Generation Gap: Romney-Ryan Ticket 7th Largest Age Difference in History
At 23 years, the 2012 Republican presidential ticket is tied for the seventh largest age differential in U.S. history out of the nearly 125 pairings who have received Electoral College votes
Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate Saturday was noteworthy not only for his picking a member of the U.S. House but also the relative youth of the Wisconsin U.S. Representative.
Ryan, at 42, is 27 years younger than his Democratic counterpart – Joe Biden at 69 years old.
That 27-year gap is the second largest among vice-presidential nominees in U.S. history, behind only the 28-year difference between 1904 nominees Democrat Henry Davis (80) and Republican Charles Fairbanks (52).
Over the last generation, the GOP has now picked three vice-presidential nominees that are among the youngest in history with Dan Quayle, Ryan, and Sarah Palin.
But will the age difference between Romney and Ryan be as starkly evident as it was in 2008 when the 44-year old Palin was paired with 72-year old John McCain?
And how does the Romney-Ryan differential rank among presidential tickets in U.S. history?
A Smart Politics analysis of presidential running mates and tickets over the past 200+ years finds that the 23-year difference in age between Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan is tied for the seventh largest in history among the 124 pairs of candidates on presidential ballots who received Electoral College votes.
The largest gap in age between two candidates on the same ticket occurred in 1856, when Democrat James Buchanan ran with former Kentucky U.S. Representative John Breckinridge.
Buchanan was 65 years old on Election Day while Breckinridge – who became the youngest vice-president in history – was just 35, for a 30-year age difference.
Only five other tickets put forth two candidates with a large disparity in age:
· 28 years (2008): Republicans John McCain (72) and Sarah Palin (44)
· 28 years (1904): Democrats Alton Parker (52) and Henry Davis (80)
· 27 years (1924): Progressive Robert La Follette (69) and Burton Wheeler (42)
· 25 years (1900): Democrats William Jennings Bryan (40) and Adlai Stevenson, Sr. (65)
· 24 years (1896): Democrats William Jennings Bryan (36) and Arthur Sewall (60)
Overall, the average age gap on presidential tickets across history has been just 10.0 years.
Only four pairs of candidates receiving Electoral College votes have been the same age:
· 1824: Democratic-Republicans Henry Clay and Nathan Sanford (47)
· 1860: Republicans Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin (51)
· 1864: Republican Abraham Lincoln and Democrat Andrew Johnson (55)
· 1952: Democrats Adlai Stevenson and John Sparkman (52)
In addition to Romney and Ryan, presidential tickets were constituted of candidates with an age gap of 23 years during five other cycles:
· 1888: Democrats Grover Cleveland (51) and Allen Thurman (74)
· 1952: Dwight Eisenhower (62) and Richard Nixon (39)
· 1956: Dwight Eisenhower (66) and Richard Nixon (43)
· 1988: George H.W. Bush (64) and Dan Quayle (41)
· 1992: George H.W. Bush (68) and Dan Quayle (45)
At 65 years old, Romney is tied with John Adams (1800), Andrew Jackson (1832), and James Buchanan (1856) for the 12th oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history.
Three candidates eclipsed 70 years old on Election Day: Republicans Ronald Reagan (73 years, 1984), Bob Dole (73, 1996), and John McCain (72, 2008).
The only other presidential nominees older than Romney have been Henry Clay (1844), Robert La Follette (1924), and Ronald Reagan (1980) at 69 years old, George H.W. Bush at 68 (1992), William Harrison at 67 (1840), and Lewis Cass (1848), Winfield Scott (1852), and Dwight Eisenhower (1956) at 66.
Meanwhile, Ryan – at age 42 – is tied for the seventh youngest VP pick in U.S. history out of the nearly 125 tickets that received Electoral College votes over the last 220+ years.
The only major vice-presidential candidates who were younger than Ryan were Democrats John Breckinridge (age 35, 1856), Franklin Roosevelt (38, 1920), and George Pendleton (39, 1864), Republican Richard Nixon (39, 1952), Democratic-Republican Aaron Burr (40, 1796), and Republican Dan Quayle (41, 1988).
