# Does the US, currently, have the MOST ex-presidents alive than any other time we've had in history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2017, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530 "2017-10-22T07:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/1 "2017-10-22T07:11:27Z")
What I mean is: Right now we (the US, since I live there) have FIVE ex-presidents alive: Carter, Bush, Clinton, Bush Jr, and Obama. Is that the most that’s ever been alive **as ex-president?** Putting ex-president in bold because I don’t mean being alive as counting, I’m sure that while Regan and maybe even Nixon or Ford were still alive, those five (and Trump) were already born…but they had not yet been president yet. So talking about post-presidency only. Five is the record? Have we ever had five alive (plus one current) before today? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/2 "2017-10-22T07:24:46Z")
By my count, Mallard, Pierce, Filmore, Tyler and Van Buren were all alive at Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861. Lincoln himself, obviously, didn’t contribute much to any list of living ex-presidents… ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/3 "2017-10-22T07:27:59Z")
In 2001-2004, we had Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, and Clinton. 1993-1994: Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/4 "2017-10-22T07:42:51Z")
[There’s an overly detailed chart of this at Wikipedia.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Presidents_of_the_United_States) We’re tied for the most right now, but there have been three other periods with five living former presidents. 1861-1862, 1993-1994, and 2001-2004. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/5 "2017-10-22T07:53:07Z")
If Carter and Bush Sr. can just hold out another year, there will be six after Trump leaves office in disgrace. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/6 "2017-10-22T08:01:39Z")
We can dream… I must say, poor old HW didn’t look that good in pictures I’ve seen of the benefit concert. Hurry up, Article 25… ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/7 "2017-10-22T08:06:41Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I must say, poor old HW didn’t look that good in pictures I’ve seen of the benefit concert. He almost died a couple of years ago. IIRC W’s email account was hacked and emails about it were released, and it was to the point of planning the eulogies at the impending funeral. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/8 "2017-10-22T10:18:33Z")
Carter looks pretty unkillable on the other hand. His holding the ever-increasing record for longest post-presidency certainly doesn’t hurt the statistics. I wonder what the global record is for numbers of living ex-leaders? Australia has managed seven living PMs at a time - Whitlam, Frazer, Hawke, Keating, Howard, Rudd and Gillard all still with us at Abbott’s election, though we’ve lost the first two since then ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/9 "2017-10-22T10:49:00Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > By my count, Mallard, Pierce, Filmore, Tyler and Van Buren were all alive at Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861. > > Lincoln himself, obviously, didn’t contribute much to any list of living ex-presidents… I believe you mean Buchanan, Pierce, Fillmore, Tyler, and Van Buren. There was no President Mallard. Fillmore’s first name was _Millard_, and there is a comic strip duck called [Mallard Fillmore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallard_Fillmore) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/10 "2017-10-22T15:11:25Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I wonder what the global record is for numbers of living ex-leaders? Australia has managed seven living PMs at a time - Whitlam, Frazer, Hawke, Keating, Howard, Rudd and Gillard all still with us at Abbott’s election, though we’ve lost the first two since then Canada currently has seven: Clark (elected 1979); Turner (1984); Mulroney (1984); Campbell (1993); Chrétien (1993); Martin (2003); and Harper (2006). Of course, parliamentary systems generally run to some PMs with short turnovers: Clark had a minority government of less than a year and Turner and Campbell were elected by their parties on the retirement of long-term PMs and then lost at the next general election. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/11 "2017-10-22T15:55:41Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Canada currently has seven: Clark (elected 1979); Turner (1984); Mulroney (1984); Campbell (1993); Chrétien (1993); Martin (2003); and Harper (2006). > > Of course, parliamentary systems generally run to some PMs with short turnovers: Clark had a minority government of less than a year and Turner and Campbell were elected by their parties on the retirement of long-term PMs and then lost at the next general election. What is the typical age of PM on taking office. There are notable exceptions among US presidents, since Kennedy we’ve had Clinton, Bush II, and Obama becoming president earlier than life than the average before then, and Reagan and now Trump I think older than the average, but over the history of the presidency they’ve averaged older and lived shorter lives. I expect we could see a time in the future when six or more former presidents are alive at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/12 "2017-10-22T16:56:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What is the typical age of PM on taking office. There are notable exceptions among US presidents, since Kennedy we’ve had Clinton, Bush II, and Obama becoming president earlier than life than the average before then, and Reagan and now Trump I think older than the average, but over the history of the presidency they’ve averaged older and lived shorter lives. I expect we could see a time in the future when six or more former presidents are alive at the same time. President Booker is going to be 51 when he takes office. I hoping it trends lower because a lot of the names that get thrown around are too damn old in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/13 "2017-10-22T17:18:15Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > If Carter and Bush Sr. can just hold out another year, there will be six after Trump leaves office in disgrace. Can’t we rule him out on some kind of technicality? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/14 "2017-10-22T17:27:31Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > President Booker is going to be 51 when he takes office. I hoping it trends lower because a lot of the names that get thrown around are too damn old in my opinion. I don’t really care about the specific age so much, but I do care about a president being too damn old at any age. This is true more than ever right now because of the pace of change in society and the great difference in our views of the presidency from time past. The world changed greatly in the 1960s in many ways, and technologically there was a tremendous change over the past 20-30 years. Some candidates could also be too damn young to do the job properly, not because of their chronological age but their level of maturity. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/15 "2017-10-22T17:28:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Can’t we rule him out on some kind of technicality? We’ve been counting Nixon already. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/16 "2017-10-22T19:37:57Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I believe you mean Buchanan, Pierce, Fillmore, Tyler, and Van Buren. There was no President Mallard. Fillmore’s first name was _Millard_, and there is a comic strip duck called [Mallard Fillmore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallard_Fillmore) :smack: stupid brain! yeah, that. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/17 "2017-10-22T19:42:23Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > We’ve been counting Nixon already. Yeah, but he was elected, and actually did some Presidentin’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/18 "2017-10-22T19:54:41Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I must say, poor old HW didn’t look that good in pictures I’ve seen of the benefit concert. Hurry up, Article 25… > [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > He almost died a couple of years ago. IIRC W’s email account was hacked and emails about it were released, and it was to the point of planning the eulogies at the impending funeral. A couple years ago? Hell, he again almost died just a couple months ago. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/19 "2017-10-23T01:36:30Z")
Speaking of ex-Presidents, here’s a picture of Lady Gaga with all five living former POTUSes. > **[Photo of Lady Gaga and five former presidents goes viral](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/356605-photo-of-lady-gaga-and-five-former-presidents-goes-viral/)** > > A photo of pop music star Lady Gaga and all five living former presidents went viral on social media this weekend as the group united to raise money for disaster relief. Former Presidents Jimmy Car… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530/20 "2017-10-23T02:00:41Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > What is the typical age of PM on taking office. Thompson, Clark, Campbell, Harper and Trudeau were all in their 40s when they became PM. (Not that it did Thompson any good. He died of a massive heart attack at a Windsor Castle garden party shortly after being sworn of the British Privy Council.) I think the rest were all in their 50s and 60s. The oldest was Tupper, who took office at 75, for a grand total of 69 days. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-currently-have-the-most-ex-presidents-alive-than-any-other-time-weve-had-in-history/799530.md?page=2)