# Does the POTUS shave himself?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 12, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462 "2011-08-12T15:53:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@MathGenios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MathGenios)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/41 "2013-12-23T04:05:24Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#):
>
> I’ve read of one French king…one of the Louies I think, that was so pampered he couldn’t take a shit by himself but remained "ringed by attendants holding towells. I suppose they drew straws to see who got to wipe the royal ass that day.
Oh I know this one… Have been studying history lately and covered this part. It was Louis XIV and the position was HIGHLY coveted (edit: can’t emphasize this enough - it was literally the best position you could get because not only were you alone with the king but you were there during his most private moments, if you got to wipe his butt, you’ve made it). He also had a guy wear his shirt to warm it before he put it on and many other things when he woke up. He had all of the aristocracy at his place and him waking up was a huge ritual. Everything was pre-arranged, who enters first, who does what, when, how.
The book I’ve read (I’m only doing a cursory/personal study of history, nothing in-depth yet), explained that most of this was actually done not because he wanted it to be done but because he wanted to establish control over then-powerful aristocracy. During that era, most nobles controlled their land and posed threats, had armies, could form alliances, (they all… literally all of them had castles)… and the king couldn’t take it away (something mana carta and all that) - plus it would be super unpopular.
Louis did the brilliant thing (soon to be emulated by everyone else, but as they did not know his reasons, their attempts were superficial) of basically sticking all aristocracy under his control through this embellishment. This quickly led to everyone thinking he was just another complacent king who loved getting his butt pampered (literally), and he proved to be one of the most powerful kings (given the circumstances of the era at least), in history - he didn’t take over the world but he was incredibly brilliant and managed to do what virtually every king at the time failed to do - control the aristocracy, the church and unite the country.
Just glossed over Wiki and it basically says similar stuff - ends with a good quote “This victory over the nobility may have then in fact ensured the end of major civil wars in France until the French Revolution about a century later.” France was in total disarray before he came to power, but became a player as a global power thanks to him.
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### Author:  [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/42 "2013-12-24T02:34:16Z")
> [@bob\_2](#):
>
> Beards seem to be more popular these days, when will we see another bearded incumbent in the White House. (Not S.Palin obviously)
I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that there’s a [wikipedia page detailing which presidents have had facial hair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States_with_facial_hair). Benjamin Harrison was the last to sport a beard, although Taft and Teddy Roosevlet had mustaches. The last major-party candidate to run for president while sporting a beard was [Charles Evans Hughes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Evans_Hughes), who resigned his seat on the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge Democratic incumbent and (clean shaven) Woodrow Wilson.
There apparently is a PAC whose goal is to get more bearded politicans elected to federal offices. It’s called Bearded Entrepreneurs for the Advancement of a Responsible Democracy, or BEARD for short. [An article about them](http://www.nationaljournal.com/pictures-video/want-more-bearded-politicians-there-s-a-pac-for-that-20130404) counts 12 current members of congress who sport some sort of beard.
So to answer **bob++**'s question - beards may be popular with ballplayers, but not so much with politicians. Don’t hold your breath for a bearded president.
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### Author:  [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/43 "2013-12-24T02:49:32Z")
**Does the POTUS shave himself?**
I’ve heard from several sources that he has a very nice little landing strip.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/44 "2013-12-24T04:23:09Z")
> [@gaffa](#):
>
> I think it would make sense for the President to be shaved by a barber. Maybe I’m biased because I hate shaving, but in a job scheduled in five-minute increments, shaving is a waste of a valuable resource. It’s time that could be spent better.
Maybe his morning 3 S’s are his only time to himself? I know that with kids, they’re a cherished part of my day for that reason.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/45 "2013-12-24T04:26:33Z")
> [@MathGenios](#):
>
> I don’t know if he shaves himself or not but I would assume he does not as that wouldn’t make any sense (aside from personal preference) due to his tight time schedule when waking up.
You have an unrealistic idea of what a president’s schedule is. His schedule is not broken down into 16 hour days in 5 minute increments. The President has time to play golf 150 times during his term, for example. The idea that he doesn’t have time to spare for personal grooming is simply unfounded. Do you think someone brushes his teeth for him?
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### Author:  [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/46 "2013-12-24T19:53:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#):
>
> You have an unrealistic idea of what a president’s schedule is. His schedule is not broken down into 16 hour days in 5 minute increments. The President has time to play golf 150 times during his term, for example. The idea that he doesn’t have time to spare for personal grooming is simply unfounded. Do you think someone brushes his teeth for him?
We’ll have to see something concrete on that figure. He’s not quite 5 years into office so that would break down to about 30 rounds a year. Please note that he also has the “football” and “drone-o-matic” with him on the course - so one shank, too many three putts, another errant drive - and he zaps some [del]SDMB poster[/del] dude on the far side of the planet.:eek:
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### Author:  [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/47 "2013-12-24T20:43:03Z")
Drone-a-matic. Heh.
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### Author:  [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-shave-himself/592462/48 "2013-12-24T20:43:22Z")
[link](http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/nov/8/miller-obama-plays-150-rounds-golf-president/?page=all)
I’m not blaming him for playing golf. I love golf.
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