Pointless Presidential Pfacts #5 - "The Old Veep"

Alben Barkley is the oldest Vice President at 71 years old elected in 1948 with Harry Truman. Even though unaffected by the newly passed 22nd Amendment, Truman decided not to run early in the primary process after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary. With an opening now on the Democratic ticket, the incumbent Vice President, by then in 1952, was 74 years old...the same age that Vice President Joe Biden will be a couple weeks after the 2016 election. The first man to get the nickname Veep (Barkley) encountered opposition to his run for the nomination saying he's too old for the job. Had he somehow won the General Election of 1952, he would've died in his first term. Former Vice President Barkley died in 1956. Now I know 74 in 1952 is different than 74 in 2016, but I think he might encounter a similar response but probably can give a better argument that he's no feeble 74 year old, or rather going to be.

Pointless Presidential 'Pinion
Now a little opinion...I think he's a fine vice president, knows politics from policy to diplomacy, he doesn't hide that he's human, and he's ready to be president if something happens to President Barack Obama or if he were successful at his own run for the office in 2016 and if he does run he'll have the power of incumbency but then again so did Barkley. Having said that, as great as a politician as he is I don't understand how he doesn't see the excitement and desire from Democrats and independents (calm down...not all independents) to see Hillary Clinton get the nomination despite what she's said. I've always thought he'll come to his senses (but it is the presidency an office he has tried for more than once so why not fight for it when you're so close and with the most power and influence) and step aside since there have been plenty of white males that have vied for the nomination, let a female try, especially one that received 18 million (round number) votes in the 2008 primary/caucus elections and remains popular. He could even run for vice president again on the ticket since there's no term limits for a veep. But I'd rather he not...maybe her secretary of state. nerdalert!

Pointless Presidential Pfacts #4 - "Adams/Jefferson '96???"

In our nation's 3rd presidential election in 1796, Vice President John Adams, supported by the Federalists, was the first place winner in the Electoral College and the runner-up was former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, supported by the anti-federalists which would eventually become the Democratic-Republicans. So from 1797-1801, the POTUS was from one party and the VPOTUS was from another party, something that would not happen again until 1864 when Republican Abraham Lincoln ran with Democrat Andrew Johnson on the National Union ticket...but that one was planned.

Pointless Presidential Pfacts #3 - "The One, the Only, George Washington"

George Washington. 1st POTUS. 1789-1797. Virginian. No Party Affiliation.

George Washington was unanimously elected by the ELECTORAL COLLEGE twice in 1789 and 1792. Never again has this been repeated, but it has come near unanimous first with James Monroe in 1820 (the closest), Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936 (not far behind), and Ronald Reagan in 1984 (ditto and the most recent).

President James Monroe was reelected to a second term in 1820, unopposed in the "Era of Good Feelings." Monroe would receive 98.3% of the Electoral College votes, 3 members would not end up voting and one unfaithful elector cast a vote for Secretary of State John Quincy Adams because he felt he'd be a better president than Monroe.

In President Franklin Roosevelt's first try at reelection he received 60% of the popular vote and 98.5% of the Electoral College vote, losing just Vermont and Maine to Alf Landon in 1936.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan won 59% of the popular vote and 97.6% of the Electoral College, that's everything except his opponent former Vice President Walter F. Mondale's home State of Minnesota and the District of Columbia.