Ex-Presidents Club: Lots of life after White House

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the first 200 years of the republic, just three presidents survived more than two decades after leaving office: John Adams, Martin Van Buren and Herbert Hoover. The odds for ex-presidents have improved considerably since then.

Jimmy Carter, who raised the bar for active post-presidential years, is 88 now, and 32 years out of office. No one has survived longer after leaving the White House. George H.W. Bush, 89, passed the two-decade mark this year. The two most recent former presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both are going strong. Gerald Ford lived nearly 30 years after leaving office.

There's a lot happening in the ex-presidents club these days - thanks to increasing longevity, the personalities of the current members and expanding opportunities for influence.

-snip-

Full article here: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EX_PRESIDENTS_CLUB?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-07-22-16-20-05