AHC: A Century of Bearded Presidents

Expat

Note: I admit I didn't look to see if this had been done before on the board. Honestly, I don't much care. Apologies if this offends your sense of etiquette.

Inspired by the latest update of Whanztastic's wonderful Biden Express, your challenge is to make a list of 100 years of US presidents with facial hair. The 100 years will run from 1912 (when our last mustachioed president, Taft, left office) to 2012.

Rules:

1) These are public figures who could have reasonably been president and sported facial hair in real life. If you've got photographic evidence, they're valid (so for example Al Gore would be acceptable.)

2) Republicans and Democrats only. No "rise of the Beat Party in 1956" to sneak Alan Ginsburg in there.

3) Keep things reasonably politically balanced. There are 26 elections to cover. Keep the number of victories for each party pretty close, say no more unbalanced than 11/15 either way.

4) Facial hair means beards, mustaches, goatees, soul patches, or muttonchops.

5) 1970s sideburns on their own DO NOT COUNT.

6) At least 17 men must hold office during this century. No "Beardy McMuttonchops, beloved former senator from North Stachsylvania elected to his unprecedented 8th term as president."

Good luck, everyone.
 
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Gorrister

Gorrister

Possibly Wayne Morse Squeaking out a victory in 1960? Then after one term is beaten by Hugh Scott who then is beaten by <insert Democrat Here>?
 

WhatIsAUserName

William Howard Taft wins in 1912 and Charles Evans Hughes follows up with victories in 1916 and 1920. Maybe follow that up with Charles Fairbanks, Hughes' running mate in 1916 and Theodore Roosevelt's first-term Vice President, to stretch that to 1924 and 1928. That's literally a Republican victory in every Presidential contest from 1896 to 1928. That should be a start.
 

Nofix

1912: Judson Harmon of the Democratic Party is chosen after first nominee Woodrow Wilson dies before voting, backed by William Jennings Bryan and several other Democratic insiders, the dark horse beats out better known candidates like Champ Clark.

1916: Judson Harmon narrowly beats out Charles E. Hughes of New York.

1920: Tired of WWI and the peace process, but accepting joining the League of Nations, the US elected last time challenger Charles E. Hughes to handle foreign affairs better than the somewhat inexperienced Harmon.

1924: Dealing with a great economy and peace world over, Hughes is the first re-elected Republican since McKinley, and the first to serve out two full terms since Grant.

1928: Senate Majority Leader Charles Curtis of Kansas is able to scrounge out enough votes to narrowly beat Hiram Johnson, widely considered the front runner.

Hows this so far?
 

Expat

Nofix said:
1912: Judson Harmon of the Democratic Party is chosen after first nominee Woodrow Wilson dies before voting, backed by William Jennings Bryan and several other Democratic insiders, the dark horse beats out better known candidates like Champ Clark.

1916: Judson Harmon narrowly beats out Charles E. Hughes of New York.

1920: Tired of WWI and the peace process, but accepting joining the League of Nations, the US elected last time challenger Charles E. Hughes to handle foreign affairs better than the somewhat inexperienced Harmon.

1924: Dealing with a great economy and peace world over, Hughes is the first re-elected Republican since McKinley, and the first to serve out two full terms since Grant.

1928: Senate Majority Leader Charles Curtis of Kansas is able to scrounge out enough votes to narrowly beat Hiram Johnson, widely considered the front runner.

Hows this so far?
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I am riveted!:D
 
Gorrister

Gorrister

Nofix said:
1912: Judson Harmon of the Democratic Party is chosen after first nominee Woodrow Wilson dies before voting, backed by William Jennings Bryan and several other Democratic insiders, the dark horse beats out better known candidates like Champ Clark.

1916: Judson Harmon narrowly beats out Charles E. Hughes of New York.

1920: Tired of WWI and the peace process, but accepting joining the League of Nations, the US elected last time challenger Charles E. Hughes to handle foreign affairs better than the somewhat inexperienced Harmon.

1924: Dealing with a great economy and peace world over, Hughes is the first re-elected Republican since McKinley, and the first to serve out two full terms since Grant.

1928: Senate Majority Leader Charles Curtis of Kansas is able to scrounge out enough votes to narrowly beat Hiram Johnson, widely considered the front runner.

