1960s Eastern Catholic/Orthodox Candidate for President?

Delta Force

Banned
In the 1960s both Roman Catholic candidate John F. Kennedy and Mormon candidate George W. Romney ran for President of the United States, doing well (and in Kennedy's case winning) while overcoming some public concerns and discrimination. How would an Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox candidate for President have been viewed during the same time period?
 

Delta Force

Banned
It seems likely an Eastern Catholic candidate would face some challenges at the time, but what about an Eastern Orthodox candidate?
 
Wasn't Dukakis Greek Orthodox?
He was, but the only office he held in the 60s was in the Massachusetts state legislature.

With some cursory Wikiwalking, the oldest Orthodox American politician I can find is long-time Pennsylvania Representative Gus Yatron, who was born in in 1927 and was first elected in 1968. He'd be young as hell, but maybe if something kickstarted his political career he could work is way there.

Alternatively, Spiro Agnew's father was Greek Orthodox. Maybe he keeps the faith?
 
He was, but the only office he held in the 60s was in the Massachusetts state legislature.

With some cursory Wikiwalking, the oldest Orthodox American politician I can find is long-time Pennsylvania Representative Gus Yatron, who was born in in 1927 and was first elected in 1968. He'd be young as hell, but maybe if something kickstarted his political career he could work is way there.

Alternatively, Spiro Agnew's father was Greek Orthodox. Maybe he keeps the faith?

It would seem most likely to be a Greek politician of some form. Of which, I do not know how many there really were on a prominent or potential for prominence level in the 1960s.
 
One that could be interesting, though they could not have run in 1960, is Nick Galifianakis of North Carolina. Who was the uncle of Zach Galifianakis.
 
It seems likely an Eastern Catholic candidate would face some challenges at the time, but what about an Eastern Orthodox candidate?
Well, if an Eastern Catholic politician who fulfilled the natural-born clause existed, I'd think it wouldn't be that different from any other Catholic candidate.
 

Delta Force

Banned
Alternatively, Spiro Agnew's father was Greek Orthodox. Maybe he keeps the faith?

Spiro Agnew also started out his career as a Democrat before becoming a Republican and winning election as Governor of Maryland due to a segregationist happening to win the Democratic primary.
 

Delta Force

Banned
Well, if an Eastern Catholic politician who fulfilled the natural-born clause existed, I'd think it wouldn't be that different from any other Catholic candidate.

Some people might be surprised to find out that there are Eastern Catholic churches and do a double take on that. Such a candidate would also have a different background relative to Roman Catholics in that they are probably going to be of Middle Eastern or Eastern European background as opposed to German, Italian, or Irish.
 
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Paul Babich (1911-1983) — of Beckley, Raleigh County, W.Va. Born in Silvis, Rock Island County, Ill., May 16, 1911. Democrat. Served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II; merchant; alternate delegate to Democratic National Convention from West Virginia, 1956. Eastern Orthodox. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Elks; American Legion. Died in January, 1983 (age 71 years, 0 days). Burial location unknown.
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Relatives: Son of George Babich and Mary (Saich) Babich; married, September 5, 1937, to Charlotte Pribich.

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Harry Vaios Spanos (1926-1995) — also known as Harry V. Spanos — of Newport, Sullivan County, N.H. Born in Newport, Sullivan County, N.H., May 8, 1926. Democrat. Lawyer; member of New Hampshire state senate; defeated, 1956; delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1960 (alternate), 1964, 1972; member of New Hampshire state house of representatives; candidate for Governor of New Hampshire, 1976; probate judge in New Hampshire, 1980-95. Eastern Orthodox. Greek ancestry. Member, Moose; Lions. Died in Newport, Sullivan County, N.H., March 18, 1995 (age 68 years, 314 days). Interment at Pine Grove Cemetery, Newport, N.H.

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George J. Vavoulis (1911-1992) — of St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minn. Born February 6, 1911. Republican. Florist; mayor of St. Paul, Minn., 1960-66. Eastern Orthodox. Greek ancestry. Died in Ramsey County, Minn., July 4, 1992 (age 81 years, 149 days). Burial location unknown.



These guys might actually work. On a side note I just discovered

PoliticalGraveyard.com
The Internet's Most Comprehensive Source of U.S. Political Biography
(or, The Web Site that Tells Where the Dead Politicians are Buried)

Created and maintained by Lawrence Kestenbaum

Very awesome webside to research such questions. Apologies if it is already well known.
 
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