From Cheerleader to President: Which President Began His Public Career as a Cheerleader?

Which president began his public career as a cheerleader? The answer may be surprising. There wasn't just one cheerleader in this esteemed list of cheerleaders. There were a bunch of presidents who lead the crowds to cheer on their chosen teams. It seems they rallied people around from way back when. "Rah Rah!"

Here are a few clues first. One cheerleader has a mother who wears pearls. One teamed with a monkey. One used a campaign slogan that was similar to Sally Field's Academy Award acceptance speech in 1985 for "Places in the Heart". The last on this particular list, was the first president to be televised. ( I guess we can blame it on him.)

Imagine each President, if you will, donned in those tight fitting pants and cute little letter sweaters, looking like clean cut, all American boys. Then try to keep a straight face. Somehow it seems irreverent picturing some of The United States most esteemed leaders, attired in cheerleader outfits, bouncing around and shaking their pompoms, for a crowd of cheering and booing onlookers.

Then again, are political and pep rallies really all that different? Cheerleaders know how to work a crowd. They know how to rally people around a cause. They can work a huge group into a frenzy over a minor play. They have a wholesome, finger in dimple, image. They have a loyal following and fans who chase them around. They hope people will follow with no question, just out of loyalty to the chosen team.

Although some people still tend to think of cheerleaders as stereotypical brainless flighty women, the world of cheerleaders began their history as men. Let's pause there for a moment and contemplate that thought...

When women began attending colleges and universities, there weren't sports for women. They joined the cheerleading forces on the all male sidelines to rally the crowds around their teams. That way they could be involved in their own college athletics. Then they took over.

Maybe we could have a Democrat and Republican annual football game, like the Army Navy variety. There would be political cheerleaders representing each side. It wouldn't be much different from some of the antics used in modern day political campaigns. The obvious mascots, would of course, be present, galloping or stomping around the field.

At least in a Democrat vs. Republican sports event, we would have referees calling fouls and earning penalties for personal fouls against the other team. Hat throwing, stomping around tantrums, and in their face confrontations, between players or coaches and officials, might be a fresh change from political backstabbing battles. There everyone claims they know nothing about the mysterious leak of some hopefully scandalous news item, that will keep the other team from scoring a touchdown.

In a football game, you make a mistake, you get called on it, and instantly penalized. Ten yard penalty for a bad move. The judgement call might be a manipulation of facts, depending on the vantage point. You might question the penalty. You can't, however, blame it on someone else. You foul up, you pay.

Give me a "P" for President, and here's a roll call of Presidential cheerleaders:

George W. Bush cheered on the sidelines in Phillips Academy in Andover, megaphone in hand, with a big "A" emblazoned on his chest.

Ronald Reagan showed his stuff in Illinois, at Eureka College.

Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his rallying call at West Point Academy. Eisenhower was an all around sportsman He injured his knee, so he couldn't play football anymore. He joined the cheerleading team on the sidelines.

Franklin D. Roosevelt got the crowds roaring in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at Harvard University.

As an added bonus, let's throw in a Supreme Court Justice, to join the leaders of The United States in the rah rah roll call. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a high school cheerleader in Brooklyn, New York, at James Madison High School.

It seems some cheerleaders managed to carry on the tradition all the way to the Presidential oval office. Shake those pompoms, sirs!