Obscure American history trivia

Not that far back.

 

Arthur?

 

I can't say for sure, but it's been within the last 60-75 years. Prior to the '60s, primaries weren't really a thing. All conventions were backroom deals, then the parties were told who their candidates were.

 

Probably Harry Truman or Ike.

 

McKinley - after him all Presidents won at least one "primary" (whether they were binding or not, whether they went on to win the general) .

 

Who is the oldest person to receive an electoral vote for POTUS?

 

Colin Powel in 2016?

 

For the primary question, I'll guess Ike. I believe he was drafted after Truman dropped out in 1952 and won the nomination at the convention. I'm sure he was unopposed in 1956. Before 1972, only a handful of states held primaries or caucuses.

 

Good one. "The Bully Pulpit" has some references to McKinley's patron, Mark Hanna, one of the more interesting figures in 19th-century politics. He was a force behind the series of Ohioans who got into the White House after the Civil War, most of all McKinley. Hanna called TR a madman who was only one life away from the presidency. Turns out he was right.

 

Ike won the NH primary as a write-in.

Teddy won a few primaries in 1912 after his presidency - actually NINE to Taft's 2,

 

Odd that Republicans haven't elected a lawyer POTUS since Nixon. Dems had a long stretch without one (Truman, JFK, LBJ and Carter were not lawyers) and then a long stretch of them (Clinton, Obama, Biden, hopefully Harris).

 

I don't care about lawyers. It's more disturbing the last real veteran we've elected was GHW Bush.
Post WWII:
Truman - Army
Ike - Army
Kennedy - Navy
LBJ - Navy
Nixon - Navy
Ford - Navy
Carter - Navy
Reagan - Army
Bush - Navy
Clinton - draft dodger
Bush - Texas Air Guard to avoid service in Vietnam
Obama - didn't volunteer
Trump - draft dodger
Biden - turned down for service