Hows this so far?
Click to expand...
Good, and maybe William Murray in 32? Dewey in 40?
 
Ariosto

Ariosto


  • 1909 - 1913 - William Howard Taft (R-OH)
  • 1913 - 1921 - Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY)
  • 1921 - 1925 - Edwin T. Meredith (D-IA)
  • 1925 - 1931 - Thomas J. Walsh (D-MT)
  • 1931 - 1933 - Charles W. Bryan (D-NE)
  • 1933 - 1941 - George W. Norris (R-NE)
About at that point facial hair appears to drop off the radar, at least in the case of notable individuals. I don't really see how to carry it on without moving to especially obscure figures who would not be able to attain the office.
​
 

Expat

Ariosto said:

  • 1909 - 1913 - William Howard Taft (R-OH)
  • 1913 - 1921 - Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY)
  • 1921 - 1925 - Edwin T. Meredith (D-IA)
  • 1925 - 1931 - Thomas J. Walsh (D-MT)
  • 1931 - 1933 - Charles W. Bryan (D-NE)
  • 1933 - 1941 - George W. Norris (R-NE)
About at that point facial hair appears to drop off the radar, at least in the case of notable individuals. I don't really see how to carry it on without moving to especially obscure figures who would not be able to attain the office.
​
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Well, Dewey. I kind of feel like everyone's going to include Dewey and should therefore put up a penalty. But this is hard enough already!
 

TNF

Continuing from where Nofix left off and totally failing, but I'm trying here :p

1909-1913: William Taft (Republican)
1913-1921: Judson Harmon (Democratic)
1921-1929: Charles Hughes (Republican)
1929-1933: Charles Curtis (Republican)
1933-1945: William Murray (Democratic)
1945-1953: Thomas Dewey (Republican)
1953-1973: Wayne Morse (Republican, then Democratic)
1973-1985: Walter Fauntroy (Democratic)
1985-1997: Jesse Jackson (Democratic)
1997-2005: Bob Dornan (Republican)
2005-2013: Paul Wellstone (Democratic)
2013-present: Herman Cain (Republican)

Holy shit this is a terrifying list.
 

Nofix

1932: J. Hamilton Lewis, former and at his election current, Senator from Illinois, ran on a platform of government relief compared to the do nothing Curtis administration, despite being called everything from a communist to an atheist, he won election day 54% to Curtis's 39%, the rest going to small candidates.

1936: His unique personality, his strong control of Congress, and his well received "New Deal" programs (nicknamed by a speech given by Hamilton's later Secretary of State Franklin Roosevelt), meant Hamilton swept away WWI relief hero Herbert Hoover. He replaced his sour faced Vice-President Garner for someone who didn't mind being so forceful with legislation and big government. Surprising the Democratic convention, and the country at large, he chose Reed Smoot of Utah, formerly the Senator of his state. Many were worried that the Vice-President would let his religion interfere with his job, others pointed out the Vice-Presidency was a dead end job.

1939: Hamilton died, leaving Reed Smooth as the nations first Mormon President, despite fears and outcries over a Mormon in office, Reed held the ship together for his lame duck term, and promised he wouldn't run in 1940, good as he died shortly there after.

1940: With the confusion and fear of the World War going on, Thomas Dewey of New York snagged the election against Secretary of State Roosevelt, also of New York. Japan attacked the nation early into Dewey's term, transforming the middle of the road on foreign affairs President, into a war time President overnight. Retaining Roosevelt as Secretary of State had turned from a short time measure into a full time job for him, as Dewey and his cabinet ran against the Isolationists to go to war with the other Axis Powers

1944: With the War in Japan over by 1943, the nation looked to Europe as the West front stalemated, until the East front started to fall over. Anti-Communist Nazi puppets sprang up in the Soviet Union, giving the Nazi's additional firepower and supplies to fight the Allies. The war would end in 1947, 8 long bloody years for Europe. None so more beaten than Russia, no long was the Soviet government in control of even 20% of it's territory, it wouldn't be until 1953 before the insurgency ended all over and new nations would build.

---

Obviously the butterfly effect isn't in effect, what do y'all think so far?
 

