In a tightly contested race, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump believes JD Vance has what it takes to emerge victorious.
Vance would also bring a unique feature to the White House: a beard. Facial hair.
According to the Wall Street Journal — there is an actual article about this — the last president with facial hair was Harry Truman, though there doesn’t seem to be any photographic evidence. The last full beard was sported by Benjamin Harrison.
It has been so long since facial hair has been seen in the White House that last week Fox News questioned Donald Trump about whether it could affect a VP selection.
“No, I’ve never heard that one,” Trump replied on “The Brian Kilmeade Show.” “He looks like a young Abraham Lincoln.”
Similar to Vance, a young Lincoln did not initially have a beard until a girl advised him that he looked unattractive without one. Today, it is difficult to imagine Honest Abe without his iconic beard.
Researcher Sarah Mittal specializes in studying the impact of beards in the sales and service industry. She states that facial hair signifies that a man is more masculine, intelligent, and robust.
“People interpret the presence of a beard as an indication that you are likely to be more experienced and trustworthy,” said Mittal, who serves as the director of the U.S. Behavioral Science Center at Ipsos North America.
The last VP to have whiskers in the White House was Charles Curtis from 1929 to 1933; since then, all have been clean-shaven. Even Al Gore waited until he left office.
But currently, facial hair is experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
And when November arrives with no-shave November, the outcome of the election could be determined by a whisker.