In addition to Ryan, four other vice-presidential nominees were 42 years old on Election Day: Democratic-Republicans Daniel Tompkins (1816) and John Calhoun (1824), Republican Teddy Roosevelt (1900), and Progressive Burton Wheeler (1924).
Because Romney is one of the oldest candidates and Ryan is one of the youngest, the total age of the 2012 Republican ticket ranks in the middle of pairings in U.S. history.
At 107 years, Romney-Ryan is tied for the 45th youngest ticket out of 124 pairings.
At 120 years, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are the 22nd oldest ticket.
The youngest ticket in U.S. history by far is the losing 1864 Democratic pairing of George McClellan (40) and George Pendleton (39) at 79 years collectively.
The next youngest was the 1920 Democratic ticket of James Cox (50) and Franklin Roosevelt (38) at 88 years.
The oldest tickets were the Democratic ticket of 1948 of Harry Truman (64) and Alben Barkley (70) and the 1996 Republican pairing of Bob Dole (73) and Jack Kemp (61) – each coming in at 134 years collectively.
At 69 years old, Biden is tied for the 5th oldest VP nominee in history behind Democrat Henry Davis (80 years, 1904), Democrat Allen Thurman (74, 1888), Republican Charles Curtis (72, 1932), and Democrat Alben Barkley (70, 1948).
Largest Age Gap on Presidential Tickets
Rank
|
Year
|
President
|
Age
|
Vice-President
|
Age
|
Total
|
Gap
|
1
|
1856
|
James Buchanan
|
65
|
John Breckinridge
|
35
|
100
|
30
|
2
|
2008
|
John McCain
|
72
|
Sarah Palin
|
44
|
116
|
28
|
2
|
1904
|
Alton Parker
|
52
|
Henry Davis
|
80
|
132
|
28
|
4
|
1924
|
Robert La Follette
|
69
|
Burton Wheeler
|
42
|
111
|
27
|
5
|
1900
|
William J. Bryan
|
40
|
Adlai Stevenson
|
65
|
105
|
25
|
6
|
1896
|
William J. Bryan
|
36
|
Arthur Sewall
|
60
|
96
|
24
|
7
|
2012
|
Mitt Romney
|
65
|
Paul Ryan
|
42
|
107
|
23
|
7
|
1992
|
George H.W. Bush
|
68
|
Dan Quayle
|
45
|
113
|
23
|
7
|
1988
|
George H.W. Bush
|
64
|
Dan Quayle
|
41
|
105
|
23
|
7
|
1956
|
Dwight Eisenhower
|
66
|
Richard Nixon
|
43
|
109
|
23
|
7
|
1952
|
Dwight Eisenhower
|
62
|
Richard Nixon
|
39
|
101
|
23
|
7
|
1888
|
Grover Cleveland
|
51
|
Allen Thurman
|
74
|
125
|
23
|
13
|
1812
|
DeWitt Clinton
|
43
|
Jared Ingersoll
|
63
|
106
|
20
|
14
|
1860
|
John Breckenridge
|
39
|
Joseph Lane
|
58
|
97
|
19
|
14
|
1852
|
Franklin Pierce
|
47
|
William King
|
66
|
113
|
19
|
14
|
1836
|
William H. Harrison
|
63
|
Francis Granger
|
44
|
107
|
19
|
17
|
2012
|
Barack Obama
|
51
|
Joe Biden
|
69
|
120
|
18
|
17
|
2008
|
Barack Obama
|
47
|
Joe Biden
|
65
|
112
