Reactions to My Tall Presidents Column

For Presidents' Day I wrote a column pointing out that since women got the vote in 1920, the taller candidate has won the popular vote 83% of the time. Before women voted, the taller candidate won only 45% of the elections.

Here are a few interesting comments I received from readers:

• Congratulations on your research finding regarding height of our candidates post and prior to woman getting to vote. I don't know enough about statistical math to really understand the significance of your finding. I do know that Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize based on a much weaker correlation. I told (my friend) Barbara about your finding. She smiled and proudly said, "Of course, we know the taller guy can beat up the shorter guy." I think your work on the correlation between the vote favoring tall candidates before and after women got the vote is very praise worthy. Good job!
• ... loved your blurb about President's height advantage. Makes you wonder if we need a tall woman to run. Maybe this is why Hillary was at a disadvantage as well as McCain.
• ...this is fairly fascinating stuff! Makes you think. I guess poor James Madison wouldn't have stood a chance today.

For the record, Madison was our shortest President, standing only 5'4"!