who gets to be president? (flashback)

[lobolance]

I was listening to a John Mellencamp song, which was a series of letters written to the president (of the USA). I had a sudden flashback to being in sixth grade, and reading about how anyone could be president. As long as they were a male U.S. natural-born citizen over 35 years of age.

wtf?

I remember having quite a bunch of emotional reactions to that datum. And now I'm wondering... was the 'male' part just part of the teacher's assertion? Except when I imagine looking at the text book, I see the word 'male'. Was it an assumption of those who made the text book (reflective of the times)? Was there a law that said as much at some point? (I would guess not, as it just *was* everyone's assumption until ... a bit after the time I was in sixth grade).

It is very odd to suddenly feel ignorant on the topic.

Comments

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

If I recall correctly, you and I are of an age. And I'm pretty sure that it did say 'male' at some point, because I remember thinking 'This isn't right, why can't I be president?' But I may be misremembering it.

[didjiman.livejournal.com]

Well, remember women can't vote until the '20s.... who knows what kind of archaic "you must be" lurks in our law books...

[feri-hearted.livejournal.com]

according to this website it isnt
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec1

but I seem to remember that also. I am sure our founding fathers meant to say only white men or maybe it was assumed because only they were considered "citizens" at the time. But I do recall textbooks that said males that were natural born citizens, 35 or older that were eligible to vote.

I think it was very reflective of the times.

And they forgot to write rich and well connected :(

[lobolance.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reference. Yeah, the rest I think was the assumptions of the time (which as you note, went even further than 'male', though I think they were trying to tell us in school that "anyone" had the opportunity to be prez in the US... the idea of the 'self-made man' of American idealism... leaving time to show us a lot more about how things really work (hereditary connections, wealth, etc).