Lifespan of Presidential Children
I.) Realized Life Span of Presidential Children
The following figures reflect the life expectancy of presidential children compared to the general public. Column one shows all presidential children. Included in this number are children born after the president has left office and is no longer in the spotlight or children who are grown adults when their father is elected.
Theoretically, presidential children should have longer than average life spans because they experience a better than average lifestyle and earn a better than average education, both factors that affect life expectancy.
The second column shows the life span of presidential children based on their age at the time of their father's inauguration. This shows the impact of stress associated with living a public life. To determine life expectancy for the various ages I drew on data from the charts developed by Robert Gilbert in his work The Mortal Presidency.
These numbers exclude the childhood death factor. Such deaths are fairly random and introduce wide swings in the averages. For example, life expectancies in the 18th and 19th centuries were lowered drastically by childhood mortality rates. Once a person got beyond the very early years, the expectancy more reasonably approximated a "normal" life. Example: Life expectancy at birth in 1800 was 35.2 but those surviving the teen years had an average life of 55.3 years.
The following figures reflect the life expectancy of presidential children compared to the general public. Column one shows all presidential children. Included in this number are children born after the president has left office and is no longer in the spotlight or children who are grown adults when their father is elected.
Theoretically, presidential children should have longer than average life spans because they experience a better than average lifestyle and earn a better than average education, both factors that affect life expectancy.
The second column shows the life span of presidential children based on their age at the time of their father's inauguration. This shows the impact of stress associated with living a public life. To determine life expectancy for the various ages I drew on data from the charts developed by Robert Gilbert in his work The Mortal Presidency.
These numbers exclude the childhood death factor. Such deaths are fairly random and introduce wide swings in the averages. For example, life expectancies in the 18th and 19th centuries were lowered drastically by childhood mortality rates. Once a person got beyond the very early years, the expectancy more reasonably approximated a "normal" life. Example: Life expectancy at birth in 1800 was 35.2 but those surviving the teen years had an average life of 55.3 years.
Presidential Children
Years lived beyond or less than the general public
All Live Births
Based on their age at Inauguration
Males
+7.4
+0.9
Females
+1.5
- 3.0
All Children
+0.5
- 1.2
Years lived beyond or less than the general public
All Live Births
Based on their age at Inauguration
Males
+7.4
+0.9
Females
+1.5
- 3.0
All Children
+0.5
- 1.2
II.) The difference between early American and more recent life spans of presidential children
The following chart shows stats for the pre- and post-Civil War Era, using the Grant administration as the dividing line. There are quite radical differences between the two eras that might bare further analysis. Modern presidential parenting is benefiting from new ideas and the children may be learning how to better cope. Modern presidential children are getting excellent educations and business opportunities. They are marrying well. First ladies are getting federal pensions. All these factors may have had some impact.
The following chart shows stats for the pre- and post-Civil War Era, using the Grant administration as the dividing line. There are quite radical differences between the two eras that might bare further analysis. Modern presidential parenting is benefiting from new ideas and the children may be learning how to better cope. Modern presidential children are getting excellent educations and business opportunities. They are marrying well. First ladies are getting federal pensions. All these factors may have had some impact.
A. All Males:
exceeded expected life span by… mean/average: 0.9 years median 2.5 years
Pre-U.S. Grant:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 6.0 years median: 4.5 years
U.S. Grant administration and later:
exceeded expected life span by… mean/average: 7.3 years median: 13.4 years
B. All Females:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 3.0 years median: 5.4 years
Pre-U.S. Grant:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 11.9 years median: 15.2 years
U.S. Grant administration and later:
exceeded expected life span by…. mean/average: 5.3 years median: 10.0 years
C. All Children:
fell below expected life span by…. mean/average: 1.2 years median: 2.5 years
Pre-U.S. Grant:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 8.9 years median: 11.5 years
U.S. Grant administration and later:
exceeded expected life span by… mean/average: 6.8 years median: 13.0 years
Note: If a child was below the age of 20 at the father's inauguration, I used the life expectancy of that person at age 20 for two reasons:
1. Tables for persons under age of 20, except "at-birth" tables do not exist before the 20th century and would be highly speculative.
2. This figure gives a reasonable life expectancy for a person who has gotten past the pitfalls of childhood diseases that were so devastating in the 18th and 19th centuries.
exceeded expected life span by… mean/average: 0.9 years median 2.5 years
Pre-U.S. Grant:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 6.0 years median: 4.5 years
U.S. Grant administration and later:
exceeded expected life span by… mean/average: 7.3 years median: 13.4 years
B. All Females:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 3.0 years median: 5.4 years
Pre-U.S. Grant:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 11.9 years median: 15.2 years
U.S. Grant administration and later:
exceeded expected life span by…. mean/average: 5.3 years median: 10.0 years
C. All Children:
fell below expected life span by…. mean/average: 1.2 years median: 2.5 years
Pre-U.S. Grant:
fell below expected life span by… mean/average: 8.9 years median: 11.5 years
U.S. Grant administration and later:
exceeded expected life span by… mean/average: 6.8 years median: 13.0 years
Note: If a child was below the age of 20 at the father's inauguration, I used the life expectancy of that person at age 20 for two reasons:
1. Tables for persons under age of 20, except "at-birth" tables do not exist before the 20th century and would be highly speculative.
2. This figure gives a reasonable life expectancy for a person who has gotten past the pitfalls of childhood diseases that were so devastating in the 18th and 19th centuries.
