# Anybody want to play 20 questions? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 8, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757 "2009-05-08T16:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/61 "2009-05-11T03:26:10Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > PS: The Pee Wee Herman q shouldn’t count. C’mon! Of course, it should count, but we should get one question credit because the Elendil’s Heir asked a question back > [@](#): > > Paul Reubens isn’t dead, is he? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/62 "2009-05-11T03:27:50Z")
Nice try. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/63 "2009-05-11T13:16:33Z")
Was he a US President? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/64 "2009-05-11T13:35:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Was he a US President? 1. No ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/65 "2009-05-11T14:01:08Z")
1. Was he in Congress? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/66 "2009-05-11T14:25:49Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > 1. Was he in Congress? 1. Yes ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/67 "2009-05-11T14:50:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > 1. Yes Was he in Congess later than 1960? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/68 "2009-05-11T15:35:53Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Was he in Congess later than 1960? 1. No ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/69 "2009-05-11T16:36:39Z")
A 20th Century American man who was in Congress some time before 1960, was not a US President, held an executive office at some level of government at some point, who died before 1989… hhmmm… maybe we can make a list of people who fit that criteria then narrow it down. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/70 "2009-05-11T16:41:43Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > 1. No First elected to Congress in or after 1930? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/71 "2009-05-11T17:03:43Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > First elected to Congress in or after 1930? 1. No ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/72 "2009-05-11T17:10:41Z")
A 20th Century American man who was first elected to Congress before 1930, was out of Congress before 1960, was not a US President, held an executive office at some level of government at some point, and died before 1989 ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/73 "2009-05-11T17:17:25Z")
If I got everything correct thus far, we are looking for US Representative or Senator that was first elected to a National office between the years 1900 - 1930. Who never became President. Has this guy ever run for President or Vice President? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/74 "2009-05-11T17:19:02Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > …Has this guy ever run for President or Vice President? 1. Yes ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/75 "2009-05-11T17:32:14Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Has this guy ever run for President or Vice President? Excellent! Not my guess, but Charles Fairbanks seems to fit: Senate: 1897-1909 VP to Teddy Roosevelt: 1905-1909 Died: 1918 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/76 "2009-05-11T17:37:58Z")
Not my guess, but William Jennings Bryan seems to fit: House: 1891-1895 Secretary of State: 1913-1915 Died: 1925 Ran for Prez: 1896, 1900, 1908 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/77 "2009-05-11T17:40:11Z")
To make up for the Pee Wee Herman question, I’ll tell you… it’s neither of those guys. Although I once did a college research project on Bryan’s service as Wilson’s Secretary of State, which I found an interesting topic. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/78 "2009-05-11T17:44:45Z")
Since this is question 20, I got to get specific. Is it John Nance Garner? ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/79 "2009-05-11T17:48:13Z")
My first thought was William Jennings Bryan as well. But I ruled him out because he started doing noteworthy things in the 19th century. running for prez at age 36 was one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757/80 "2009-05-11T17:48:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > To make up for the Pee Wee Herman question, I’ll tell you… it’s neither of those guys. Although I once did a college research project on Bryan’s service as Wilson’s Secretary of State, which I found an interesting topic. Thanks for the tip. 🙂 Not my guess, but James Sherman seems to fit: VP under Taft: 1909-1912 House: 1887-1891, 1983-1909 Died: 1912 Mayor of Utica, NY: 1894 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-want-to-play-20-questions/495757.md?page=5)