Bearded Politicians

Factual Questions
1

I read somewhere that, in the US at least, politicians are reluctant to wear beards because of the association between beards and the 60’s counterculture. Disregarding whether or not that’s true, I’d like to know if there are any bearded US senators or representatives, or any bearded senators or representatives at the state level.

And I also would like to know if this clean-shaven politician stereotype is unique to the US. Are there bearded European or South American lawmakers? And please don’t give me links to pictures of bearded Middle Eastern leaders. We all know that they wear beards for religious reasons, not for reasons of personal preference.

2

Robin Cook MP, former Foreign Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons, and David Blunkett, current Home Secretary, are both bearded.

3

I can’t answer the rest, but I can confirm that it’s not true. “The '60s counterculture” sprouted beards because it drove an already-beardless mainstream USA up the wall (and from there it was a short step to “up against the wall”). :smiley:

4

John Corzine the senator from New Jersey has a beard, he is the only US politician I can think of with one.

5

http://slate.msn.com/id/113390/

In the Senate, Jon Corzine from New Jersey, apparently is the only one left standing, after Paul Wellstone died.

http://corzine.senate.gov/photo_album/afghan2.html

In the House, here’s who I have found on a cursory search:
LaTourette – http://www.house.gov/latourette/
Abercrombie – http://www.house.gov/abercrombie/
T. Johnson – http://www.house.gov/timjohnson/ (last year he had one)

Faleomavaega has a moustache – http://www.house.gov/faleomavaega/
as does Pombo – http://www.house.gov/pombo/pombo.htm
and of course Rangel – http://www.house.gov/rangel/

I got these from flipping through a few pages of a Google image search for congressman so my list is by no means complete.

6

Former congressman and current Haitian lobbyist Ron Dellums springs to mind:

http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people/Dellums/

Dellums was fairly high profile while he was in congress. Of course, he is also a black man, and at the extreme left of the US political spectrum, factors which may make the effect of a beard on his image rather irrelevent.

Rep. George Miller has a moustache:

http://www.house.gov/georgemiller/

7

Former U.S. Rep. David E. Bonior (D-Mich.), who retired last year, is bearded.

8

My very own state representative Mark Pocan wears a beard.

9

The most popular politician in Ireland has a beard.

10

Here’s what I get perusing the latest facebook I’ve got –

No state governors are bearded
No members of the cabinet are bearded
No justices of the Supreme Court are bearded
Turning to Congress –
U.S. Sen. Jon S. Corzine (D-N.J.)
U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii)
U.S. Rep. Timothy H. Bishop (D-N.Y.)
U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.)
U.S. Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.) – who is notable for being the only person elected to the House of Representatives after being impeached from federal office – he was removed from a federal judgeship in 1989 (by a majority Democratic House and Senate) and elected to Congress in 1992 (as a Democrat!)
U.S. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.)
U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson (R-Ill.) – finally, a bearded Republican! What has happened to the party of Lincoln?
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio)
U.S. Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.) – he’s got chin whiskers – can we call it a beard?
U.S. Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.)
U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.)
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.)
U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) – very close-cropped
U.S. Rep. Donald E. Young (R-Alaska)

11

They’re simply following the style of American polite society. Beards & facial hair have been ‘out’ since around the begining of the 20[sup]th[/sup] century. Before that, at the very least, a moustach (often a goofy handlebar) was required. A man’s upper lip was considered very unattractive in the 19[sup]th[/sup] century.

Before that, in the 1700s, it was powdered wigs.

Sometime around the middle of the century, say the 30s, 40s & 50s, all men wore hats!

12

I wish we could bring back nice hats. I really like them. :frowning:

13

Appears things have gone back and forth on this issue:

http://www.bearhistory.com/bearhistoryjoepalmer.htm
http://www.geocities.com/tanseyjim/weekpic.htm (third photo down).

14

Scalia was bearded for a while, though, even though he’s not now. So was Congressman Rohrbacher (R-CA).

And, the beard of the 2002 Democratic candate for governor of Nebraska was apparently an issue in the election.

http://www.theindependent.com/stories/110202/new_dean02.shtml

15

Of course, Lincoln was part of the '60s counterculture movement, too :cool:.

16

Lincoln was clean shaven when first elected President, but grew a beard before taking office (he claimed a fan letter from a little girl gave him the idea- believe that or not). He was the first President with a beard.

After him, there were several bearded Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield and Benjamin Harrison. Teddy Roosevelt was the last U.S. President to wear any kind of facial hair.

17

Then why weren’t there any U.S. presidents before 1861 who had a moustache?

18

How can it be just fear of being associated with the 1960’s? Hardly any 20th century politicians were bearded before that, either.

I think Spencer Abraham had one as a senator, but shaved it off on joining the Cabinet. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was a facial hair prohibition in the White House.