Under what authority does a former President receive federal benefits? How can they be taken away from him? Dolan Springs, AZ If a President is impeached, does he lose his government pension? What if he resigns instead? Lansing, MI - 5/3/01

Former Presidents receive their benefits -- compensation, security services, office and staff allowance, travel allowance, and widows' benefits -- under the auspices of federal law enacted by Congress: see 3 United States Code 102.

Benefits granted former Presidents could be modified or repealed only by Act of Congress.

Were a President to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he would be removed from office, and he would indeed lose his government pension.

However, a President would keep his pension were he to resign before the process of impeachment is completed (as did President Richard Nixon in 1974).