Who was the youngest elected president?

Who was the youngest elected president?

• A. John F. Kennedy
• B. Theodore Roosevelt
• C. Bill Clinton
• D. Barack Obama

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is the distinction between being the youngest to assume the presidency and being the youngest to be elected to the presidency. Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901 after McKinley’s assassination, at age 42, so he was the youngest to hold the office. But he wasn’t elected to that first term; he won election later in 1904 at about age 46. John F. Kennedy, elected in 1960 and inaugurated in 1961 at age 43, is the youngest person ever elected to the presidency. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were older at their inaugurations (46 and 47, respectively). So the youngest elected president is John F. Kennedy.

The key idea here is the distinction between being the youngest to assume the presidency and being the youngest to be elected to the presidency. Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901 after McKinley’s assassination, at age 42, so he was the youngest to hold the office. But he wasn’t elected to that first term; he won election later in 1904 at about age 46. John F. Kennedy, elected in 1960 and inaugurated in 1961 at age 43, is the youngest person ever elected to the presidency. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were older at their inaugurations (46 and 47, respectively). So the youngest elected president is John F. Kennedy.