Heightism and Presidential Elections

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About 25 years ago, I read a fascinating book that identified many odd correlations. I can't remember the name of the book. One of the more striking correlations was the influence of height on presidential elections. As I recall, the correlation was that in presidential elections, if there was more than a 4" height difference, the tallest candidate ALWAYS won (all the candidates being white men). I'm sure this result does not surprise those who are shorter than average. There is an bias (often unconscious) in favor of height in so many places.

I think Gore is taller than Bush but not by four inches, so this may not be a factor in the 2000 election. But it seems that the parties don't know about this trend or the Dems would never have nominated Dukakis in 1988 and they should have nominated Bradley in 2000. In 1948, both parties nominated little guys (Truman and Dewey) so it was not an issue then either.

I have searched the Net for this correlation but cannot find it. It's probably in there but I don't know how to phrase the search.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), October 30, 2000

Answers

It's not just presidents who tend to be tall, Lars. I have heard this complaint about everything from County Commissioners to lawyers to bb players (duh)

I'm six foot six, and I'll tell you that it's not as wonderful as short people may think. I don't fit into most beds, cars, trucks, airplanes, etc. I like to travel, but I suffer. It also seems the airlines always give the seats with extra legroom to short people, too, for some reason.

JOJ

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), October 30, 2000.


Artist: Randy Newman

Album: Little CriminalsT

Title: Short People

Short People got no reason, Short People got no reason

Short People got no reason To live

They got little hands, And little eyes

And they walk around Tellin' great big lies

They got little noses, And tiny little teeth

They wear platform shoes On their nasty little feet

Well I don't want no Short People, Don't want no Short People

Don't want no Short People Round here

Short People are just the same As you and I

A Fool Such As I)

All men are brothers Until the day they die

(It's A Wonderful World)

Short People got nobody, Short People got nobody

Short People got nobody To love

They got little baby legs And they stand so low

You got to pick 'em up Just to say hello

They got little cars That got beep, beep, beep

They got little voices Goin' peep, peep, peep

They got grubby little fingers And dirty little minds

They're gonna get you every time

Well, I don't want no Short People, Don't want no Short People

Don't want no Short People 'Round here

http://www.lyrichound.com/lyrics/r/randy%20newman%20-%20short% 20people.txt

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 30, 2000.


I don't see why tall people think that being short is all that much fun. There are lots of things that we have trouble with. For instance We can't find pants that fit because they are too long, It is just as hard for us to find cars where the seat will move up far enough so that we can reach the pedal and the steering wheel to come down far enough to see over. Lets not even go into detail about ceiling fans and light switches. We also have trouble with Book and store shelves. Amusement park rides, restaurant booths, phone booths, closets,windows, micrphones and podiums, track/running, emloyer discrimination and the fact that tall people hardly ever look down to look for people, so you might as well forget about being noticed by them. So as you can see short people have a hard time making it in this society that we live in.

-- Courtney Sue (angelcourts@hotmail.com), November 26, 2002.

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