Presidents age differently
I remember as a kid how people thought Jimmy Carter aged badly during his administration. I don’t know that he aged so bad, as much as his trademark smile was wiped off his face during the Iran Hostage Crisis.
Recent thoughts of that made me want to go back and see how other recent presidents looked at the beginning and end of their terms. It does appear that being president ages some men more than others.
For a list of presidents and their ages upon leaving office, look here.
Nixon coasted to an historic landslide in 1972, only to resign in disgrace two years later. He was consumed by the scandal and it took a toll on him.
Reagan liked to delegate and shun details. Even though he had the Iran Contra scandal, he left the office positive and largely unaffected by the pressures of the office.
The elder George Bush (by the way, it’s NOT George Bush Sr and George Bush Jr., as the elder Bush has two middle names) was a career Washington politician. The pressures of office were old hat to him. He left office after 4 years in relatively good physical shape.
Bill Clinton, though always presenting himself as a positive leader, was famous for his micromanagement and quick temper. He also became only the second president to be impeached (history 101 - being “impeached” doesn’t mean being removed from office… it just means impeachment proceedings were brought against him). He also had his girlfriend Monica Lewinsky to deal with and deny. He left office a bit weathered.
George W. Bush had 9/11 and two wars to wage, not to mention the wars he had to wage at home against an army of detractors. He looks 20 years older in his last year in office than he did in his first.
Tags: politics, presidents
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 am
GWB deserves it. It must be trying to be loathed, abhorred, detested, despised, abominated by 70% of the people in your country and 90% of the people in the world. He can run but he can’t hide.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I suppose that would age anyone. Imagine how 8 rough years would look on McCain??
August 1st, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Nasty and unnecessary, Bianca, but not very enlightening. Exactly who “deserves” it and why? And who decides? And do persons not have at the very least an obligation to give detailed reasons if they lauch an attach upon another human being?
A lot of great figures in history were not popular in their own time. Just a fact. If you don’t like someone, please give a solid reason based on facts and logic. Else, please don’t bother imposing any more unsubstantiated ugliness on the rest of humanity.
Please.
September 28th, 2008 at 5:29 am
(A little late, but then I just found this.
)
Of course he deserves it, Taylor. People responsible for war and death on such a mass scale deserve it. Who says? I did, just now. I don’t need stacks of facts to have an emotional reaction. I will feel what I please and I dare you to stop me. I learned this from our glorious leader.
Why don’t you think before you condescend to people for thinking what they do. Having an opposing opinion is neither inherently wrong or requiring of research. Stop being a dick, Taylor. And quit trying (trying) to dictate what people may say. Hint: You are as insignificant as everyone else. Else, you will continue to present as a weak and silly person unable to face the reality of differing opinions.
Please.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:52 am
@ waffles: like this http://loftyincantations.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/mlf-skeleton-pd-05-kj0022.jpg
November 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I noticed this trend exactly where you begin… with Mr. Gerald Ford. In 1980 a news sender broadcast his pictures through the years in office and one thing became VERY obvious. The grin, for which he was so well known early on, became flatter and weaker with every year. You show the near grimace it became in the end. Since Kennedy, the president has been in my opinion nothing more than the scapegoat of a disenchanted public and press. I pity Barack already. He has so much energy and enthusiasm. One sees on his face how this is a dream come true for him. I don’t think anyone realizes just what this office entails.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Although I have never wanted GWB as President, somehow my heart just goes out to him by seeing how much he has aged. I’ve been wondering lately what type of person does it take to want a job like “THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES” Talk about STRESS!!! Those years must have been hell for him; and you know, it’s weird. I feel bad for the guy.
November 10th, 2008 at 12:58 am
[…] (And I’m just a political junkie with a blog, a vote, and a list of doors to knock on. No wonder Presidents age so much in office.) […]
November 21st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Perhaps Bianca’s comments were unnecessary, but she seems to have a better idea of what history will say of Bush than Taylor. George W. Bush has killed a million Iraqis and he knowingly lied to the world to start this war. If that ain’t evil, then the word evil has no meaning.
December 8th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Taylor,
You obviously have no clue the terrible things (far too many to name here) that GWB has done to not only our country but preindustrial nations. Grab yourself a book and learn a little bit about GWB.