When was the latest time, an ACW vet could have become potus ?

McKinley died in 1901, at the age of 58 (born 1843). He was 22 at the end of the Civil War in 1865.

John Hay, his secretary of state who continued under Theodore Roosevelt until 1905, was 5 years older (born 1838), and served as secretary of state until his death at the age of 66.

A Civil War veteran could easily have been 5 years younger than McKinley, born in 1848 and serving at 17yo in 1865. This hypothetical veteran would have been 56yo to run against Roosevelt in 1904, 60 in 1908, 64 in 1912, and still only 68 in 1916, potentially even younger if he served at a younger age. I don't know which politicians fit this bill, but with 50 years of butterflies, it could certainly be done at least that late.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Major General John L. Clem, born 1851...

McKinley was the last, obviously.

Major General John L. Clem, born 1851... retired from active duty in the US Army in 1915, at the age of 64...lived until 1937. More than 45 years on active duty, including service as drummer and Lance Sergeant, Co. C, 22nd Michigan Infantry, from 1 May 1863 to 19 September 1864, during which service (at the age of 12-13) he was wounded twice and either shot and killed or wounded a rebel colonel, including seeing action at Chickamauga. He later served as a courier/runner, and had two horses shot out from under him, and was decorated for bravery before being discharged in 1864 at the age of 13...

He received a direct commission into the army in 1871, at the age of 20, from no less than President Grant, and rose to full colonel, graduating from the artillery school in 1875, field service during the S-A war, and was promoted brigadier and major general on the retired list. When the United States entered World War I, Clem, 65, sought permission to be activated to join the fighting in France, but President Wilson refused his request.

Given some fairly large but not impossible butterflies, he could have been elected as late as the 'teens or even early 'twenties...

john-clem.jpg

Photo taken in 1922, at the age of 71.

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/john-clem.html

Best,
 
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Major General John L. Clem, born 1851... retired from active duty in the US Army in 1915, at the age of 64...lived until 1937. More than 45 years on active duty, including service as drummer and Lance Sergeant, Co. C, 22nd Michigan Infantry, from 1 May 1863 to 19 September 1864, during which service (at the age of 12-14) he was wounded twice and either shot and killed or wounded a rebel colonel, including seeing action at Chickamauga. He later served as a courier/runner, and had two horses shot out from under him, and was decorated for bravery before being discharged in 1864 at the age of 13...

He received a direct commission into the army in 1871, at the age of 20, from no less than President Grant, and rose to full colonel, graduating from the artillery school in 1875, field service during the S-A war, and was promoted brigadier and major general on the retired list. When the United States entered World War I, Clem, 65, sought permission to be activated to join the fighting in France, but President Wilson refused his request.

Given some fairly large but not impossible butterflies, he could have been elected as late as the 'teens or even early 'twenties...

john-clem.jpg

Photo taken in 1922, at the age of 71.

http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/john-clem.html

Best,

I have never heard of him before, but now I'm in love :D:D:D
 
Weren't some 10-11 year old drummer boys considered war veterans technically? I believe the last surviving veterans served such roles.
 
Trivial factoids inserted at random which are sort of related to the topic. The federal government was paying pensions to the last surviving widow of a Union Army veteran as late as 2004. And as of 2014, the government was paying a small pension to the last known surviving child of a Union Army veteran. She might well still be alive on account of only being 84 all of two years ago.
 
I have never heard of him before, but now I'm in love :D:D:D

Here is somebody, who is an even firmer bridge between the ACW and the 20th century:
Peter Conover Hains (July 6, 1840 – November 7, 1921) was a an actual West Point graduate and artillery officer of the Civil War. He was reactivated as a chief engeneer and promoted to general during WW1 and served until 1918.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe..._-_1LT_Peter_C_-_detail_from_LC-B811-434B.jpg

maybe a little to old to have a Post WW1 political career, though.
 
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James Albert Hard*(July 15, 1843 – March 12, 1953) was the last verified combat veteran of the American Civil War.
It would be unlikely in OTL but if a few P.O.Ds cause him to be politically and militarily active. He could win the Vice President Ticket in 1920 election with President nominee Harding at the age of7 7
 
James Albert Hard*(July 15, 1843 – March 12, 1953) was the last verified combat veteran of the American Civil War.
It would be unlikely in OTL but if a few P.O.Ds cause him to be politically and militarily active. He could win the Vice President Ticket in 1920 election with President nominee Harding at the age of7 7

if he actually serves and than still lives to 110-that would be astounding.
 
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