AnywhereButOTL

Pretty good, but I don't understand how the war in the Pacific could wind down in 1943 after two years at the very most, or why some of the Soviets (sounds like they're behind Soviet lines?) are friendly enough towards Nazi Germany to set up their own fighting forces to deal with the Soviets.
I guess in this TL the Nazis decided not to rape and pillage quite so much as they advanced into Russia, maybe Hitler got butterflied out in favor of someone more competent.
 

Nofix

AnywhereButOTL said:
Pretty good, but I don't understand how the war in the Pacific could wind down in 1943 after two years at the very most, or why some of the Soviets (sounds like they're behind Soviet lines?) are friendly enough towards Nazi Germany to set up their own fighting forces to deal with the Soviets.

I guess in this TL the Nazis decided not to rape and pillage quite so much as they advanced into Russia, maybe Hitler got butterflied out in favor of someone more competent.
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Butterflies, kind of a cop out answer but with a POD in 1912 it could end up the Navy and Airforce is more prepared to take on Japan, or Japan was already weakened by trying to conquer more than it could chew. Maybe the failure of the Washington Naval Conference to manifest lead to Japan not to go the way it did OTL in military building.

And the Nazi's decide to pit the Soviets against their conquered people, the various ethnic minorities, gulag victims, and other anti-socialists. Both sides killing each other and sparing the Nazi's the manpower to do so, only sparing supplies while they pillage and raid the oil fields in the Caucus. Europe is going to be even more ravaged, but without a looming Soviet Empire the US will be less inclined to speed up rebuilding. The Roosevelt Plan (think Marshall Plan but with FDR at the helm) focused on rebuilding markets and industry rather than the military of Europe.

Also I'm kinda writing this on the fly, so little (and big) details sail on by. Thanks for bringing things up, criticism is the only way I'll improve. ;)
 
Ariosto

Ariosto

Ariosto said:
<SNIP>
Click to expand...
Trying to add onto what I had here.
​

  • 1909 - 1913 - William Howard Taft (R-OH)
  • 1913 - 1921 - Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY)
  • 1921 - 1925 - Edwin T. Meredith (D-IA)
  • 1925 - 1931 - Thomas J. Walsh (D-MT)
  • 1931 - 1933 - Charles W. Bryan (D-NE)
  • 1933 - 1941 - George W. Norris (R-NE)
  • 1941 - 1945 - Gifford Pinchot (R-PA)
  • 1945 - 1949 - Thomas Dewey (R-NY)
  • 1949 - 1957 - John O. Pastore (D-RI) *
    • Running-mate of California Governor James Roosevelt, who died in December following the election.
  • 1957 - 1961 - Wayne Morse (R-OR)
  • 1961 - 1969 - Philip Hart (D-MI)
  • 1969 - 1973 - Frank Moss (D-UT)
  • 1973 - 1981 - Hugh Scott (R-MI)
  • 1981 -
After that point I start to run low on ideas.
​
 
Zioneer

Zioneer

Banned
One question; wouldn't the rise of bearded/facial hair endowed presidents lead to a change in fashions and probably end up with OTL clean-shaven presidents being bearded?
 

Nofix

Zioneer said:
One question; wouldn't the rise of bearded/facial hair endowed presidents lead to a change in fashions and probably end up with OTL clean-shaven presidents being bearded?
Click to expand...

Probably, but that would make the challenge too easy. ;)
 

Nofix

1948: Douglas MacArthur, hero of the Pacific War and Military Governor Japan was mentioned since V-J Day as a possible Presidential candidate. Very few people expected him to run. even he himself, but a mass write in campaign for him won him the first primary, and when he made his fateful decision to run. Despite reservations by other Republican Party members, he won the nomination and the 1948 election. Unfortunately being the constitutional President of his home state was far diffrent than being the Conquering King of another. His abrasive personality, unshaven and dishevelled appearance, and frequent outbursts gave way to rumors that he was an alcoholic, not helped by mechanisms by his Vice-President to dump him in 1952. He was challenged early on by Senator McCarthy, who ran his campaign on the idea that MacArthur was a communist dupe meant to weaken America from the inside. Like the last primaries no one important gave him mind, until he swept the first two primaries. MacArthur won his party, but lost the general election...

Crap it's hard to find guys with facial hair post 1950!
 
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