# Why no Jewish US President? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986 "2013-04-18T00:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/21 "2013-04-18T03:37:27Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > The real question could be “why no non-Christians as president?” That’s an easy one. Being president involves some tough moral decisions, so you need some sort of faith to get you through the tough times. BECOMING president requires a moral code that people understand from only a sound bite, and christianity is a very well known quantity in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/22 "2013-04-18T03:54:58Z")
Note that the Supreme Court has six Catholics, three Jews, and no Protestants, and nobody in mainstream politics finds that at all troubling or even remarkable. > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > There _must_ be some Jewish jokes on this, but I can’t think of any. I’ll get back to you on this… “Because then they’d blame us.” ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/23 "2013-04-18T04:52:56Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Keep in mind that **Monty** is the board’s resident Mormon apologist/persecutionist, so take his thoughts with a grain of salt. The more you post stupid stuff doesn’t make that stuff any less stupid, friedo. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/24 "2013-04-18T05:20:57Z")
> [@dstarfire](#): > > That’s an easy one. Being president involves some tough moral decisions, so you need some sort of faith to get you through the tough times. > > BECOMING president requires a moral code that people understand from only a sound bite, and christianity is a very well known quantity in that regard. hmmm so an atheist would lack the moral decision making process, yes I see that. :rolleyes: If what you are saying is that the voting public likes the idea of a sound bite Christian then that makes sense, dumb but makes sense. yay for our Atheist Prime Minister 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/25 "2013-04-18T06:49:58Z")
I just received an email this week, claiming that Lyndon Johnson was actually Jewish because his mother, maternal grandmother, and his great-grandmother were all Jewish. I’ve not had time to research this yet; Snopes has nothing about this. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/26 "2013-04-18T07:36:45Z")
I can’t imagine that a Jew who was otherwise a good candidate would face much difficulty specifically for being Jewish; in 2000 no one cared that Lieberman was Jewish, did they? Maybe I was too young to detect it, but not only did I never hear anything negative about it, I don’t even recall my Jewish friends caring. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/27 "2013-04-18T08:17:33Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Keep in mind that **Monty** is the board’s resident Mormon apologist/persecutionist, so take his thoughts with a grain of salt. Mitt Romney didn’t lose because he was Mormon, he lost because he was Mitt Romney. Him being Mormon didn’t help; I recall right wing Christians before the election talking about not voting or voting for Obama because even a Democrat was better than a Mormon. A Mormon Democrat would probably have a better chance given the Christian-conservative portion of the Republican base. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Men might not vote for a female candidate but women will vote for a male candidate. As I recall, historically according to the polls there’s been more opposition towards the idea of a woman President from American _women_, not men. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/28 "2013-04-18T13:31:58Z")
Throughout most of US history, there was enough antisemitism in the US to make it impossible for a Jewish politician to get elected to nationwide office. When Louis Brandeis was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1916, for instance, it was[highly controversial](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Brandeis#Nominated_to_the_Supreme_Court) at least partly because of his religion. And that wasn’t an elected position. Antisemitism is only a minor issue these days, and certainly wasn’t a factor with Joe Lieberman. But there just haven’t been any Jewish politicians who were serious contenders for the nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/29 "2013-04-18T13:43:01Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I just received an email this week, claiming that Lyndon Johnson was actually Jewish because his mother, maternal grandmother, and his great-grandmother were all Jewish. . . Well, his mother’s name was “Rebekah.” Her mother’s name was “Ruth.” That’s pretty Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Zebman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zebman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/30 "2013-04-18T14:15:56Z")
As to Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt: This is a Dutch name and I have read that this family has some Dutch Jewish ancestory mixed in. Presidents are elected by voting of the general population. Jews, considered by some to be a ethinic/racial group of sorts, have been a minority in this country, and like most minority groups, have been discriminated against. So far after 200 years: One catholic president that barely carried the vote; one half-black president after 200 years. Zero Latino/Mexican, Chinese, etc, etc. USA was settled by white Anglos originally, and they have held the power for 200 years. This is starting to change because white Anglos have been having small families relative to other ethnic groups. Historically, the USA is the only country, other than Israel, that Jews would even be allowed to hold office. Maybe this has changed over the last few decades. Over the centuries, Jews have learned that it is better for them to have influence behind the scenes via financial power and friendships. ---
