The President: Public Expectations
1. Geography (Electoral College; 2012) California 55; Texas 38; New York 29.
2. Age (Harrison 67; Reagan 69; Trump 70; Biden 78)
3. Education
College
Law School (2/3)
4. Government Experience
Governor
U.S. Senator
Vice President
5. Appearance (for television)
6. Physical stamina
7. Family background
Divorced:
Ronald Reagan (Jane Wyman (divorced 1948); Nancy Reagan (married
1952)); Trump, divorced twice, married three times)
8. Race (African American (Barack Obama, 2008))
9. Gender
10. Ancestry (80%+ English)
11. Religion:
Roman Catholic: Al Smith (1928); John F. Kennedy (1960); Joe Biden (2020)
Mormon: Mitt Romney (2012)
12. Party status
Exceptions:
Herbert Hoover (Engineer)
Wendell Willkie (Democrat; businessman; ran as Republican against FDR when
he sought a third term)
Mitt Romney (Republican; businessman; former Massachusetts Governor)
Donald Trump (Democrat, Republican, Reform Party, Democrat, Republican
(2012), real-estate mogul)