Something I've Noticed

[Austin:316]

Watching the presidential campaign I realized that I knew of no bald or balding American presidents. I decided to do some research.

It has been exactly 60 years since America has had a bald president. I believe that back in the 1950's there was not the unspoken stigma around baldness that there is now. Since then the world has placed gradually increasing importance on looks. In these modern times I just don't believe that the American people would stand for a bald or balding president. They would not be able to put their trust in him. Deep down, as horrible as it is to say, I think they would feel ashamed to have a bald man as their leader.

It made me think of that episode of The Simpsons where Homer discovers Minoxidil and regrows his hair. He gets a promotion at work and everyone treats him with respect; then at the end he loses his hair again and gets demoted, and then he has to give a speech in front of a large crowd and even though he is doing an excellent job of explaining how the power plant can cut costs no one listens to him, and the woman says something like "He's got some nerve telling us how to run the plant—he doesn't even have hair."

I really believe the writers of that episode struck a chord of truth. I don't believe there will be a balding president in America any time soon. Maybe never again. It's such an image-driven country now. At times I am glad I don't live there. I currently live in Ireland, where the president is as bald as an eagle, and a damn fine leader he is.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

I was thinking today that I'm really surprised by the lack of alpha males in the GOP field.

Donald Trump and Jeb Bush are alpha males, ok. Though Bush gives the impression his battery is running out.

Marco Rubio is 5'10, has an extremely nasal voice, and wears high heeled boots. He has a pointy chin, like a six year-old girl.

Ted Cruz is 5'8, and has the voice of a boy who is maybe just starting puberty. He has an average chin, and he is obese.

The latter are more likely to be the nominee. It's very strange. I expect more masculine bona fides from the GOP field.

- - - Updated - - -

Watching the presidential campaign I realized that I knew of no bald or balding American presidents. I decided to do some research.

It has been exactly 60 years since America has had a bald president. I believe that back in the 1950's there was not the unspoken stigma around baldness that there is now. Since then the world has placed gradually increasing importance on looks. In these modern times I just don't believe that the American people would stand for a bald or balding president. They would not be able to put their trust in him. Deep down, as horrible as it is to say, I think they would feel ashamed to have a bald man as their leader.

It made me think of that episode of The Simpsons where Homer discovers Minoxidil and regrows his hair. He gets a promotion at work and everyone treats him with respect; then at the end he loses his hair again and gets demoted, and then he has to give a speech in front of a large crowd and even though he is doing an excellent job of explaining how the power plant can cut costs no one listens to him, and the woman says something like "He's got some nerve telling us how to run the plant—he doesn't even have hair."

I really believe the writers of that episode struck a chord of truth. I don't believe there will be a balding president in America any time soon. Maybe never again. It's such an image-driven country now. At times I am glad I don't live there. I currently live in Ireland, where the president is as bald as an eagle, and a damn fine leader he is.

Just FYI.

Richard Nixon wasn't bald, but getting there while in office:

George Bush Jr. is balding, but that's now, 7 years after leaving office:

Dick Cheney was bald the whole time, and half the country believed he was in charge.

 

[Austin:316]

This is from an article about it that I found in TIME:

"History Shows Americans Don’t Want a Bald President

Whilst studies suggest bald men make better leaders than their thinning counterparts, on the basis that shaved heads are often associated with strength and ruthlessness, it is men with a full head of hair who are generally seen as more youthful, vigorous and fair – and are therefore more likely to get a job.
This is particularly interesting when looking back at the history of baldness in elected American Presidents. To date, out of the 44 Heads of State voted into office, just five of these men have been noticeably balding – and only one of these, Eisenhower, was in modern times. President Gerald Ford also suffered from male pattern baldness but he was not elected by the people."

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Richard Nixon was noticeably balding in 1968, when he was elected, here is a campaign sticker:

He's more modern than Eisenhower.

 

[Austin:316]

Most people would not consider Nixon as bald.

 

[kmm179]

I feel like the presidents who had the best hair also had high public opinions while in office.

 

[Austin:316]

People with the best hair have the highest opinion from the public whether it's in office or anywhere.

Take Roman Reigns for instance.

He has no character, no charisma, he absolutely sucks in the ring, yet they are literally throwing titles at him and pushing him to the moon and making him out to be the greatest thing to ever enter wrestling. Why? Because he's got great hair. If he was bald or had hair loss he'd be back in the indies where he belongs, but because he has thick hair and a solid hairline he is going to be main eventing every Wrestlemania for years to come and winning every belt beneath the sun, when really he's hopelessly talentless. That is the culture we live in.

 

[Toddskii]

Think your forgetting somebody

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

For that matter Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders both have hair loss, and I think Rubio is on his way.

Trump might have hair loss, I can't tell.

 

[Austin:316]

Todskii good point.

I don't know if Trump has hairloss either. I think he might be just really thin. He promised that if he gets elected he'll change his hairstyle.​

 

[yetti]

For that matter Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders both have hair loss, and I think Rubio is on his way.

Trump might have hair loss, I can't tell.

Bernie has major hair loss. Interestingly, he is extremely popular with young people, while Hillary is much more popular with older people.

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Bernie has major hair loss. Interestingly, he is extremely popular with young people, while Hillary is much more popular with older people.

An analysis I read the other day, is that Bernie's campaign is not about Bernie. He doesn't talk about himself in his speeches, he talks about the issues, so his image may not matter as much.

Hillary in contrast talks about herself a lot. Her supposed experience, her supposed track record, being a woman, et cetera. She is the campaign, so image matters a lot more.

 

[hairyhenry]

Bernie all the way baby!

 

[yetti]

Bernie all the way baby!

This ain't no political forum, but I've gotta say, I'm with you hairy henry. I'd be fine with Hillary or Bernie.

 

[kmm179]

Bernie has some real original gangster **** going on. He also is like a political renegade so with the state of the US and politics guys who people never gave a chance are now being heard.