As a history teacher, let me run a few facts past you. First, it depends on what you want to call "experience". Is that elective office? Because president is the only elected office held by Eisenhower, who was a military leader. He gave us the political axiom: "Roosevelt proved that a man could be president for life; Truman proved anybody could be president; Eisenhower proved that you didn't need a president." The same goes for U.S. Grant. Someone could get a Ph.D comparing George W. Bush, Grant and Harding, Republicans all, in the "who was the worst president ever" contest. Woodrow Wilson had been governor of New Jersey as long as Sarah Palin has been governor of Alaska. Of course, Wilson had been a distinguished academic and president of Princeton and was filled with a gravitas that gave others the willies. One thing also to bear in mind, though, is that Barack Obama has about the same level of experience that Robert Kennedy would have had if he had survived to accept the Democratic nomination in 1968. Bob had been senator from New York the same amount of time that Obama had, but had never held any elective office prior. He had been attorney general for two and a half years under his brother's administration, but was not in the loop on all transactions in the Kennedy White House. He had never tried a single case when he became AG. Just a few thoughts.
I would imagine that being a 5 star general running a multi national army like Eisenhower did in WWII would actually be a more directly useful thing than the background many presidents brought to the job.
(no subject)
First, it depends on what you want to call "experience". Is that elective office?
Because president is the only elected office held by Eisenhower, who was a military leader. He gave us the political axiom: "Roosevelt proved that a man could be president for life; Truman proved anybody could be president; Eisenhower proved that you didn't need a president."
The same goes for U.S. Grant. Someone could get a Ph.D comparing George W. Bush, Grant and Harding, Republicans all, in the "who was the worst president ever" contest.
Woodrow Wilson had been governor of New Jersey as long as Sarah Palin has been governor of Alaska. Of course, Wilson had been a distinguished academic and president of Princeton and was filled with a gravitas that gave others the willies.
One thing also to bear in mind, though, is that Barack Obama has about the same level of experience that Robert Kennedy would have had if he had survived to accept the Democratic nomination in 1968. Bob had been senator from New York the same amount of time that Obama had, but had never held any elective office prior. He had been attorney general for two and a half years under his brother's administration, but was not in the loop on all transactions in the Kennedy White House. He had never tried a single case when he became AG.
Just a few thoughts.
Eisenhower
Zach Kessin (zachkessin on livejournal)