Politics of the Beard
Full disclosure, I have had a beard for about 15 years now. I started growing it full time after I officially retired. Prior to that I have had a mustache for most of my adult life, ever since I was 18. When the kids were growing up, they freaked out when I saved the mustache off. My younger grandkids cannot remember when I did not have a beard, and I do not plan on traumatizing them by saving it off.
That said, it looks like 2028 will be the politics of the beard.
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For the previous 75 years no national politician has had a beard. It was considered the badge of a revolutionary. Fidel Castro had a beard, as did Che Guevara. Hippies grew beards as a counter cultural statement. But the beard never seemed to break through the hairy ceiling among the ruling elite.
Oh, sure, we know of Abraham Lincoln who grew one at the request of an 11-year-old girl. Then there was U.S. Grant. I think there have been a total of eleven presidents who had public facial hair. Some of them with a full beard, others with mutton sideburns, a few with just a mustache. But, since WWII there have been none.
I think most post WWII presidents have had a military background--where, dammit, you had to shave. And even those who were not veterans did not want to turn off the vet vote, even though many veterans grew facial hair on separating from the services.
But, over the past few decades, one would see more and more men of all ages growing beards. Even Paul Ryan was seen with a beard.
Then came the election of JD Vance to the VP--and he has a full beard! Then there is Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton now with beards. And, gasp, Pete Buttigieg is now showing up at campaign rallies with a beard.
And it is not just happening in the US. A number of UK politicians also have beards.
What is this world coming too?
For more info:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-beards-2028-president_n_6827732be4b01633824e977f
https://britishpoliticssociety.no/the-whiskered-warriors-a-look-at-uk-politicians-sporting-facial-hair/
That said, it looks like 2028 will be the politics of the beard.
.
For the previous 75 years no national politician has had a beard. It was considered the badge of a revolutionary. Fidel Castro had a beard, as did Che Guevara. Hippies grew beards as a counter cultural statement. But the beard never seemed to break through the hairy ceiling among the ruling elite.
Oh, sure, we know of Abraham Lincoln who grew one at the request of an 11-year-old girl. Then there was U.S. Grant. I think there have been a total of eleven presidents who had public facial hair. Some of them with a full beard, others with mutton sideburns, a few with just a mustache. But, since WWII there have been none.
I think most post WWII presidents have had a military background--where, dammit, you had to shave. And even those who were not veterans did not want to turn off the vet vote, even though many veterans grew facial hair on separating from the services.
But, over the past few decades, one would see more and more men of all ages growing beards. Even Paul Ryan was seen with a beard.
Then came the election of JD Vance to the VP--and he has a full beard! Then there is Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton now with beards. And, gasp, Pete Buttigieg is now showing up at campaign rallies with a beard.
And it is not just happening in the US. A number of UK politicians also have beards.
What is this world coming too?
For more info:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-beards-2028-president_n_6827732be4b01633824e977f
https://britishpoliticssociety.no/the-whiskered-warriors-a-look-at-uk-politicians-sporting-facial-hair/
Comments
Is that a slippery slope? 😉
David Blunkett, a British Labour politician had a beard back in the 90s. Beards were not common but not unknown amongst politicians back then.
I'm not aware of direct influences to and fro across the Pond as to whether politicians are bearded or not.
There are certainly some cultural trends that way, though. Neck-beards and so on.
Vance having a beard would make me think twice about growing one. I've grown one twice and always been relieved when I shaved it off.
Even companies like Disney who would not let their front of house staff wear beards are now allowing them.
I think that part of the reason we are seeing more politicians with beards is because of this trend.