Presidency?

Question

I am 17years old. I plan to run for President of the United States in 20 years, what steps should I go through? Should I join the military, become an attorney?? I would really like some input because I belive a great President should be created by the people, for the people.

Answer 1

Start with being an American citizen born in the US over 35 years old. That's from the US Constitution.

Then you need to decide which political party you are leaning toward. Politicians can change parties, but it makes them look indecisive. How do you trust someone who was in one political party, the “enemy”, and switches to your side claiming to be a friend?

Presidents can come from ANY career. Ronald Regan was an actor. During the time he spent in the military, in WW2, he was making military “how to movies”, and buy war bonds ads. But, he was known as the "great communicator" and will be remembered as a great president. Whatever field you choose you need to be successful at it and most recent presidents have 4-year college degrees. Pick a really well known school like Yale or Harvard. It will give you a boost with most people, as they will think you are very intelligent. Take some political courses (history will help) and take some psychological courses so you can read and influence people, this is a primary characteristic of good politicians. You can also get involved in politics early, while in college. If you become a leader there then you would make a better future politician. You will also get a good introduction to politics and can start laying down the base work for your future career.

You might want to move to a state with a large population like Florida, or Texas. Presidential Candidates usually carry their own state in an election. If you were elected to office from that state then you will have a better chance of carrying that state in an election. You don’t have to be elected to office if you are active behind the scenes in the party, but avoid the danger of becoming a party “hack” or “yes man” you have to stand out.

A military career, as an officer (not a enlisted man—it is too hard to stand out), could be a good start, however service in the National Guard can be just as good. Make sure you actually show up for the Guard Meetings though, unlike our current President. If you are an officer then you will have the chance to lead people early in your career. Liberals and Democrats would prefer a light military background such as in the National Guard, while Conservatives and Republicans would prefer a person that went through the regular military. Also US Veterans would favor a candidate that served in the military (any branch); making it through Boot Camp will be very hard and a sure indicator that you are more than just the average woman. Leading people is a politician’s primary job, especially a president, so a career as an officer can give you that experience early. Other than that I would suggest a career where you can be seen publicly. People don't tend to vote for unknowns. More importantly the PARTY won’t select an unknown.

A Prosecutor with at good record would like very nice to Republicans, a military lawyer would also be an excellent route to take; defending the flag and all that. Democrats would prefer someone more liberal. Don't become a defense attorney though people think that they try to get the guilty people off. A famous actress would appeal more to liberals. As would someone active in liberal causes like Feed the Children or Doctors Without Borders. Most reporters have tendency to be liberal so a job as a photojournalist could open some doors, especially if your work is seen in a major magazine. Whatever career you chose you need to stand out, so pick a field that you can do well in and be seen by a lot of people.

Few presidents come from the unknown and get elected to the highest office in the land. Most are well known political figures that started out as governors or members of Congress. If you are have a tried and true political track record of getting elected then you have a proven track record and a political party would be willing to take a chance on you. You also would have a political background that they can point to and say you are experienced as well as a record on your political views.

Then there is the difficult to solve problem of not having foreign diplomacy experience. Every potential president has to face this. The incumbent can claim that you can’t be president because you have no experience in this area. It is sort of an impossible problem since the only way you can get that experience is to be president, but you can’t be president until you get that experience. Bill Clinton joined a foreign studies program so he was in Oxford England for a time; it gave him some foreign experience, but not a lot. A photojournalist would see a lot more countries and a lot of hot spots in the world. They would also have the chance to meet with some of those countries leaders. It isn’t much, but every bit helps. Ambassadorships are rewards given to political supporters and rarely lead to anything else. They are also a common way to get rid of someone who is a political troublemaker. With the invention of the telephone they aren’t really needed, so their position is more of an honorary one; you don’t want to be an ambassador.

Then there is the money. It would help a lot if you were rich. A political campaign is one of the most expensive things a person can do, campaigns spend money like water. EVERY successful politician has to raise a lot of money to get elected. You would need to court people and win them over so they will give you their money for you election bid. The best advertisement a political party has is the face of their candidate. Again, look to a successful college career where you can make friends with some rich and powerful people, they will be more likely to donate to your cause. Someone who knows you and what you stand for better than a friend? If they trust you in college, and if you keep that friendship going after graduation, then they can be a good source of money. It’s a bit of a crude way to earn money, but that is one of the largest concerns for a political party. When the money runs out then the campaign stalls and you slip out of view from the public. Publicity is critical to a political campaign.

Your timetable is too short. Remember that when a person becomes president then after 4 or 8 years they are retired, and become known as “elder statesmen.” They don’t stop doing things, but the do not have a regular job. Most of their time is spent helping other politicians or giving advice to other businessmen. Then there are the causes that they support; Jimmy Carter is famous for his charity Habitat for Humanity, but he only is able to spend a few days every year doing actual construction.

A politician requires a long track record to establish herself, she needs to be in the public eye, a popular and well known person who is active in politics. It takes a while to do all this. It can be shortened, but most presidents have a successful job history before trying to get elected. You need to start early, what political office do you currently hold in your school? You don’t have to be president, but you have to be on their staff or an officer. Getting involved in preparations for the school dance can be a place to start, you defiantly want to work on the senior prom. Also this early taste of politics will give you valuable experience and it will let you know if you want to continue. If you find that you hate the “unwashed masses” then you probably don’t want to be a politician. Find this out early so you won’t waste your time.

