Politically wise, people born in the 1930s were truly the lost generation.

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Interesting point

You would think their sweet spot would have been the 1980s and 1990s, turning 50 and 60. But Reagan came along, after nearly swiping the nominating in 1976, and took advantage of Carter's predicament in 1980. Those 8 years were popular enough with the masses to enable an older vice president to succeed, and then a younger charismatic man swooped in and took it away in 1992.

That leads to 8 more years. Now the '30s born are a bit older once it reaches the new century. The '40s kids are taking those nominations early in the century then the '50s are bypassed entirely in favor of early '60s Obama.

I don't think any rationale applies. It just happened that way.