Why no more Catholics in the White House?

[pragmatic liberal]

When JFK was elected in 1960, there was still a great deal of anti-Catholicism throughout the country.

These days, that is virtually a thing of the past. Catholics are nearly completely integrated with the White Protestant majority and are solidly represented throughout politics, the business world and the professional classes.

So it seems odd that 48 years after JFK was elected we still have not had another Catholic president.

Of course, John Kerry came close in 2004, but even so, he was only the second Catholic major-party nominee.

Why so few?

My theory is that since 1964, Southerners and Westerners have dominated presidential nominations, and Catholics are concentrated in the Midwest and the Northeast.

[pragmatic liberal]

When JFK was elected in 1960, there was still a great deal of anti-Catholicism throughout the country.

These days, that is virtually a thing of the past. Catholics are nearly completely integrated with the White Protestant majority and are solidly represented throughout politics, the business world and the professional classes.

So it seems odd that 48 years after JFK was elected we still have not had another Catholic president.

Of course, John Kerry came close in 2004, but even so, he was only the second Catholic major-party nominee.

Why so few?

My theory is that since 1964, Southerners and Westerners have dominated presidential nominations, and Catholics are concentrated in the Midwest and the Northeast.

Note: John Kerry was the third Catholic major party nominee.  Al Smith was the first.

Of course. I meant Kerry was only the second Catholic nominee since Kennedy.

[pragmatic liberal]

something to think about I don't think America has ever had an Italian catholic president

Uh...something you have to "think" about? Our only Catholic President was John F. Kennedy - obviously an Irish Catholic. I think that answers it.

Wait, Jindal is Catholic? My uncle told me he was Hindu.

Yes, he's Catholic.

Yup. He was born Hindu but converted to Catholicism in high school.

[pragmatic liberal]

I'm pretty sure we've not had ANY Italian-American president, nor any president with Italian ancestry.

The top prospects would have been...

Gov. John Volpe (R-Mass.) -- Mass. governor in the '60s, he made Nixon's VP shortlist. Had he been picked, he'd have been president instead of Gerald Ford.

Gov. Mario Cuomo (D-N.Y.) -- Never ran, but had he run in '88 or '92, he'd probably have won the Democratic nomination and may have won either time (although I think he'd have had a close race both times).

Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NYC) -- Obviously, his presidential campaign was an epic failure. Also, as far as I know, he isn't a practicing Catholic.

[pragmatic liberal]

Joe Biden is a Catholic.

Ha!  Good one.

If I'm not mistaken, Biden would be the first Catholic VICE-president.

Since JFK, there have been 6 Catholic VP nominees:

1964: William Miller (R)
1968: Ed Muskie (D)
1972: Tom Eagleton (D) -- removed from ticket
1972: Sargent Shriver (D)
1984: Geraldine Ferraro (D)
2008: Joe Biden