![Terry Branstad Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad at a proclamation signing at Jordan Creek Elementary School, in West Des Moines, Iowa. On Dec. 14, the six-term Republican marks his 7,642nd day of service as governor, making him the longest-serving governor in American history.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-01.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By TIME Photo
![Terry Branstad Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad at a proclamation signing at Jordan Creek Elementary School, in West Des Moines, Iowa. On Dec. 14, the six-term Republican marks his 7,642nd day of service as governor, making him the longest-serving governor in American history.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![FDR's 4th Inauguration President Franklin Delano Roosevelt waves from a lectern just after he took his fourth Oath of Office in Washington in 1945. With him are his Vice President Harry S. Truman and his son James Roosevelt. Roosevelt, the longest serving president in American history, was the only president to serve more than two terms.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Portrait of Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn holding his Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn with his gavel. Rayburn served as the Speaker of the House for 17 years, the longest tenure in U.S. history.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![John Dingell Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., in his Rayburn office. Dingell served for more than 59 years—the longest Congressional tenure in U.S. history.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Robert Byrd Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., on Capitol Hill in Washington. Byrd was the longest-serving U.S. Senator at the time of his death.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Richmond, Texas mourns Mayor Hilmar Moore. A bronze statue of Richmond Mayor Hilmar Moore is displayed outside City Hall in Richmond, Texas. Moore, who was appointed as mayor in 1949 and then won 32 consecutive elections, was the longest serving mayor in the U.S. when he died.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/longest-serving-politicians-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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