What is the amount of a US president's pension?

The pension for former presidents is $196,700 at the present time(2012) plus money for an office and staff for four and one-half years after they leave office.

This amount can be adjusted at will by Congress. It is currently tied to the pay of cabinet members.

For most of America's history, retired presidents did not receive a pension. In 1958 Congress passed the Former Presidents Act, which gave retired presidents a pension of $25,000 per year, an office, and a staff. Truman and Hoover were the former Presidents in 1958.

Presidents who want to make more money usually have no problems getting speaking engagements or getting their books published. They usually get offers to teach as a visiting professor and to serve on corporate boards.