# Greatest number of ex-presidents alive at the same time?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-ex-presidents-alive-at-the-same-time/251395>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-ex-presidents-alive-at-the-same-time/251395 "2004-06-21T02:31:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-ex-presidents-alive-at-the-same-time/251395/1 "2004-06-21T02:31:08Z")

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President Reagan’s recent funeral got me thinking - when were the greatest number of former presidents alive at the same time? Now we have Ford, Carter, Bush I and Clinton, but it wasn’t too long ago that Nixon and Reagan were also around. When, if ever, were there a greater number? Anyone know? Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-ex-presidents-alive-at-the-same-time/251395/2 "2004-06-21T02:34:09Z")

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In 1994, right before Nixon died, there were 6 living presidents: Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, & Nixon.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-ex-presidents-alive-at-the-same-time/251395/3 "2004-06-21T02:36:11Z")

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Also, when right before Nixon resigned, he was the only living president (Johnson died in 1973).

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-number-of-ex-presidents-alive-at-the-same-time/251395/4 "2004-06-21T03:23:53Z")

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This subject was covered a couple of weeks ago, so I’ll close this thread and direct further comment to the earlier one: [Most/fewest ex-presidents](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=260041)

bibliophage  
moderator GQ