Political longevity

[CLARENCE 2015!]

There has been a lot of talk this campaign about Newt's longevity as a national figure... headlines in 94 and dominating the headlines for a bit in 2011 and 2012... this got me to thinking who in American politics history has had the longest period of national prominence...we are talking consitantly in the mix- however you define that- for the longest time

You have Newt 1994-2012
Reagan 1964-1989
Hilllary-1992 to present
FDR- 1920-1945

But I believe the one with the longest longevity may be Henry Clay- first Speaker of the House in 1811, and was Speaker, Senator, or Secretary of State and Presidnetial contender to his death in 1852- four decades of being a major national political figure

Who do you all think takes the cake for political longevity...

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I was gonna say Henry Clay til you mentioned him. I'll be thinking about it. Wondering if John Adams (1774-1801) might count or not. And if not him, one of his successors from the Era of Good Feelings.

[RogueBeaver]

Richard Nixon was a national figure for almost his entire political career and after - over 40 years. Ted Kennedy for nearly half a century.

[RogueBeaver]

Robert Byrd, though I don't know at precisely what point he became a national figure.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The Great Triumverate, obviously.

Ted Kennedy would be up there as well, along with Robert Byrd (he probably went national in the early 70's)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Giulio Andreotti. There. The thread is now over.

[The Mikado]

Giulio Andreotti. There. The thread is now over.

If we're using foreign figures, Shimon Peres is pretty impressive, too.  Especially since he's been pretty worthless his entire career.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Possibilities:
Bob Dole 1970's-1996
Nelson Rockefeller 1950's-1976
FDR 1920-1945
Teddy Roosevelt 1880's-1919
Hebert Hoover WWI-1940's

[Хahar 🤔]

Billy Hughes is another one; he was made Foreign Minister in 1904 and led the United Australia Party as late as 1943.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Could ol' Winston count? He got into Parliament in 1900 & was leading a party a half century later.

[Psychic Octopus]

How about Charles Evans Hughes? 1906-1941 is a pretty impressive run, considering that along the way he was Governor of New York, Secretary of State, and Chief Justice.

And no one has mentioned any of the founders (besides Adams)? Washington from the beginning of the revolution to his death. Jefferson was prominent from 1776 until his death. It's somewhat hard to pinpoint Ben Franklin's rise to prominence, since he is more than a political figure, but obviously him as well.

[tpfkaw]

Thomas Jefferson (1776-1810s)
John C. Calhoun (1817-1850)
Jerry Brown (1976-present)

[Jerseyrules]

Thomas Jefferson (1776-1810s)
John C. Calhoun (1817-1850)
Jerry Brown (1976-present)

Ima gonna beat you all:

Hirohito.  Case closed.  The end.  Buh-bye!

[Јas]

Eamon de Valera 1916-1973

Anyway, one currently abodes in a continent where some of the above examples would be regarded as quite normal. Biya, dos Santos, Obiang, Mugabe, Musevani, Compaoré, al-Bashir, Déby, Zenawi and Mswati have all been turning up to African Union summits for over 20 years now.


The Economist put up an interesting map up the other day:

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Robert Byrd, though I don't know at precisely what point he became a national figure.

100% agree on Byrd. I'd say 1965ish-2010. George Washington if you count prior military experience in the Seven Years War (1750's-1799).

[Jerseyrules]

But I won....

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

But I won....

Nope...
Sobhuza II of Swaziland

[minionofmidas]

All time winner

[Jerseyrules]

All time winner

Hmmm...