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The Democratic Field « How
Old
Would
President
___
Be?
How Old Would President ___ Be?
Ages of
Current, Former and Formerly Possible 2020 Presidential Candidates on
Inauguration Day,
Jan.
20, 2021
Are Democratic voters looking for a fresh,
young face
or a more experienced and seasoned figure? The field has largely
taken shape. As the chart below shows a lot of young prospects
have entered the race. The recent examples of
Presidents Clinton and Obama, who were both 46 years old when they were
sworn in for their first terms, suggest youth could be an asset.
Sen. Bernie Sanders
stands out as the oldster in the field of potential candidates; he
would be 79 years 4.4 months on Inauguration Day 2021; not far behind
is Vice
President Joe Biden at 78 years 2 months. (President Trump would
be 74 years 7.3 months). The
age question has arisen in a number of
presidential campaigns over the last several decades. Sen.
John
McCain
faced
it when he was the Republican nominee in 2008.
McCain would
have been 72 years 4.8 months on
Inauguration Day Jan. 20, 2009, and some voters did cite his age among
the factors for not voting for him. Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican
nominee, likewise faced age concerns; he would have been 73 years 6.0
months on Inauguration Day. President Ronald Reagan, during a
1984 campaign debate with
Sen. Walter Mondale, famously declared, "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." Reagan was 73 at the time. Age is a fair
topic for discussion, but as long as a candidate is in
good health, up
to the job and has a good running mate as backup, the real
question isn't his or her age, but the experience and energy he or she
would
bring to the
job, his or her leadership skills, temperament, common sense,
problem-solving
ability and views.
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older than 75 |
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older than 75 |
Past Presidents |
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Clinton 46 years 5.1 mos. Obama 46 years 5.6 mos. |
G.W.Bush 54 years 6.5 mos. |
G.H.W.Bush
64 years 7.3 mos. |
Reagan 69 years 11.5 mos. |
Trump
70 years, 7.3 mos. |
Ages of recent presidents when they were sworn in:
Trump - 2017 |
70 years 7.3 mos. |
Obama - 2013 |
50 years 5.6 mos. |
Obama - 2009 |
46 years 5.6 mos. |
Bush - 2005 |
58 years 6.5 mos. |
Bush - 2001 |
54 years 6.5 mos. |
Clinton - 1997 |
50 years 5.1 mos. |
Clinton - 1993 |
46 years 5.1 mos. |
Bush - 1989 |
64 years 7.3 mos. |
Reagan -1985 |
73 years 11.5 mos. |
Reagan - 1981 |
69 years 11.5 mos. |
Carter - 1977 |
52 years 3.7 mos. |
Ford - 1974 |
61 years 0.9 mos. |
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