Has a divorced man ever been elected president?

[CatWoman]

First, let me say that it seems Kerry is the man.

I don't know how I feel about that. Right now, anyway.

However, do you think that the fact that he is divorced will play into the right wing "family values" crowd as an avenue for attack?

I know, I know -- who are they to talk.

But has this country ever elected a man who has been divorced?

And what's the masculine term for divorcee :shrug:

[AP]

1. Ron Reagan.

[Don Claybrook]

4. Yes. He was married to Jane Wyman before NanSezNo n/t

[Damn Hippie]

7. But Reagan

was a "democrat" when he divorced.

[RogueTrooper]

2. Yes

Ronnie was a divorcee

[Ninga]

3. Ronald Regan

[hatrack]

5. Wilson was a widower, Cleveland had a mistress . . .

But I can't think of any divorced presidents aside from Reagan.

[XNASA]

6. I found an interesting list while looking for the answer.

http://www.heptune.com/preslist.html

Reagan is the only US President who has been divorced.

But check-out some of the other lists. They're pretty interesting.

[CatWoman]

9. you're right --

that's a very cool site.

bookmarked.

thanks. :hi:

[BigBigBear]

26. That site says Reagan

fought in WW2. I don't think that's accurate.

[union_maid]

8. Reagan opened that door

Funny how the American mind works. Reagan was our big family values president and he was the first divorced president. I always thought that was funny, in an ironic, not to say tragic, kind of way. I think now divorce is just one less positive, but not actually a negative.

[spooky3]

11. I agree, and wish more people did not see it as a negative, for those who

are NOT runnning around preaching to everyone else. There are worse things than being divorced, and that's staying in a bad marriage or having sweeties on the side, which a lot of people do. It would be nice if our society would simply accept everyone and a variety of lifestyles, and understand there is some choice and there is some circumstance (the cards you have been dealt) in every situation.

[stopbush]

12. Yes, Regan was a big hypocrite that the Rs & media embraced and

covered for.

Mr Family Values:

• only divorced president
• ignored his children and was basically out of touch with them for most of his presidency
• invoked god's name all the time but never went to church
• had no trouble breaking laws when it suited his purposes
• ran on a "Carter is mortgaging our children's future" platform - and then turned the US into a debtor nation

One could go on and on, but, as Cheney sez, you can do ANYTHING, no matter how sleazy or illegal, as long as Raygun "proved" it didn't matter.

[molly]

14. But he did produce Ron Jr. who I absolutely adore!

the guy is smart and funny and in no way shape or form resembles his paternity.

[robsul82]

15. Really.

Nancy must've gone somewhere else to be able to have Ronnie Jr., I just don't see that coming from Ronald at all.

Later.

RJS

[stopbush]

16. Oh, yeah, the "good" Ron Reagan is a super guy.

Big bush basher. What did he say on TV? "The difference between Reagan and bush is that Reagan was a MAN. Bush couldn't carry my dad's shorts" or something like that.

An apple who definitely fell far from the tree.

[izzie]

13. Well look at the history of the Bush family and birth control etc.

n/t

[spooky3]

10. Divorcé is masculine; divorcée is feminine, but the term is

disliked by a lot of people, especially since it tends to be used only with women (as your question implies!) and defines them by marital status. I KNOW you are not doing this, I'm just adding some more info.

It's like referring to people with mental or physical disabilities as "the handicapped." A subtle point maybe, but important to some.

[CatWoman]

21. I looked it up in the dictionary

as I was composing this thread.

It lists no such term for the male persuasion, only lists reference for females.

especially since it tends to be used only with women (as your question implies!)

That's why I asked.

If anyone would know, it would be someone here on DU.

[spooky3]

25. Yes, I was not criticizing you,

in case my earlier post was unclear I am saying it here. The dictionary makes my point about one reason why the term is less than ideal--that women but not men are defined by marital status, and negatively viewed if that status is "divorced." Those wild women...or worthless rejects :-)

The term "divorcé" is borrowed from the French, who make many terms feminine by adding an e to the end, e.g., ami, amie (friend).

[LizW]

17. a related question

Granted, this would certainly be none of my business if Kerry were not running for president, but he is, so:

Is Kerry not Catholic? How can he be Catholic and divorced and remarried? I know there are ways to do it and remain in the Catholic Church. Did he avail himself of those means?

[Dark Star]

23. Yes, he is.

He must have had his first marriage annulled. :shrug:

[JI7]

18. Kerry has a great family

kerry has a great relationship with his stepsons and kerry's daughters have a great one with their stepmother. they all campaigned for him. and i'm sure they helped in getting others to vote for him. on family values kerry's family is way superior to bush's.

[davidinalameda]

19. how can you forget Ronnie Raygun and Jane Wyman

:shrug:

[CatWoman]

22. Heh

er, because Reagan himself is so "unforgettable"??kk

:D

[oasis]

20. Jane Wyman was also "well off" financially.

[question everything]

24. The hypocrisy of the "family value" Republicans

Reagan
Bob Dole
Phil Gramm
Newt Gringrich
Pete Wilson (former CA governor with presidential aspirations)

Bill and Hillary Clinton - first marriage each

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. No one has ever been elected President whose last name started with 'D'