Does height and name influence who is President

I hope you will pardon me for reposting this list from another thread but I think presidential trivia is not only entertaining but can sometimes be informative.

The information I got on presidential heights is from something I read in the 1970s.

In all the presidential elections prior to 1972 -- the winners were the taller of the two major party candidates. There may have been a taller third party, but that doesn't count.

1972 I think McGovern was tallest, but am not sure. If so Nixon was the first shorter man to win.
1976 Carter may have been the first shorter candidate to win.
1980 Reagan was taller than Carter
1984 Reagan was taller than Mondale.
1988 GHW Bush was taller than Dukakis
1992 Clinton taller than Bush
1996 Clinton taller than Dole
2000 Gore taller than Bush (and he polled the most votes)
2004 Kerry was taller than Bush.

There is another thing that has always fascinated me. And that is that almost all the winning candidates prior to the 1970s was the one with the MOST syllables in his name. Not ALWAYS, but there is a strong tendency. His name being the one people referred to him as. For instance if Algonquin Theodore Smith was known as Al Smith, then he had two syllables. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Not FDR) never lost.

For instance in recent years, Bill Clinton beat Bob Dole and George Bush. George W Bush beat Al Gore and John Kerry. George Bush vs Dukakis is the only glaring exception but Dukakis was a LOT shorter than Bush.

in the 1960s John F Kennedy beat Richard Nixon.

So what does this tell us concerning the 2008 election ? Avoid Chris Dodd and hope the GOP doesn't choose Rudolph Giuliani.

Dennis Kucinich looks good if we could get him to stand on a box. Especially against Ron Paul or even John McCain.

Seriously, I honestly thing had the campaign of 2000 featured George Bush vs Albert Gore (rather than AL Gore) Gore would have polled a much larger majority. My advise to people referring to Democratic candidates --- please ELONGATE the person's name.

but neither is written into stone.

As long as they prefer Democrats for the next few cycles, the country has a chance at survival, no matter what the name or height might be.

Our president is elected by popular vote, not by IQ test, or any measurable skills.

Even our polls reflect this.

Polls do not ask who has the best leadership skills, or best experience in foreign policy, or who is most capable.

Instead, polls ask about a candidate's Approval rating or Favorability.

Father of the Constitution and fourth President of the United States, not too shabby.

except his name is too short.