Who Was President When You Turned 20?

Larger view of graphic available HERE.

Thanks for posting that link for a larger graph.

Being a Carter/Ford person, I needed my reading glasses.

In my day it was the highly popular Eisenhower. And, I confess, it caused me to support Nixon in '60. Then I wavered for a time between parties, but became a Democrat after Johnson left office. I have since become an independent, but will never vote Republican again as long as I live. The Bush thing has soured me on that party, irrevocably.

Chai - Welcome. I didn't want to post the original fearing it would widen the whole page. I hate when that happens.

I was a Carter Come of Ager as well. Being in the Midwest, I would have thought more conservative views would have taken hold. My Dad is a conservative Democrat (20 during Kennedy) and so is my grandfather (20 during roosevelt).

My oldest will turn 20 during Bush's reign. She's very much a Dem / Independent or ANYTHING but Republican.

Edgar - I'm thinking Bush has done that to a lot of people. Those that might like to think they vote based on the individual rather than party will likely remember this presidency for a long time and hopefully pause before pulling the lever.

I turned 20 in Clinton's first term. In fact, that was the first election I ever voted in. I have always been an independent.

Grover Cleveland. God...how I loved that man.

Ah yes. Fond memories of unrequited love that turned you to sheep, I take it.

I don't recall being that aware of politics and parties at the time I turned 20. I would think family party identity and upbringing would have the largest influence.

Oh, that's interesting!

Bush the first was in office when I was 20. And y'all know how I turned out...

Is family affiliation what turned you into a sheep? (whoops, not you, soz)

I used to think that family affiliation was more important, too. But I think that it could be that what's going on around the time you come of voting age could affect you too. And that doesn't necessarily mean that you will lean toward the party of the president at the time. It could be that you reject the party of the president at that time due to controversy.

By about a week, Dwight Eisenhower, Kennedy being elected soon after.


Haven't read the article yet..

Truman, don't say anything about my daughter, was in office when I turned twenty. One of the few presidents in my lifetime worth his salt.

Gus I am a blood relation to Grover Cleveland no kidding.... useless trivia...

My goodness, Bear, I never would have guessed.

Party affiliation of my parents was a split, but both were interested in US politics, my mother being conservative Republican (well, for the time..) and my father a liberal Democrat. I've always voted Democrat though they don't always represent me as well as I might like, being too middling for me at this point. I've kept as a registered Demo so that I could vote in primaries... until just recently when I signed up in my new state as an Independent. Not sure I'll stay with it, may6 swing back so I am able to vote in the primaries here.

We are all, in some way or another, related to Grover Cleveland.

(Except for Slappy)

that explains a lot.

and nothing at the same time.

You bet! He was the last honest statesperson this country ever had. Would not give you for the rest of them.

Anyhow, I was 20 when Eisenhower was in office!

a mystery wrapped in an enigma.... cool ****...

I'm another Eisenhower person.

Until recently I'd always registered Independent. My father was a newpaper man and our family was conspicuously non-partisian.

Two years ago I re-registered as a Republican to vote for a friend in the primary. Mr. Noddy is registered as a Democrat, so we get all the campaign literature. Unfortunately we also get all of the phone calls.

I despise the recorded messages, even if they are recorded by Important Political People.