Overlooked: Age Before Beauty

Last Updated: Jul. 3, 2014

March 22, 2005

In their 3/05 issue of “Politics Watch,” American Enterprise Institute cites Lifecourse Associates Neil Howe and William Strauss as noting that the average age of a senator and representative has “greatly increased” since Congress’ founding. In 1801, the average age of a rep was 44 to the Senate’s 46. In 1901, the House’s was 49 to the Senate’s 58. In 2001, House: 54; Senate: 59. In ‘05, the average age of a rep is 56 while a senator’s is 61. The 109th Congress is the oldest to date.