|
18
|
17
|
1940
|
Wendell Wilkie
|
48
|
Charles McNary
|
66
|
114
|
18
|
17
|
1884
|
Grover Cleveland
|
47
|
Thomas Hendricks
|
65
|
112
|
18
|
17
|
1852
|
Winfield Scott
|
66
|
William Graham
|
48
|
114
|
18
|
22
|
1840
|
William H. Harrison
|
67
|
John Tyler
|
50
|
117
|
17
|
22
|
1836
|
Hugh White
|
63
|
John Tyler
|
46
|
109
|
17
|
24
|
1820
|
James Monroe
|
62
|
Daniel Tompkins
|
46
|
108
|
16
|
24
|
1816
|
James Monroe
|
58
|
Daniel Tompkins
|
42
|
100
|
16
|
26
|
1900
|
William McKinley
|
57
|
Teddy Roosevelt
|
42
|
99
|
15
|
26
|
1872
|
Horace Greeley
|
61
|
Benjamin Brown
|
46
|
107
|
15
|
26
|
1848
|
Zachary Taylor
|
63
|
Millard Fillmore
|
48
|
111
|
15
|
26
|
1832
|
Andrew Jackson
|
65
|
Martin Van Buren
|
50
|
115
|
15
|
26
|
1832
|
William Wirt
|
60
|
Amos Ellmaker
|
45
|
105
|
15
|
26
|
1828
|
Andrew Jackson
|
61
|
John Calhoun
|
46
|
107
|
15
|
26
|
1824
|
John Q. Adams
|
57
|
John Calhoun
|
42
|
99
|
15
|
26
|
1824
|
Andrew Jackson
|
57
|
John Calhoun
|
42
|
99
|
15
|
26
|
1796
|
John Adams
|
61
|
Thomas Pinckney
|
46
|
107
|
15
|
35
|
1932
|
Herbert Hoover
|
58
|
Charles Curtis
|
72
|
130
|
14
|
35
|
1928
|
Herbert Hoover
|
54
|
Charles Curtis
|
68
|
122
|
14
|
35
|
1824
|
William Crawford
|
52
|
Nathanial Macon
|
66
|
118
|
14
|
38
|
1984
|
Ronald Reagan
|
73
|
George H.W. Bush
|
60
|
133
|
13
|
38
|
1980
|
Ronald Reagan
|
69
|
George H.W. Bush
|
56
|
125
|
13
|
38
|
1936
|
Franklin Roosevelt
|
54
|
John Garner
|
67
|
121
|
13
|
38
|
1936
|
Alf Landon
|
49
|
Frank Knox
|
62
|
111
|
13
|
38
|
1932
|
Franklin Roosevelt
|
50
|
John Garner
|
63
|
113
|
13
|
38
|
1828
|
John Q. Adams
|
61
|
Richard Rush
|
48
|
109
|
13
|
38
|
1800
|
Thomas Jefferson
|
57
|
Aaron Burr
|
44
|
101
|
13
|
38
|
1796
|
Thomas Jefferson
|
53
|
Aaron Burr
|
40
|
93
|
13
|
46
|
1996
|
Bob Dole
|
73
|
Jack Kemp
|
61
|
134
|
12
|
46
|
1968
|
George Wallace
|
49
|
Curtis LeMay
|
61
|
110
|
12
|
46
|
1920
|
James Cox
|
50
|
Franklin Roosevelt
|
38
|
88
|
12
|
46
|
1844
|
Henry Clay
|
69
|
Theodore Frelinghuysen
|
57
|
126
|
12
|
46
|
1808
|
James Madison
|
57
|
George Clinton
|
69
|
126
|
12
|
51
|
1960
|
Richard Nixon
|
47
|
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
|
58
|
105
|
11
|
51
|
1948
|
Thomas Dewey
|
46
|
Earl Warren
|
57
|
103
|
11
|
51
|
1868
|
Horatio Seymour
|
58
|
Francis Blair
|
47
|
105
|
11
|
51
|
1800
|
John Adams
|
65
|
Charles Pinckney
|
54
|
119
|
11
|
55
|
1976
|
Gerald Ford
|
63
|
Bob Dole
|
53
|
116
|
10
|
55
|
1916
|
Charles Evans Hughes
|
54
|
Charles Fairbanks
|
64
|
118
|
10
|
55
|
1908
|
William J. Bryan
