How many times has an ex-politician been elected President?

[Bicoastal]

I ask because at least three Republicans who are possible candidates for President in 2012--Romney, Gingrich, and Huckabee--have been retired for some time now...

For the moment, all I can think of is Nixon.

[Zynx]

1. Reagan hadn't been governor for 6 years by the time he was elected.

[Marsala]

8. Yeah, Reagan is the model here, seeing as how he's the patron saint of the Repukes these days

Being a retired politician is a natural disadvantage, but having a strong national presence like Mittens and Gingrich makes up for it to a degree. They are horribly flawed candidates, but not necessarily because they have been out of politics.

[Arkana]

2. Yeah, but Nixon was, you know...smart.

And kinda popular with Republicans (at least, in 1968 he was).

[geek tragedy]

3. Those three aren't stupid.

Romney is much smarter than he appeared in the Republican primaries.

[elleng]

4. 'Retired,' but not 'ex-'

Like being a retired General; one is ALWAYS a General, never 'former,' tho 'retired.' Point is, these guys are ESSENTIALLY politicians.

[Bad Thoughts]

5. Harrison and Cleveland n/t

[Zynx]

9. Cleveland only the second time.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Lincoln

He had one term in Congress during the Mexican War. His career in the Illinois General Assembly was also over by the time he ran for President.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. Fred Thomp...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:


Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Alexander]

10. Many times. You could argue George Washington was the first.

Washington had retired in 1783 before he was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and then the country in 1789.

The last Democratic president to do so was Jimmy Carter, who retired as Governor of Georgia in early 1975, almost 2 years before he was elected president.

[grantcart]

11. Perhaps this is a more relevent question

When has an ex politican defeated a competent incumbent Presdident?

Answer: Never has happened, never will, especially if there is just two parties in contention.

[rvablue]

12. Although all out of office, I don't put Romney in the same category as Gingrich and Huckabee

Romney is still doing his thing as far as being a politician.

I think what is interesting, is that Gingrich and Huckabee have been drawing paychecks from media outlets as panelists and hosts.

And, just curious, why do you categorize Nixon as an "ex politician" when he was elected.

I think being out of office for a few years i.e. Nixon, Reagan and potentially Romney if he runs again, are different than the likes of the Gingrich and Huckabee who have really left the one biz for another.

[quiller4]

13. FDR left politics and then came back. n/t