THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTS Premieres on History, 1/15

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Presidents, HISTORY

THE-ULTIMATE-GUIDE-TO-THE-PRESIDENTS-Premieres-on-History-115-20010101

In a world ruled by kings and emperors, the United States of America was a risky experiment - a republic of, by, and for the people - with power divided among three branches of government. But it is one branch, the Executive, in which the hopes and aspirations of the American people are primarily embodied - in the President of the United States.

In the week preceding the 2013 Presidential inauguration, HISTORY will present THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTS. From George Washington to Barack Obama, this eight-hour series will cover the history of the most influential position in the world, and the men who defined its power. The series premieres on Tuesday, January 15 at 9 pm ET on HISTORY.

Forty-three men have taken the oath of President of the United States. Whether each set groundbreaking precedent, declared war or enacted laws altering the destiny of millions, each found himself in the eye of the storm. THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTS delves inside the inner-workings of the Presidency, as well as the minds, methods and motivations of each man who has held the position of Commander-In-Chief.

Each episode also explores how the Office of the Presidency has evolved over the past 222 years. When George Washington was elected, no one knew what a President was. There was no title, no policy, and no code of behavior for a Chief Executive. So everything he did - from selecting a Cabinet to determining where the Capitol should be to creating an Oval Office and a White House - set precedents for the nation's future.

Interviews with historians, past administration officials, and family members portray the role of the Presidency as an ever-changing institution that is influenced by the personalities of each of the men and how each interacts with the events transpiring in the world around them.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTS is produced for HISTORY by Karga Seven Pictures. Susan Werbe is Executive Producer for HISTORY. Executive Producers for Karga Seven Pictures are Sarah Wetherbee, Emre Sahin and Kelly McPherson.

HISTORY is the leading destination for factual entertainment, including award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network's all-original programming slate, including scripted event programming, features a roster of hits including American Pickers, American Restoration, Ax Men, Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars, Swamp People and Top Shot as well as epic mini-series and specials such as the Emmy Award-winning Hatfields & McCoys, Gettysburg, Vietnam in HD, America The Story of Us, and 102 Minutes That Changed America. The HISTORY website is the leading online resource for all things history, and in 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected HISTORY's Civil War 150 site for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the American Civil War sesquicentennial. For more information, visit www.history.com.