Here's What Presidents Do In Their Final Days In Office

The Constitution allows for the president to grant pardons to those convicted of "offenses against the United States." While presidents can and do issue pardons and grant clemency throughout their term, a long list of last-day-of-work pardons has become traditional for lame ducks. George H.W. Bush controversially pardoned Iran-Contra figure and former Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger, while Jimmy Carter pardoned folk singer Peter Yarrow, who was in prison for taking sexual liberties with an underaged fan.

But most famously, Bill Clinton caused controversy when he issued 140 pardons on his last day, including one to disgraced financier Marc Rich, two members of terrorist organization the Weather Underground, and his woebegone half-brother Roger.

It's always been a tradition for outgoing presidents to speak to the newly inaugurated POTUS. Legend has it that when he left office with the country on the verge of Civil War, the outgoing James Buchanan told Abraham Lincoln, "If you are as happy, my dear sir, on entering this house as I am in leaving it and returning home, you are the happiest man in this country."

The tradition of the outgoing president writing a letter for the new one started with Ronald Reagan, who left a note for his former vice president, George H.W. Bush, in the Oval Office desk. It read, in part, "Don't let the turkeys get you down." The content of the letter is usually very personal, and most presidents don't make theirs public until years later.

Leaving the highest office in America and returning to private citizenry is a hard transition. But maybe it helps if you loot the White House before you go? Legend has it that Lyndon Johnson admired the official White House china aboard Air Force One so much that he had it shipped back to his ranch in Texas, while the Reagans were investigated by the IRS for taking diamonds and a $25,000 gown home.

The Clintons got in some hot water for taking gifts that had officially been given to the White House. They ended up returning about $48,000 worth of furniture and paying the US government for other items they wanted to keep. 

Presidential transitions are a stressful time, especially if your party or administration lost. So outgoing staffers sometimes blow off steam by pranking the next occupants of the White House. The Clintons set the standard for pranks, or destruction of property if you're less charitable, with their transition in 2001.

Most famously, they took all the "W" keys off the keyboards, ensuring George W. Bush's name couldn't be typed properly. There were also reports of broken glass desktops, tangled phone lines, and "Gore 2000" bumper stickers left in paper trays. Clinton staffers pointed out that when they took the office in 1992, Bush staffers had done the same thing, slathering the office with Bush/Quayle bumper stickers and so on. 

George Washington's last move as president of the United States set a precedent - he attended the inauguration of the man replacing him, John Adams. In 1837, Andrew Jackson took it a step further by riding in a carriage to the inauguration with newly elected Martin Van Buren. In the early 20th century, the outgoing president and first lady began arranging luncheons for the incoming president and first lady, a tradition that continues. The outgoing president plays a minor role in the inauguration, and sometimes even reviews the Inaugural Parade with the new president.

But once the new president has been sworn in, the love fest is over. The outgoing president is escorted from the Capitol, gives one final salute, and leaves on Marine One. The new president goes to a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, then parties the night away. 

The president and their family usually vacate the White House a few days early, giving the staff time to prepare for the transition to the next first family - a move that has to be done in hours. President Bush had boxes moved and paintings wrapped in bubble wrap in his final days, while Ronald Reagan's Oval Office only had a desk left by the last day.