The first President of the United States was a mere 57 years old when he took the initial reins of power. George Washington would serve as the top man for eight years, leaving the office at the age of 65 and he would pass away nearly three years later. The next seven men to sit at the president’s desk would range from 54 to 61. Granted these men lived in the mid 1800s and that probably seemed old to folks back then. Google tells me the average lifespan in the 1800s was 40. Each was on borrowed time but medicine and quality of life and vacations have improved in the past 200 years and the average lifespan today is 79.
Well, the guys in charge and the guy running again are over and hovering towards that mark. Where have all the younger qualified to run for president men and women gone? Where are those shining knights and princesses on white horses holding up these days?
Teddy Roosevelt was 42 when he ran the country. He looked much older. Calvin Coolidge was 51, Hoover was 54 and Truman was 60 – my age! They all looked much older and well, smarter. Heck, Eisenhower was only 62 when he became president but he looked a couple decades older. Or maybe it’s all the black and white photos and those years of battling on the political front that aged them. But these men had gone through wars and the Great Depression. They had aged much younger than most men and women today.
Kennedy was 43 when elected. Now I know I didn’t know nearly enough about anything at 43 to even think about being president of anything. But I reckon if you’re groomed for a job for decades then you fit the bill and the suit at the time. Nixon was 56 when elected, Jimmy Carter a youthful 52. Maybe that’s why they messed up so much. They didn’t know what they didn’t know. I don’t remember what I did when I was 52. In 2016, I was married and the father of two daughters, 16 and 12 and we had two dogs. That was a full time job and I can’t imagine trying to juggle running the country and having access to the nuclear codes.
I can remember how folks thought Ronald Reagan was old when he was elected at 69 years of age back in 1980. He left office at 77 – younger than the folks trying to keep and get the job today. Obama was 47 and Bush #2 was 54 and Bill Clinton was 46. The job made them seem older than that. They each did what their parties wanted them to do, somewhat.
Am I against old folks being in charge? No, not really. I’m just wondering where the next wave of political folks are?
They don’t seem to be stepping up or maybe this woke system of government and social media has cut them down before they can get started.
They don’t have a safe place to cut their teeth and learn how to be a politician that matters. No one today has any military background to speak of. What governors do you see that have a big enough backbone to try and run something bigger than their state?
I read a story that 85% of the Mississippi legislature are running unopposed. Does that mean we lack a good crop of potential politicians? When there’s no competition, you don’t run as fast or as hard. When there’s no one there to push you or sharpen you, you don’t get sharpened. Our government is in the shape it’s in because enough good men and women didn’t step up or stay stepped up. The early presidents survived and won wars. The second wave of men did the same and even commanded men and women in the armed forces. These days we’re lucky if a politician knows anything about the first 20 presidents or so.
Give me another Reagan. Somebody who can lead. Somebody who can actually give a speech that inspires. Somebody who can tell a good joke and take a bullet. He wasn’t perfect. Far from it as we all are.
I reckon the best thing to do these days is to pray for our leaders on both sides of the aisle. Give them some slack but hold them accountable and give them capable opponents to sharpen their leadership skills.
But mostly pray. A lot. And often.
