I am currently reading a book called Manhunt: The 12 Day Search For Lincoln’s Killer by James Swanson. You can probably divine from the subtitle that the book details the search, which took place over twelve days, for John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.
While perusing this volume, I came across a photo of Edwin McMasters Stanton. Stanton was Lincoln’s secretary of war, and the man who largely directed the manhunt. This got me thinking about facial hair and politicians. I’ve noticed this before, but American politicians are invariably clean-shaven. African-American politicians can get away with some facial hair, but it has to be subtle and discreet. A well-groomed mustache or goatee, perhaps. However, few white politicians in 21st century America would actually go out on the campaign trail for a major office sporting any kind of beard or mustache, regardless of how mainstream or well-groomed it was.
Compare this to Latin America, where politicians almost always have facial hair. In fact, it seems that Latin men frequently grow a mustache when they get to a certain age, to declare their maturity and gravitas. Most of the presidents and high-ranking politicians in Latin America have a ‘stache, and if they are leftists, they frequently have beards (like Luis Inacio da Silva of Brazil). There are a few exceptions to this rule, including Alan Garcia of Peru, Nestor Kirchner of Argentina, and, obviously, Michelle Bachelet of Chile.
As far as I can determine, the last American president with facial hair was William Howard Taft, whose orotund face was graced by a handlebar mustache. From Woodrow Wilson on, they have all been clean-shaven. I wonder how this started. Perhaps presidential candidates wished to distance themselves from the mediocre and forgettable heads of state of the late 19th century, nearly all of whom had beards. Whatever the reason, it is remarkable indeed to compare the dearth of facial hair on politicians today with the hirsute funkiness protruding from the chin of Secretary Stanton in the attached picture. This was one of the most powerful and distinguished statesmen of his day; a man who was largely responsible for directing the martial efforts of the Union in defeating the Confederacy. Yet today, if you saw someone with that peculiar agglomeration of whiskers, you would probably assume he worked at a record store.
While perusing this volume, I came across a photo of Edwin McMasters Stanton. Stanton was Lincoln’s secretary of war, and the man who largely directed the manhunt. This got me thinking about facial hair and politicians. I’ve noticed this before, but American politicians are invariably clean-shaven. African-American politicians can get away with some facial hair, but it has to be subtle and discreet. A well-groomed mustache or goatee, perhaps. However, few white politicians in 21st century America would actually go out on the campaign trail for a major office sporting any kind of beard or mustache, regardless of how mainstream or well-groomed it was.
Compare this to Latin America, where politicians almost always have facial hair. In fact, it seems that Latin men frequently grow a mustache when they get to a certain age, to declare their maturity and gravitas. Most of the presidents and high-ranking politicians in Latin America have a ‘stache, and if they are leftists, they frequently have beards (like Luis Inacio da Silva of Brazil). There are a few exceptions to this rule, including Alan Garcia of Peru, Nestor Kirchner of Argentina, and, obviously, Michelle Bachelet of Chile.
As far as I can determine, the last American president with facial hair was William Howard Taft, whose orotund face was graced by a handlebar mustache. From Woodrow Wilson on, they have all been clean-shaven. I wonder how this started. Perhaps presidential candidates wished to distance themselves from the mediocre and forgettable heads of state of the late 19th century, nearly all of whom had beards. Whatever the reason, it is remarkable indeed to compare the dearth of facial hair on politicians today with the hirsute funkiness protruding from the chin of Secretary Stanton in the attached picture. This was one of the most powerful and distinguished statesmen of his day; a man who was largely responsible for directing the martial efforts of the Union in defeating the Confederacy. Yet today, if you saw someone with that peculiar agglomeration of whiskers, you would probably assume he worked at a record store.
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