Posted on Jul 15, 2024
Are older leaders better? Here’s what history tells us
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An interesting and relevant question. I'm not sure that History is such a great gauge. Men of the first century and a half of America's existence didn't live as long as they do today. However, I suppose that our Presidents in those times were "old" in comparison to others. In my life experience, I would have to say yes. Of the modern Presidents, Harry Truman is my favorite.
Are older leaders better? Here’s what history tells us
Posted from historyextra.comPosted in these groups: 
American History
Office of the President (POTUS)
American History Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted 5 mo ago
Responses: 2
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I think the sweet spot is late-30s to mid-60s, though I'm biased as I am still in the sweet spot. Got to have the mental and physical capacity
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LTC David Brown
I agree. One of the problems with the legislative branch is years of service equates to power.
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CPT Jack Durish
If I were President (you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming into that job) I'd wish I had my 35-year old body and 80-year old mind.
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CSM Chuck Stafford
CPT Jack Durish - Therein lies the crux, if you had your 35-year old body back, would you want to be working?
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CPT Jack Durish
CSM Chuck Stafford - Fair question. Yes. I'd have to to pay for all those children I'd be breeding.
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I'm torn. I thought Reagan was a great leader. I don't think Kennedy was. Of course, his time was unfortunately cut short and we never really got to see it. I think the Bay of Pigs fiasco canceled out his blockade of Cuba triumph.
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CPT Jack Durish
Kennedy owed the Mafia a debt. They swung the vote in Chicago just enough to elect him by the skin of his teeth. Nixon didn't challenge the vote stating that he didn't want to put the nation through the turmoil. (Imagine that, Nixon. Can you believe it?) Then JFK reneged on the Bay of Pigs fiasco and the Mafia failed to recover the casinos, prostitution, and hotel income they lost when Castro took over (thus they built Las Vegas). Honestly, I blame Joe Kennedy. I believe he made the deal with the mafia and couldn't make his son deliver on the promise he had made. Still, JFK paid the price. Reagan was a great communicator and he brought style to the office. However, he failed to deliver on many of his promises because, unlike Trump, Reagan was no streetfighter and tried to "persuade" the Democrats who controlled most of the District of Calamity. Bottom line, IMHO, is that neither age gets much support from either of these examples.
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LTC Trent Klug
CPT Jack Durish Of course, how one views leadership is subjective. For me Reagan was great to me because his predecessor was absolutely terrible. Ford wasn't in long enough to show much and when he pardoned Nixon, he cut his own legacy throat. Even though he was within his power to do it. Nixon lost it all with Watergate.
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