Since 1950 there have been 10 recessions. Lets take a closer look at the facts...
Recession Dates President Party
--------------- --------- -----
July 1953-May 1954 Eisenhower Republican
August 1957-April 1958 Eisenhower Republican
April 1960-February 1961 Eisenhower Republican
December 1969-November 1970 Nixon Republican
November 1973-March 1975 Nixon/Ford Republican
January 1980-July 1980 Carter Democrat
July 1981-November 1982 Reagan Republican
July 1990-March 1991 Bush I Republican
March 2001-November 2001 Bush II Republican
December 2007- Bush II Republican
Source:
http://www.nber.org/...
Since 1950 there have been 10 recessions. 9 of the recession have started with a Republican in the White House. Only one has started with a Democrat in the White House (Jimmy Carter). Amazingly, every Republican president since James Garfield (March 4, 1881 - September 19, 1881) has had a recession while in office.
Bill Clinton is the only president in American history to serve two full terms without a recession. No recession started in the eight years Kennedy/Johnson were in the White House.