Who Was the Last Bald President?
When talking about baldness and politicians, most of the attention is focused on the U.S. presidency.
Of the 45 men who have filled that office so far, Dwight D. Eisenhower – former commander of allied forces during World War II before becoming president – was the last genuinely bald American president. People have been crediting that to the advent of television because the election that followed President Eisenhower’s second term featured the first televised presidential debate.
Of the candidates in that election, then-Senator John F. Kennedy had a luxurious head of hair. He beat then-Vice President Richard M. Nixon, who had a very noticeable double receding hairline. However, when Nixon ran for president again a few years later, he beat candidates Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern… both of whom had less hair than he did.
Does Hair Loss Affect Elections?
Even though the modern conventional wisdom is bald men are not electable, a look at candidates shows it’s not that simple. While someone completely bald has not won the presidency since Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson had double receding hairlines and hair loss in the front. His opponent, Senator Barry Goldwater, had significantly more hair loss though. Similarly, thick-haired Governor Jimmy Carter beat President Gerald R. Ford who had significant hair loss.
However, when then-Vice President George H.W. Bush ran for president in 1988 he had a visibly receding hairline. Though his haircut made the rest of his hair look thick. He beat Governor Michael Dukakis, who had a very thick head of hair, but then in his second term lost to then-Governor Bill Clinton, who also had a healthy head of hair – so hair quantity did not appear to be relevant.
Are Bald Men Less Electable? | RHRLI