When is the latest the US could have a Civil War vet as President?
- Thread starter Nofix
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This is basically a math problem. The war ended in 1865; let's say that someone enlisted in the Union Army at the age of 14 by lying about their age just before the war ended; that would put their year of birth around 1851. By 1912, they'd be 61 years old and 65 in 1916. In those days, that was pretty old, but it's still possible they could be elected. Thus, the answer is 1912 or 1916, with 1912 being the more probable of the two. If you really stretched it, you might be able to push this to 1920 but that's about as far as is remotely plausible.
From a purely theoretical viewpoint, the last election possible would have been 1952 (Albert Woolson died in 1956), or 1948 if you wanted a Confederate veteran (Pleasant Crump died in 1951). However, 104 and 101 year old men running for President is not particularly realistic.
I think your best option is 1920: with no incumbents involved, it is not out of the question that one of the candidates could be a bit older.
I think your best option is 1920: with no incumbents involved, it is not out of the question that one of the candidates could be a bit older.
Albert Woolson (1847-1956) was the oldest living veteran, having died in 1956 at the age of 109. Although Wikipedia says he never entered politics, he apparently was a noted member of a powerful political organization called the grand army of the republic (G.A.R.). So maybe he enters politics later in life (perhaps in his mid 60s) and as the notoriety over his status as one of the last remaining civil war veterans becomes more prominent he is elected governor of Minnesota sometime in the early 1920s. Hoover is so unpopular in 1932 at the sitting president is actually defeated at the primaries by the popular ex-governor from Minnesota, who is regarded as a complete political lightweight. roosevelt dies on the campaign trail due to an unforeseen accident of some sort, and Woolson picks Teddy Roosevelt Jr as his running mate. It becomes clear that Woolson is not going to be the one pulling the strings if elected, and with his advanced age he may not even last a full term, but his popularity still carries the day. The Democrats, in shambles ever since the death of Roosevelt, are unable to mountain effective attack. But due to the poor economy it still remains one of the closest races in American history.
To be honest..this is perhaps one or two bats away from being complete ASB
To be honest..this is perhaps one or two bats away from being complete ASB
OK, if we're looking for actual realistic candidates, there's this guy from the 1908 Republican Convention:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_B._Foraker
Have him win the Republican nomination.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_B._Foraker
Have him win the Republican nomination.
Charles W. Fairbanks (TR's VP) signs up for the army at 13 and wins the 1916 election?
That could work. Have him win his 1914 election to regain his old Senate seat, and then jump into the 1916 presidential race. Even though he dies in 1917 OTL, this would come after the election.
Francis Warren, born in 1844, was the last Union Civil War veteran in the Senate (he died in 1929). https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Last_Union_Vet.htm
I suppose that theoretically he could have been nominated in 1908 if Taft had been appointed to the Supreme Court. But there were many more plausible candidates.
I suppose that theoretically he could have been nominated in 1908 if Taft had been appointed to the Supreme Court. But there were many more plausible candidates.
Along those lines...
The Presidential Succession Act 1792 is never altered.
Albert Woolson becomes Republican US Senator from Minnesota some time in the 1880s. He remains sufficiently popular that he is re-elected for the rest of his life, including the New Deal years.
Republicans win the Senate in 1952, and Woolson becomes president pro tempore of the Senate.
Eisenhower has a heart attack in 1955, on the same day Nixon is killed in a car accident.
Albert Woolson becomes US President, aged 108. Done.
After Brownsville, didn't TR hate Foraker too much for the latter to have any realistic chance of getting the Republican nomination? (And in 1916 the Republicans were very anxious to nominate someone who, if TR wouldn't be too enthusiastic about him, would at least not hate him...)
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I think with a POD that far, it might change his whole life and he'd never be the Fairbanks we know (and love?), so borderline.
Maybe he could be a 1916 or 1920 compromise candidate? Either that, or a VP to another compromise candidate.
If Roosevelt dislikes him too much, it would probably scare most of the delegates away from another split.
Indeed Champ Clark (the initial frontrunner for the 1912 nomination, was born in March 1850 - but he doesn't qualify as he never fought in the War.