refused salary

[snopes]

Comment: i was told that there were two presdients who refused a salary
and that they were washington and kennedy is that true?

Washington refused, Kennedy gave his to charity.
http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/s.../24/pay.raise/

[Silas Sparkhammer]

Given George Washington's fiscal behavior during the Revolutionary War -- exaggerating expenses, etc. -- it seems a big reversal of character for him then to serve the country gratis.

Also, given the way so much of what he did became ironbound tradition, it would seem likely that many of the presidents directly following him would have felt required to do the same.

Silas

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer

Given George Washington's fiscal behavior during the Revolutionary War -- exaggerating expenses, etc. -- it seems a big reversal of character for him then to serve the country gratis.

Given George Washington's fiscal behavior during the Revolutionary War -- sacrificing his personal fortune for the sake of the war effort, etc. -- it doesn't seem a big reversal of character for him then to serve the country gratis.

- snopes

[Embra]

I thought payment for elected representatives was a step forward - it stops posts being open only to those who can afford to live off their riches for the duration of their term (I realise the rich have other head starts in this respect).

Presumably Kennedy could easily afford to give away his presidential pay. I mean, it's a nice gesture but it is only a gesture.

[RealityChuck]

Originally Posted by snopes

Given George Washington's fiscal behavior during the Revolutionary War -- sacrificing his personal fortune for the sake of the war effort, etc. -- it doesn't seem a big reversal of character for him then to serve the country gratis.

Not entirely. Washington as a general took no salary, but was paid for his expenses, and he had no qualms about padding his expense account. According to colonial records, he submitted a bill for $449,000, a pretty heavy sum in those days. That works out to over $50,000 per year.

When elected president, he again offered to work for expenses only, but Congress wised up and set a regular salary of $25,000.

[TB Tabby]

Didn't Herbert Hoover turn his salary over to charity too?

[Tarquin Farquart]

One for the UK contigent here: there was an MP who only took as his wage the average salary. I can't remember his name, but I think he hailed from Coventry...

[Tantei Kid]

Originally Posted by TB Tabby

Didn't Herbert Hoover turn his salary over to charity too?

I thought so too. According to his presidential library some of it went to charity and some of it supplemented salaries of underlings he thought were underpaid.