|
48
|
John Kern
|
58
|
106
|
10
|
55
|
1872
|
Ulysses Grant
|
50
|
Henry Wilson
|
60
|
110
|
10
|
55
|
1836
|
Daniel Webster
|
54
|
December 1, 1792
|
44
|
98
|
10
|
60
|
2004
|
John Kerry
|
60
|
John Edwards
|
51
|
111
|
9
|
60
|
1960
|
Kennedy
|
43
|
Lyndon Johnson
|
52
|
95
|
9
|
60
|
1944
|
Thomas Dewey
|
42
|
John Bricker
|
51
|
93
|
9
|
60
|
1888
|
Benjamin Harrison
|
55
|
Levi Morton
|
64
|
119
|
9
|
60
|
1848
|
Lewis Cass
|
66
|
William Butler
|
57
|
123
|
9
|
60
|
1808
|
Charles Pinckney
|
62
|
Rufus King
|
53
|
115
|
9
|
60
|
1804
|
Charles Pinckney
|
58
|
Rufus King
|
49
|
107
|
9
|
67
|
1912
|
Teddy Roosevelt
|
54
|
Hiram Johnson
|
46
|
100
|
8
|
68
|
1984
|
Walter Mondale
|
56
|
Geraldine Ferraro
|
49
|
105
|
7
|
68
|
1924
|
Calvin Coolidge
|
52
|
Charles Dawes
|
59
|
111
|
7
|
68
|
1920
|
Warren Harding
|
55
|
Calvin Coolidge
|
48
|
103
|
7
|
68
|
1892
|
James Weaver
|
59
|
James Field
|
66
|
125
|
7
|
68
|
1812
|
James Madison
|
61
|
Elbridge Gerry
|
68
|
129
|
7
|
73
|
2000
|
Al Gore
|
52
|
Joe Liberman
|
58
|
110
|
6
|
73
|
1972
|
Richard Nixon
|
59
|
Spiro Agnew
|
53
|
112
|
6
|
73
|
1972
|
George McGovern
|
50
|
Sargent Shriver
|
56
|
106
|
6
|
73
|
1968
|
Richard Nixon
|
55
|
Spiro Agnew
|
49
|
104
|
6
|
73
|
1948
|
Harry Truman
|
64
|
Alben Barkley
|
70
|
134
|
6
|
73
|
1948
|
Strom Thurmond
|
47
|
Fielding Wright
|
53
|
100
|
6
|
73
|
1924
|
John Davis
|
51
|
Charles Bryan
|
57
|
108
|
6
|
73
|
1904
|
Teddy Roosevelt
|
46
|
Charles Fairbanks
|
52
|
98
|
6
|
73
|
1856
|
John Fremont
|
43
|
William Dayton
|
49
|
92
|
6
|
82
|
2004
|
George W. Bush
|
58
|
Dick Cheney
|
63
|
121
|
5
|
82
|
2000
|
George W. Bush
|
54
|
Dick Cheney
|
59
|
113
|
5
|
82
|
1964
|
Barry Goldwater
|
55
|
William Miller
|
50
|
105
|
5
|
82
|
1876
|
Samuel Tilden
|
62
|
Thomas Hendricks
|
57
|
119
|
5
|
86
|
1980
|
Jimmy Carter
|
56
|
Walter Mondale
|
52
|
108
|
4
|
86
|
1976
|
Jimmy Carter
|
52
|
Walter Mondale
|
48
|
100
|
4
|
86
|
1892
|
Benjamin Harrison
|
59
|
Whitelaw Reid
|
55
|
114
|
4
|
86
|
1884
|
James Blaine
|
54
|
John Logan
|
58
|
112
|
4
|
86
|
1804
|
Thomas Jefferson
|
61
|
George Clinton
|
65
|
126
|
4
|
91
|
1988
|
Michael Dukakis
|
64
|
Lloyd Bensten
|
67
|
131
|
3
|
91
|
1968
|
Hubert Humphrey
|
57
|
Edmund Muskie
|
54
|
111
|
3
|
91
|
1964
|
Lyndon Johnson
|
56
|
Hubert Humphrey
|
53
|
109
|
3
|
91
|
1956
|
Adlai Stevenson
|
56
|
Estes Kefauver
|
53
|
109
|
3
|
91
|
1916
|
Woodrow Wilson
|
59
|
Thomas Marshall
|
62
|
121
|
3
|
91
|
1912
|
Woodrow Wilson
|
55
|
Thomas Marshall
|
58
|
113
|
3
|
91
|
1876
|
