# Protecting America From Aging Presidents **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517 "2024-07-21T00:22:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/41 "2024-07-21T17:54:51Z")
I started to say something about incumbancy and seniority and power, but you did a more thorough job, and I was responding to your post when I started the comment, so I’ll just say “see above”. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/42 "2024-07-21T17:57:36Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Suppose we are looking for a non-partisan constitutional amendment to reduce the chances of a president, who is mentally unstable, from creating a disaster I suggest changing the president as commander in chief to having a small security cabinet which issues major military decisions by majority vote, obviously including use of nuclear weapons. Then you run into all the weaknesses of government by committee, that a single executive in charge doesn’t face. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/43 "2024-07-21T18:46:53Z")
I know I’m nitpicking, but this is the Dope, after all, a hotbed of pedantry. And, last I heard, the only way to protect against aging presidents is for them to drink from the fountain of youth. We’re all aging, inevitably. Wouldn’t a more accurate title refer to “older presidents” or “effects of aging”? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/44 "2024-07-21T19:19:01Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > We’re all aging, inevitably. > Wouldn’t a more accurate title refer to “older presidents” or “effects of aging”? One definition of aging is “[being or appearing old](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/aging)” or “[becoming old or older; showing signs of growing old](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/aging)” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/45 "2024-07-21T20:00:04Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > That’s what people are afraid of. Yep- bigots do not like voters. > [@WalterBishop](#): > > The stakes are too high to allow for the possibility that the most powerful person in the world could be going senile. I am more worried if that person is too inexperienced to handle the job. See trump. > [@Cervaise](#): > > Congress is full of shambling mummies who are either selfishly enamored of their own power or who egotistically believe nobody else could serve the public in the position better than they do And mostly they are right-0 why should some senior Democrat step down if there is a risk they could be replaced by a Republican? > [@Cervaise](#): > > Which is why it’s facile to say “the voters” are the safety valve. So, you dont want the voters to choose, is that it? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/46 "2024-07-21T20:06:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I am more worried if that person is too inexperienced to handle the job. See trump. Inexperienced like Lincoln? Like FDR? Teddy Roosevelt? Bill Clinton? JFK? Obama? America’s best presidents have all been under 55 years old when first elected. Sad to say, but there is no profession in the world where people just get better and better as they grow older. Every job has its peak age. For politician, it’s something like 50. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/47 "2024-07-21T20:23:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Inexperienced like Lincoln? Like FDR? Teddy Roosevelt? Bill Clinton? JFK? Obama? America’s best presidents have all been under 55 years old when first elected. You forget- Cleveland, Pierce, Garfield, Polk, Fillmore, Tyler, Coolidge, Taft, Arthur, McKinley , Van Buren, Hayes and Hoover. Seven of which are on the list of ten worst presidents in history. Washington was over 55, so was Jefferson, Adams, Truman, etc. Those are also some of Americas best presidents. FDR was only under 55 the first time he was elected. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/48 "2024-07-21T20:25:42Z")
Yeah, let’s have more like margery taylor green, bobert, and matt gaetz. Hoo boy that’ll fix everthing. Not against young and energized candidates, and congresscritters, but but younger members hasn’t besn a total plus for The House. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/49 "2024-07-21T20:46:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Cervaise](#): > > > > Which is why it’s facile to say “the voters” are the safety valve. > > So, you dont want the voters to choose, is that it? **Moderating** : Even in jest, don’t put words in other posts mouths. This comes across a bit too close “Did you stop beating your wife yet?” ---
**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:** [July 21, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/50 "2024-07-21T20:58:08Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > Not against young and energized candidates, and congresscritters, but but younger members hasn’t besn a total plus for The House. True, but the Reps are one of the feeder pools for other offices, like governors and senators, which in turn are a feeder pool for presidential candidates. Having a younger age in that Rep feeder pool may help reduce the age in the other feeder pools. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/51 "2024-07-21T21:07:13Z")
I just got a text that says the President is stepping aside for Harris. Anyone hear news about this. I figured he’d give a speech. Id’ think scam same text#as always. Clone? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/52 "2024-07-21T21:08:36Z")
There are three threads on this currently. It is real. #Politics & Elections ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/53 "2024-07-21T21:23:34Z")
The title was chosen to reflect the article. But you are probably right. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/54 "2024-07-21T21:26:36Z")
We have the voters and the 25th Amendment, I don’t think we need extra layers of protection. I would be happy to see a tradition emerge that politicians take a back seat around 75 or 80. Let Nancy Pelosi be an example; there’s no reason a very elderly person can’t be an effective member of Congress, but there comes a point when the very highest leadership positions need to be passed on. But I would be skeptical of any attempt to make a law to that effect. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/55 "2024-07-21T21:31:29Z")
As I said above, this problem will take care of itself. It is historically unprecedented that two such aged candidates are competing for the Presidency. The baby boomer generation is aging out and retiring from office. True, Biden is three years too old to be a boomer and Harris is a boomer but wouldn’t be if she were three months younger, but a 60-year-old is a transition from the past eight years. Her “vibe” is utterly different. There will be a push for years, maybe a generation, for younger politicians. That may or may not be a good thing. I remember reading that every Senator who was elected more recently than a recent date - 2008? - voted against aid for Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/56 "2024-07-21T21:41:12Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > We have the voters and the 25th Amendment, I don’t think we need extra layers of protection. Exactly. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It is historically unprecedented that two such aged candidates are competing for the Presidency. No longer, since Harris is the likely candidate. Roughly 12 presidents were older than Harris. 18 Vice presidents were older than Harris. Barkley was Truman’s veep and was the oldest at inauguration @ 71, and there are others- Rockefeller (Fords veep) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/57 "2024-07-21T21:57:22Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > True, Biden is three years too old to be a boomer and Harris is a boomer Harris is Generation Jones. So was Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/58 "2024-07-22T00:43:17Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Harris is Generation Jones. So was Obama. And Buttigieg is an Xennial. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/59 "2024-07-22T00:54:15Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Harris is Generation Jones. So was Obama. To be fair, “Generation Jones” is a newer term, typically for the second half (1955-64) of what most demographers simply call Baby Boomers (1946-64). It’s much less frequently used, and though I’m a market researcher, advertising strategist, and student of demography, I’d not ever even heard the term until someone used it here, about a year or so ago. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517/60 "2024-07-22T00:57:55Z")
My mother was born in 1961. She likes the term “Generation Jones” because she doesn’t identify as a baby boomer since neither of her parents were old enough for WWII (her dad was a corpsman in Korea) and thinks it would be weird if her and I (born 1982, so very tail end of Gen X) were part of the same generation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protecting-america-from-aging-presidents/1004517.md?page=4)