# Pop quiz: The six youngest U.S. Presidents **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 16, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941 "2008-11-16T01:55:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 16, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/1 "2008-11-16T01:55:43Z")
You can’t look it up anywhere, or ask anybody. Name the six youngest POTUSes, from youngest to oldest among those six, from memory. Bonus points for giving their ages at the time they took office. A hint: Barack Obama is among the six. I’ll post the correct answer this time tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/2 "2008-11-16T02:13:06Z")
Obama Kennedy Polk t. Roosevelt Clinton Got no idea how old but probably all under 50. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/3 "2008-11-16T02:14:27Z")
I know Teddy Roosevelt, Kennedy and Obama. So, do I get half credit? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/4 "2008-11-16T02:19:33Z")
Polk I believe was our bachelor pres. I was wondering about VPs who would likely be younger. Ford, Truman . I don’t think Lincolns ,Johnson was young. I need one more. John. Q. Adams He got in 20 years after dad. He must have been young. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/5 "2008-11-16T02:50:01Z")
Teddy: 42 Kennedy: 43 Clinton: 44 Obama: 46 Grant: 48 Polk?: 50? I’m pretty positive about the order from Teddy to Barack. Grant, I’m fairly sure was notably young when elected. I’ve no idea after him, but I think Polk was a political unknown when elected, so he might have been young. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/6 "2008-11-16T02:55:35Z")
Teddy R. Bill Clinton Kennedy Obama Grant Franklin Pierce ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/7 "2008-11-16T03:09:30Z")
The first two I’m pretty sure are right (and in the right order), the others are purely guesswork: Theodore Roosevelt Kennedy Clinton Obama Pierce George W. Bush ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/8 "2008-11-16T03:51:49Z")
At forty-one Teddy Roosevelt was the youngest President. At forty-three, JFK was the youngest elected President. Obama is 47. That’s all I have. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/9 "2008-11-16T04:22:41Z")
Without reading any responses to the OP, nor Googling anything: Teddy Roosevelt – youngest to assume office – 42 when McKinley died Kennedy – youngest elected – 43 when inaugurated Obama – I’ve heard he’s 46 (incidentally, the spellchecker doesn’t accept his name) Clinton – 46, IIRC, when he became the first Baby Boomer president of the USA Garfield – 49 or 50 when he served his tragically shortened term Nixon – just barely old enough (35) to succeed Eisenhower when he became Ike’s veep in '53 – only 51 when he took the oath of office in '69 Now to see how I did… ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/10 "2008-11-16T04:38:41Z")
Not addressing age question, so no need for spoiler box: > [@gonzomax](#): > > Polk I believe was our bachelor pres. Nope, that was Buchanan. Polk was regarded as the first “dark horse” to become president. Age-related, and thus concealed: [Spoiler]“I was wondering about VPs who would likely be younger. Ford, Truman” Each was past 60 when he was sworn in. “John. Q. Adams He got in 20 years after dad. He must have been young.” Not that young – 57. I forgot how young Grant was. Nixon is thus eliminated, but Garfield (who’s going unnoticed except by me) was a couple of weeks younger than Polk at their respective Inauguration Day ceremonies.[/Spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/11 "2008-11-16T05:44:39Z")
Hmm- I just got back from a Trivia Night that I wrote the questions for. I had a Presidents category, and asked “the youngest President when he took office”. Theodore Roosevelt 42 yrs 11 months JFK 43 yrs 7 months Grant 45 the next 3 are all 46, I think- in this order: Clinton Obama Cleveland ---
**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:** [November 17, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/12 "2008-11-17T02:41:27Z")
I’ll give everyone another day before I post the answer. No cheating! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/13 "2008-11-17T02:54:15Z")
Hey I was expecting the answer. Oh well there are 4 easy ones. Theodore Roosevelt of course age 42 JFK age 43 Clinton age 46 Obama age 47 Grant was under 50. FDR was 50 or 51 so maybe him but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/14 "2008-11-17T06:10:06Z")
Teddy Roosevelt John Kennedy Barack Obama George W Bush Bill Clinton Jimmy Carter ---
**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:** [November 18, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/15 "2008-11-18T04:12:22Z")
And the answer is: 1. Theodore Roosevelt - youngest to become President, at 42 years, 10 months, 18 days 2. John F. Kennedy - youngest to be elected President, 43 years, 7 months, 22 days 3. Bill Clinton, 46 years, 5 months, 1 day 4. U.S. Grant, 46 years, 10 months, 5 days 5. Barack Obama, who will be 47 years, 5 months and 16 days at time of inauguration 6. Grover Cleveland, 47 years, 11 months, 14 days I always think of Grant and Cleveland as older men. Not so, when inaugurated. For more info: [List of presidents of the United States by age - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_age) Click on the icon below “Age at first inauguration” to arrange the table in that order. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/16 "2008-11-18T04:25:34Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > And the answer is: > > 1. Theodore Roosevelt - youngest to become President, at 42 years, 10 months, 18 days > 2. John F. Kennedy - youngest to be elected President, 43 years, 7 months, 22 days > 3. Bill Clinton, 46 years, 5 months, 1 day > 4. U.S. Grant, 46 years, 10 months, 5 days > 5. Barack Obama, who will be 47 years, 5 months and 16 days at time of inauguration > 6. Grover Cleveland, 47 years, 11 months, 14 days > > I always think of Grant and Cleveland as older men. Not so, when inaugurated. > > For more info: [List of presidents of the United States by age - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Presidents_by_age) > > Click on the icon below “Age at first inauguration” to arrange the table in that order. I never would have guessed Cleveland. Oh well, 5 out of 6 is not bad. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/17 "2008-11-19T01:11:02Z")
extra bonus questions- Which was the first president to be born in the 20th Century? Which president was born first in the 20th Century? ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/18 "2008-11-19T01:25:28Z")
> [@Great\_Dave](#): > > extra bonus questions- > > Which was the first president to be born in the 20th Century? > Which president was born first in the 20th Century? 1. JFK (1917) 2. LBJ (1908 or thereabouts) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/19 "2008-11-19T01:57:13Z")
> [@want2know](#): > > 1. JFK (1917) > 2. LBJ (1908 or thereabouts) You are correct. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941/20 "2008-11-19T19:41:09Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Not addressing age question, so no need for spoiler box: > > Nope, that was Buchanan. Polk was regarded as the first “dark horse” to become president. > > Age-related, and thus concealed: > > [Spoiler]“I was wondering about VPs who would likely be younger. Ford, Truman” > > Each was past 60 when he was sworn in. > > “John. Q. Adams He got in 20 years after dad. He must have been young.” > > Not that young – 57. > > I forgot how young Grant was. Nixon is thus eliminated, but Garfield (who’s going unnoticed except by me) was a couple of weeks younger than Polk at their respective Inauguration Day ceremonies.[/Spoiler] Of course Buchanan was our first gay president. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-the-six-youngest-u-s-presidents/472941.md?page=2)