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Presidential Trivia - Old and New

Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and the 2008 Candidates

Nov 16, 2007

Jimmy Carter - Nobel Laureate 2002, nobelprize.org

Collectors of presidential trivia are watching every word and action of 2008 presidential candidates as they march towards the White House.

2008 Presidential Candidates in the Spotlight

Both new media and television have added new dimensions to political campaigning. With the 2008 presidential race gaining momentum, it will be interesting to see how it will all play out for this election's candidates.

With a woman, an Hispanic and an African-American in the running (all on the Democrats team), the 2008 presidential race looks to be one of Firsts. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Governor Bill Richardson and Senator Barak Obama might very well be making presidential trivia history, besides all the other firsts these Democratic Party candidates are chalking up.

In June 2007, Esquire ran a cover of their Democratic Party running mate, John Edwards with the question: "Can a white man still be elected president?" Last month saw the publication of a book titled "The Neglected Voter: White Men and the Democratic Dilemma."

Inclusive Presidential Trivia Roundup

No doubt all these facts about the 2008 candidates will go down in the well- scoured annals of presidential trivia. For the purposes of being inclusive, presidential hopefuls for the 2008 presidential race have also been included in this specific presidential trivia roundup.

"I am older than dirt and have more scars than Frankenstein," Republican, John McCain likes to say.

It always gets a laugh, although his mother, who is 94 and her twin sister probably don't appreciate it very much. If John McCain, 70, runs and wins, he would be the oldest person ever inaugurated as president.

Presidential Trivia - The Oldest and Youngest Person to be Inaugurated Into the White House

At present this presidential trivia milestone belongs to the ”Great Communicator”. At age 69, Ronald Reagan became the oldest person ever elected U.S. president.He was the 40th President: 1981-1989

Presidential trivia often likes to juxtapose issues, so if Ronald Reagan was the oldest, then who was the youngest?

Well that would be the 35th President: 1961-1963. John Fitzgerald Kennedy who at 43 became the youngest person ever elected president. He was also the first Roman Catholic president and the first president born in the 20th century.

Two More Snippets of Presidential Trivia About JFK:

JFK was the first president to hold a press conference on television.
JFK was the youngest president t to die in office.

Some More Presidential Trivia:

Richard Nixon, 37th President: 1969-1974

Nixon was the first president to visit all 50 states and the first president to visit China and Nixon was also the first to address the Russians on Russian television.
Nixon's mother wanted him to become a Quaker missionary; Nixon wanted to be an FBI agent.

Jimmy Carter, 39th President: 1977-1981

Jimmy Carter was the first president born in a hospital and Carter was the first president sworn in using his nickname, Jimmy.
Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, making him the third President to win.

George H.W. Bush, 41st President: 1989-1993

George Bush Snr was the first vice president elected president since Martin Van Buren and also the first vice president to lose re-election since Van Buren.
Bush was the only President to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

William J. (Bill) Clinton, 42nd President: 1993-2001

Bill Clinton was the first president to be a Rhodes Scholar.
Bill Clinton is also the first left-handed American president to serve two terms.

George W. Bush, 43rd President: 2001- Present

First son of a president to become president since John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams.
George W Bush was one of two managing general partners of the Texas Rangers baseball club from 1989-1994.

Well, whether there will be a Republican or a Democrat in the White House in 2008 is anyones guess. The candidates all still have a lot of work to do before the 2008 elections, but meanwhile everyone will enjoy the new potential presidential trivia they are making.

If you enjoy presidential trivia take a look at these websites, there is plenty around:

Just for fun presidential trivia

Presidential Trivia, interesting facts, physical characteristics and habits

Presidential Facts Page

Profiles on Political Leaders by Karen Lotter:

Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton

Nelson Mandela, Elder Statesman

Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan

The copyright of the article Presidential Trivia - Old and New in US President is owned by Karen Lotter. Permission to republish Presidential Trivia - Old and New in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.