Whether you’re taking the day off (government employment) or pulling a double shift (the dreaded private sector), happy Presidents Day from the Southwest Public Policy Institute.
Let’s face it — our region hasn’t played a big part in presidential history. Only three men born in the American Southwest (i.e., Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, California, and Nevada) have served as chief executive. Can you name them all?
Bonus question: Two men born in the region were major-party presidential nominees, but failed to prevail at the ballot box. Name them. (Hints: One lost the presidency twice, and the other was born in a territory, not a state.)
The good news is, as the region grows in population (and thus, Electoral College clout), the unique concerns of the American Southwest — from water to federal control of land, energy production to the border with Mexico — are likely to play a larger role in presidential politics. The SPPI looks forward to educating candidates (or at least their staffers) on “our” issues.
2 replies on “Hail to the American Southwest”
Presidents from the Southwest are George Bush Jr., Ronald Reagan, and Lyndon Johnson.
Can’t say I know the 2 Southwesterners who lost at the ballot box.
Thanks for playing. But we asked about the presidents’ places of birth. The Gipper was from Illinois, and Bush 43 was born in my home state of Connecticut.
LBJ was born in Texas, Richard Nixon was born on “the poorest lemon ranch in Southern California,” and Ike was born in Texas just before his family moved to Kansas.
As for the two non-winners, Adlai Stevenson was born in Los Angeles and Barry Goldwater was born in the Territory of Arizona.