You also need a stellar personal life. Your rivals will go back into your past looking for any “dirt” that they can lay on you. Never, ever, visit a psychiatrist because that has destroyed the careers of at least two politicians. Be careful with whom you have sex with and don’t get arrested. Think of yourself as a potential president and whenever you do something look at it through that point of view. Would you want a president that did that deed? Would a criminal become president, how about someone who drank and drive, or someone who did drugs? President Clinton smoked marijuana while in England. He claimed in his campaign that he never did any drugs, but someone found out he did, so he was forced to face it. He didn’t’ want to tell people that he did drugs, he didn’t want to look like a liar, and his rivals had a witness to his act. So he fell back on the lame excuse, “I smoked it, but I never inhaled.” If you do something that you would regret later then count on it being brought out in a nasty election. President Nixon even had people break into the records of a psychiatrist to find the dirt on a rival Democrat. That act came back to haunt him and finally drove him out of office before he got impeached.

When I was in the military (US Army 8 years) I was investigated for a Top Secret Clearance. The FBI came to the houses of people that I knew in my neighborhood and talked with them, they asked those people for the names of other people that knew me and the FBI talked with them. Then they checked my credit record, my school records, my criminal record and so on. WHEN you run for a major office the investigation into your background will be just as through, when you try for the presidency then the investigation will be even more though than that, and it won’t be by the FBI (although they have done in the past) these investigations will be made by your enemies.

A woman should be a president, but to do that you need to get started early in life and take a long road to get there. Dr. Condoleezza Rice is a popular potential candidate for president. She is very smart, she has a doctorate, she is a very trusted aid to President Bush, and with her Cabinet post she has that hard to get foreign diplomatic experience. She has set a good example for you to follow. Look into the history of the Presidents ever since John Kennedy—he was the youngest president we ever had. Find out what he did right (being rich and from a politically active family helped a lot) and what other presidents after him did wrong. The Vietnam War cost President Johnson his job. He was never elected to office, (he was President Kennedy’s Vice President) and when election time came he decided to not run for President. The hatred the country had for the war was enough to insure he would never be elected. Look at what those Presidents did before they were elected and remember that now days ANYTHING you do can be found and discovered by someone who is willing to look hard enough for it.

If Condoleezza Rice ran for president she would be a serious candidate, and could make a very good run. She hasn’t said that she wants to be president, but she hasn’t said no either. Telling people that you want to be president shows a pretty big ego, but getting people to ASK you to run for president is a political coup that would be hard to beat. People like those who are humble will win more support than an egotist. If she is thinking about being president (and I think she may make a good one, if she had Colin Powel as her running mate I would vote for her) then she is a genus (and I am fairly sure she is at least a near-genus). I think that she is strong enough to beat Hillary Clinton. I would study her life closely, and take some clues from that. Then look at Hillary Clinton’s career (she was a partner in the Rose Law firm). She was unofficially Bill Clinton’s co-president, but when she got involved in an effort to establish a National Health Care program she was seen as going beyond her position as First Lady. A lot of people still remember that and wouldn’t vote for because of it. She moved to New York (a state with at large population) and got elected to be a Senator. It is common knowledge that she did this to put her into position to make a run for the presidency. You might want to plan on doing some things she did, and avoiding her mistakes.

Answer 2

The best step to take if you can is to go to Law School. Why! Because, believe it or not, the Government is Run by the Laws and make the Laws so the better understanding you have of the Laws the Better off you are as a President, Senator, or Representative. Like you wrote that the Man has said, "The Government was created by the People, For the People and should always stay that way!

Answer 3

What you can do immediately is become involved in your community with local politics...probably thru your local councilperson...there are many elections coming up so this is a great time to volunteer in someones campaign...then look around your neighborhood...what would you like to see done or different? Is there a park that needs to be cleaned up or needs new equipment? Could your neighborhood us a stop sign, stop light or crosswalk somewhere where there isn't one right now? New park equipment or picnic tables? A recreation center? A library? Even a mobile library? Decide on something like that, or something similar, and begin asking around in your neighborhood to see if anyone shares your views...and then go to your councilperson with a proposal......as far as education goes, I would recommend college as a Political Science major...you can decide on law school from there....as far as going into the military goes, that is no longer a direct route to the presidency as it has been in the past...it would be best to get into a military college......good luck with your goal....I hope you succeed...

Answer 4

Going in the military will not hurt you! You will get a feel of what the military personel go through and you might think twice about sending people to war. Education and politics would definently help you get into the running. Get your education and run for local office. Maybe mayor and then run for senate.

Good luck with your dreams and goals. Do not give up on them!

Answer 5

It does seem a law degree is important in politics. I don't feel joining the military is necessary. However, becoming a war hero does boost your chances.

Personally, I look for a well rounded education and a love for your country. I would vote for someone who puts country before party. I will never vote for a C+ President again.

Answer 6

Hey lace, whatever you do, don't do heroic or humanitarian things cuz you'll get smeared! Just have the right rhetoric and lie as often as you can. Never mean what you say and learn to hate those whose opinions differ from yours. If you do these things and run on the republican ticket, you'll win the presidency. You have to be honest, fair and caring to be a democrat but you'll never win elections. Sorry.

Answer 7

An understanding of Law is good but Political science is good too. Best of Luck I don't think I would want that job. To many back seat drivers telling you everything you do wrong.

Answer 8

a president should be well rounded, with military service, travel both inside the US and to foreign countries, experience life as lived by people in all walks of life, compassion and able to keep her/his religious belief s out of the governments business.

Answer 9

Most politicians are lawyers (as scary as that may seem), so that may be the best place to go.

I applaud you though, you're very ambitious. my main goal when I was 17 was to get high and find girls to make out with.

Answer 10

How wonderful!! good on you girl.
It would be better to do Law.And lots of it!
America needs a woman President...BIG TIME.

Answer 11

~Have a credible service record and voting record.
~Study law and follow obey it.
~Know your enemy--not through your personal prejudices, but through actual research.
~Know yourself--what pushes your buttons? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
~Admit when you are wrong.