The presidential vote is tricky to gauge.
Some of the guys from 1900 on are cloaked in the fog of history.
While this isn’t some kind of ‘last word’ on the subject, it is a reflection of the voting mood.
Sometimes you just don’t know how things will turn out.
William McKinley has spans in his years of service that don’t add up, but he is on the winner’s side right up until the end.
I probably wouldn’t have voted for him.
Teddy Roosevelt finished McKinley’s last years in office, won his own term, then ran as a third party when his handpicked candidate disappointed him.
I would have voted for TR.
William Howard Taft was a big man with big ambitions. Being president wasn’t one of them.
A no vote on Taft.
Woodrow Wilson ran the show for two terms, more or less. His wife did some of the work. Some say she took over.
I would have voted for Wilson on his second term promise of no European war.
Warren G. Harding didn’t finish his first term.
No for Harding, David’s version.
Calvin Coolidge finished the end of Harding’s term, then won his own.
I would have voted for Silent Cal, famous for saying, “You never have to repeat what you didn’t say.”
Herbert Hoover took the fall for the Great Depression in his one term, fairly of not.
A no vote for Herbert.
An Uneven Presidential Vote
Last century began with the assassination of McKinley, followed by one term Teddy.
Taft seemed indifferent, Wilson had a stroke.
The Roaring Twenties began with Harding dying in office, and ended with Hoover’s dive.
Then here came the great FDR and the challenge to fix what he didn’t break.
I would have voted Franklin every one of his four terms.
Harry Truman is said to be the last president without a college degree. I’m not checking, but I like it.
He finished Roosevelt’s remaining years after his death, and won a term on his own.
WWII’s biggest general, Dwight David Eisenhower, took his turn at the wheel. Twice.
He’d have my vote each time.
Jack Kennedy, groomed as The Spare, rose to the occasion.
He’d have had my vote.
Lyndon B. Johnson finished Kennedy’s years and won a term before stepping aside.
He had my vote.
Nixon?
No.
Ford finished Nixon’s final years then lost to?
Jimmy Carter, my first presidential vote.
Ronald Reagan?
Two terms, neither with my vote.
Big George Bush, one term.
No vote.
Bill Clinton, two terms.
Two votes for the former governor.
Little George Bush, two terms.
No votes for George and Cheney.
Obama for two terms; got two votes.
Trump, one term.
No vote.
Biden, one term. One vote.
And Here We Are In 2024, David’s Version
What I hope to impart, illuminate, and reveal, is that over the years no one remembers who the skunks in office were.
Who were the scalawags, who were the angels?
But we have a good line on who’s who today.
Because of social media?
Or is it media in general?
Do you decide who gets your vote based on yard signs, twitter, Facebook, mailings, the evening news?
Does your vote depend who you think can do the job?
Here’s a quick review:
One candidate has already had the job and wants it again.
This candidate rose to prominence based on his TV persona where he was portrayed at The Boss, the last word, who gained fame for saying, “You’re fired.”
He was an attention seeking entertainer who grabbed headlines and viewers to the point of getting a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
That would be enough for most people.
But there was more grabbing to be done.
He wanted to grab dirt in Ukraine, grab votes in Georgia, and grab the presidency on Jan. 6 with an insurrection.
You’ve got to admit, he has a good grip on people to ge them to do that.