I'd heard that, too, about politicians, and think it simply comes from focus groups' perceptions. Probably subconscious.

There are obvious historical exceptions, but there's a reason people like Gov. Richardson (NM) shave their beards once they start gaining aspirations for a higher office that requires the trust of people they've never met.

I'm confused: are you asserting that many politicians wear beards, and thus beards make one appear untrustworthy?

Or that [credit George Carlin]:
"Karl Marx wore a beard .. Lenin wore a beard .. (Gabby Hayes wore whiskers!)" - somehow beards are "untrutworthy" and so politicians avoid wearing them?

Are you forgetting "Honest Abe"? - and about half of the men elected president in the 1800's?

Beards are a cultural manifestation that come and go according to fashion whims over time.

So you named one person, and one "mythical" character. If beards were held in positive public image, I can promise you our elected officials would wear beards, including the women if they could pull it off. :D

I'm not saying I have an issue with people with beards...but in terms of perception...it can be an issue.

Okay terms, the country got raped while he sat on his butt drunk for eight years. Not one of America's finest moments.

Think George W. Bush

Lincoln was a racist. He just didn't believe in slavery. Anyway the Civil War was about states rights. Slavery became an issue afterwards.

More revisionist history from the master.:rolleyes:

To the substance of the OP:

My assn has no such policy, other than a general expectation that one be clean and neatly groomed. I was [at one time] told that the main NCAA umpire group in my area DOES have such a policy - beards not welcome. If HHH still reads/ posts here, he could, perhaps, give more current or accurate info on that.

So far as I can tell, my assignments are not limited or effected in any way by my [distinctly NOT "ZZ Top"-style] beard, which has no effect on my comfort in plate gear during summer games.

Interesting read of the history. Grant, at the time of his death, was well-beloved by [OK, most of] the country, including not a few ex-Confederates; which believed him to have been a decent President notwithstanding the corruption of many of his assosciates in and out of his administration.

Color me skeptical that GWB has, or ever will have, even a substantial moiety of his own party who thinks as well of him.

This is not correct.

Lincoln wanted to keep slavery from spreading. He didn't have any qualms about slavery, so he did "believe" in it. He was willing to do whatever he needed to keep the Union together.

If you don't think the Civil War was about slavery, you didn't pay attention when they covered everything from about 1815 on during history class.

Let's jump to the present, shall we?

Name a politician with facial hair. They're few and far between, FOR A REASON. It's a commonly known fact, that present day Americans do not trust folks with facial hair. You can choose to believe it, or not. Some trace it back to Hitler, and others the Cold War, with Stalin. Me, I believe it was Snidley Whiplash that started it all.

Also, that same holds for women with bangs. But to a lesser extent.

Both are considered, again, this is the "masses" talking, to be hiding something.

Different times, you'll be hard pressed to find a modern day (served within memory for a substantial portion of voters) president who gets a favorable review from a majority of voters. Reagan and Clinton may be the only ones who get even the majority of their own party. Before Reagan, you have to go back to Kennedy.

Not saying that's the only reason, but it's not insignificant either.

He was a Rabbi. Evidence enough. ;)

thank you Kyle

So I can keep my bangs but my wife has to shave her beard....sigh...

JJ

No argument from me on the lack of general esteem for "modern" presidents.

I'd surmise that differences in character, rather than merely the "times", were mostly responsible; and MY GWB reference was merely in response to the analogy suggested/ made by Mr. Tyler, not intended [by me] to cut GWB out from the herd including either the current occupant, nor any of the living [or even deceased-but-within-living-memory] precedents.