Rutherford Hayes
|
54
|
William Wheeler
|
57
|
111
|
3
|
91
|
1844
|
James Polk
|
49
|
George Dallas
|
52
|
101
|
3
|
91*
|
1840
|
Martin Van Buren
|
57
|
(Richard Johnson)
|
60
|
117
|
3
|
91
|
1816
|
Rufus King
|
61
|
John Howard
|
64
|
125
|
3
|
91
|
1792
|
George Washington
|
61
|
John Adams
|
58
|
119
|
3
|
91
|
1789
|
George Washington
|
57
|
John Adams
|
54
|
111
|
3
|
103
|
1996
|
Bill Clinton
|
50
|
Al Gore
|
48
|
98
|
2
|
103
|
1992
|
Bill Clinton
|
46
|
Al Gore
|
44
|
90
|
2
|
103
|
1944
|
Franklin Roosevelt
|
62
|
Harry Truman
|
60
|
122
|
2
|
103
|
1940
|
Franklin Roosevelt
|
58
|
Henry Wallace
|
56
|
114
|
2
|
103
|
1928
|
Al Smith
|
54
|
Joseph Robinson
|
56
|
110
|
2
|
103**
|
1912
|
William Taft
|
55
|
James Sherman
|
57
|
112
|
2
|
103
|
1908
|
William Taft
|
51
|
James Sherman
|
53
|
104
|
2
|
103
|
1892
|
Grover Cleveland
|
55
|
Adlai Stevenson
|
57
|
112
|
2
|
103
|
1880
|
James Garfield
|
49
|
Chester Arthur
|
51
|
100
|
2
|
103
|
1880
|
Winfield Hancock
|
56
|
William English
|
58
|
114
|
2
|
103
|
1860
|
John Bell
|
64
|
Edward Everett
|
66
|
130
|
2
|
103
|
1836
|
Martin Van Buren
|
54
|
Richard Johnson
|
56
|
110
|
2
|
103
|
1832
|
Henry Clay
|
55
|
John Sergant
|
53
|
108
|
2
|
116
|
1896
|
William McKinley
|
53
|
Garret Hobart
|
52
|
105
|
1
|
116
|
1868
|
Ulysses Grant
|
46
|
Schuyler Colfax
|
45
|
91
|
1
|
116
|
1864
|
George McClellan
|
40
|
George Pendleton
|
39
|
79
|
1
|
116
|
1860
|
Stephen Douglas
|
47
|
Herschel Johnson
|
48
|
95
|
1
|
116
|
1856
|
Millard Fillmore
|
56
|
Andrew Donelson
|
57
|
113
|
1
|
121
|
1952
|
Adlai Stevenson
|
52
|
John Sparkman
|
52
|
104
|
0
|
121
|
1864
|
Abraham Lincoln
|
55
|
Andrew Johnson
|
55
|
110
|
0
|
121
|
1860
|
Abraham Lincoln
|
51
|
Hannibal Hamlin
|
51
|
102
|
0
|
121
|
1824
|
Henry Clay
|
47
|
Nathan Sanford
|
47
|
94
|
0
|
Note: Table includes presidential tickets that were on the ballot and received Electoral College votes. * Vice-president Richard Johnson was not renominated by the Democratic Party in 1840, but received the most vice-presidential Electoral College votes on Martin Van Buren’s ticket. ** James Sherman died less than a week before the 1912 election and Nicholas Butler received the electoral votes Sherman would have received. Table compiled by Smart Politics.
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[…] My hopes were realized when I came across an August 13, 2012 article by Eric Ostermeier titled Generation Gap: Romney-Ryan Ticket 7th Largest Age Difference in History (the article appears on Mr. Ostermeier’s website, Smart […]