**Author:** ![Zebman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zebman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/31 "2013-04-18T14:25:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Him being Mormon didn’t help; I recall right wing Christians before the election talking about not voting or voting for Obama because even a Democrat was better than a Mormon. A Mormon Democrat would probably have a better chance given the Christian-conservative portion of the Republican base. > As I recall, historically according to the polls there’s been more opposition towards the idea of a woman President from American _women_, not men. You are right - it did not help. What did not help either, was that he and his buddies made their millions by finding nice, boring, possibly declining companies, buying them out at a cheap price, firing most of the employees, selling off valuable assets, and then selling off the smaller more efficient company a year later at 100% return. Then during the election he attempted to tell everyone that he knew how to create jobs. He might have made a great president, but the common worker could not get comfortable with this job history. He was NOT an entrepreneur that BUILT UP companies and watched them grow, adding thousands of jobs in the process. Major difference. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/32 "2013-04-18T14:38:20Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Now if such goyish states as Wiscooncin and Minnesota can produce multiple Jewish Senators I have no reason to believe that a Jewish version of Barack Obama couldn’t get elected. > > They just haven’t stepped forward. Actually, I’d say that if the Speaker of the Texas House can be a Jew and a Republican, there’s no reason at all that a Jew can’t be elected President. (Joe Straus is Jewish) ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/33 "2013-04-18T14:43:21Z")
> [@Zebman](#): > > Historically, the USA is the only country, other than Israel, that Jews would even be allowed to hold office. Maybe this has changed over the last few decades. Over the centuries, Jews have learned that it is better for them to have influence behind the scenes via financial power and friendships. Looks like American ignorance of everything outside the USA strikes again. Australia: [Governor General](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General_of_Australia), one of the highest offices in the land, at least partially analogous to the US President. In the 112 years since Federation, there have been two Jewish-Australian Governors General: [Isaac Isaacs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Isaacs) [Zelman Cowen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelman_Cowen) [John Monash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Monash) was the chief of Australia’s armed forces during World War One. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Oceanian_Jews#Political_figures)’s a list of prominent Jewish-Australian political office holders. Note that many of them held office well before the “last few decades”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/34 "2013-04-18T15:36:35Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I just received an email this week, claiming that Lyndon Johnson was actually Jewish because his mother, maternal grandmother, and his great-grandmother were all Jewish. I’ve not had time to research this yet; Snopes has nothing about this. In short, no, not true at all. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/35 "2013-04-18T15:57:34Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Well, his mother’s name was “Rebekah.” Her mother’s name was “Ruth.” That’s pretty Jewish. My sister-in-law’s name is Judith, my BFF an Esther and I can’t shake a stick without hitting a David, yet I’m reasonably sure they’re all about as Jewish as David Cameron. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/36 "2013-04-18T16:09:53Z")
It seems to me a large quantity of people are culturally Jewish but atheist in their actual religious beliefs. I wonder if a rather large portion of the voting public wouldn’t just assume that a self-professed Jewish candidate was in fact a closet atheist. Another factor could be Israel, we already give Israel billions in aid and military supplies some might think that a Jewish President would have a conflict of interest and help Israel at the expense of the United States of course in a lot of ways that already happens. Somewhat similar to the whole Kennedy and Catholicism controversy with regards to the Pope, of course Kennedy was still elected. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/37 "2013-04-18T16:49:20Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > ^ > That is a powerful statement. So it’s close to impossible for a non-Christian to be elected? Of all the non-Christian groups a Jew has the best shot of getting elected. Judaism is the 2nd most familiar religion to most Americans. An atheist on the other hand is even less likely than a Muslim or LGBT person; baring some scenario where a VP or Speaker has to take over the Presidency. > [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > I just received an email this week, claiming that Lyndon Johnson was actually Jewish because his mother, maternal grandmother, and his great-grandmother were all Jewish. I’ve not had time to research this yet; Snopes has nothing about this. He’d be only be ethnically Jewish ala Benjamin Disraeli, not an actual practicioner of Judaism. And he didn’t identify as Jewish, unlike Disraeli. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/38 "2013-04-18T16:51:59Z")
Well, Jewish people only make up about 2.2% of the population, and it was much lower of you go back to some of the early years. So, statistically, I wouldn’t consider it too odd. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/39 "2013-04-18T16:58:10Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Well, Jewish people only make up about 2.2% of the population, and it was much lower of you go back to some of the early years. So, statistically, I wouldn’t consider it too odd. The post-WW2 imigration definitely concentrated populations in some areas; before then, Jews would have been an even tinier minority in much of the country. They got along a lot better than, say, the Mormons, or a number of other extremely unpopular cults. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986/40 "2013-04-18T17:09:08Z")
> [@Zebman](#): > > Historically, the USA is the only country, other than Israel, that Jews would even be allowed to hold office. Welcome to the boards, but please don’t make things up in GQ. Benjamin Disraeli was Jewish, although he professed an Anglican faith for more or less his entire life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-jewish-us-president/655986.md?page=3)