The Age Factor in Presidential Politics

It appears that the Presidential election of 2008 will be a contest between GOP Senator John McCain and either Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton or Senator Barrack Obama. While there are significant and striking political and ideological differences between the candidates the election may well be determined by a factor seldom mentioned in campaign debates and political stump speeches, but one always lies close to the surface where it emerges in the undercurrents and innuendo spread by the political machinery of the candidates, and that is the age of the respective candidates for the office of President.

In addition to a wide range of issue differences and a recurring call for change in Washington the voters will have to consider whether at age 71 John McCain is too old for the demands of the office.

While Senator Clinton at age 61 touts her experience as the primary difference between herself and her 47-year-old Democratic opponent, Barrack Obama, the voter will have to decide when is too much experience (and implied here, age) a hindrance to the office. If elected at age 71 Senator McCain will be oldest person ever elected to the office, one year older than former President Reagan, who took office at age 69 and 11 months.

It was Reagan who last faced the challenge that he was too old for the office of President. One of his political opponents managed to remind the voters that the former oldest elected President, William Henry Harrison, actually died within 30 days of his inauguration. Running for re-election in 1984 Reagan at age 74 actually turned the issue to his advantage during a televised debate with his Democratic opponent, Walter Mondale, as he answered a moderator's question about his age by saying:

" I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience". [Source]

As a result this response Reagan not only addressed the issue head on, his approval ratings soared. Reagan of course was re-elected and completed two very successful terms, leaving office at age 78.

In spite of President Reagan's wit and success as the 40^th President of the United States the debate concerning Senator McCain's age certainly will go on and will be an issue in this campaign.

Looking back in the history of our nation no clear patterns emerge relative to the age of elected Presidents. The ten youngest Presidents elected averaged 48.6 years of age, the youngest being Theodore Roosevelt, one of our better Presidents.

The ten oldest Presidents elected to the office averaged 63 years of age, the oldest being Ronald Reagan, also considered an effective President.

The list of the ten youngest men elected to the office include some our very best and most popular Presidents, including the two youngest, Theodore Roosevelt and John Kennedy, but the list also includes some of the least effective to hold the office including U.S. Grant, Millard Filmore and Franklin Pierce.

This same pattern holds true for the ten oldest holders of the office. Ronald Reagan, Harry Truman and Andrew Jackson were both popular and effective Presidents while others of the eldest Presidents were totally ineffective. The latter includes James Buchanan and Zachary Taylor.

A Survey of Political and Academic scholars in which the political performance of American Presidents was conducted and published by Wikipedia ranked the 42 Presidents performance to date. Based on achievement of their respective administrations the 10 youngest Presidents ranked (with (1) being the best and (42) the worst) as follows:

Theodore Roosevelt (5), James Polk (10), John Kennedy (12), Grover Cleveland (17), William Clinton (21), James Garfield (33), John Tyler (35), Millard Filmore (36), U.S. Grant (37), and Franklin Pierce (40).

The average ranking for the ten youngest Presidents is 20.9.

Equivalent rankings for the ten oldest Presidents are:

Harry Truman (7), Andrew Jackson (8), Dwight Eisenhower (9), John Adams (11), Ronald Reagan (15), Gorge H. W. Bush (25), Gerald Ford (27), Zachary Taylor (34), William Harrison (38), and James Buchanan (41).

The average ranking for the ten oldest Presidents is 21.2. Note: [As a aside, this ranking is skewed to the high side by including two Presidents who died in office and had little accomplishment (Harrison and Taylor)].

Judging on the above data, age does not appear to affect Presidential performance or accomplishment.

It is significant to note that two of the ten oldest Presidents died in office.

Two of the youngest Presidents were assassinated while in office.

There is appears to be little evidence that longevity is an issue based on elected age.

The ten youngest Presidents averaged 48.6 years of age when taking office and died on average 16.8 years after leaving office at an average age of 65.4.(excludes assassinated Presidents).

The ten oldest Presidents averaged 63 years of age when taking office and died 17.3 years after leaving office at an average age of 80.3. (includes Presidents who died while in office).

My conclusion is, if history is any judge, the age of an elected President is not an issue. This nation has had a wide range of young and old, effective and non-effective Presidents from each age category...and chances are we will in the future.

We should judge our candidates on the issues and character of the candidate and our belief that he or she is best qualified to lead our nation, and hope that the aging process only brings wisdom to the office.