Build Your Political Dream Team and We'll Guess How Old You Are

By: Raj Chander
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Build Your Political Dream Team and We'll Guess How Old You Are
Image: SDI Productions/E+/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Age has always been a huge part of politics. Some of the greatest presidents in history are well-known for their youth, including John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama. But youth isn't always viewed as a positive: The old guard protecting our current generation of citizens from a radical new ideology among the youth is another fairly common theme in American politics.

The key has always been to strike a fair balance between youth and experience. In the current political season, which is defined by the build-up to the 2020 election, politicians emphasizing their youth — like Julian Castro and Mayor Pete Buttigieg — have also been forced to highlight their experience in matters of governing.

In Congress, youth movements are the hot new trend. A group of young female representatives, headlined by 29-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from the Bronx (NY 14th District), is disrupting convention and drawing some pushback even from within their own party. 

Each age group tends to have its own views, but as is the case with everything else in politics, there are no real hard-and-fast rules. Fill some of these common political positions with your ideal candidate, and we will use your choices to guess how old you are and what that means for your view of politics.

Denis McDonough
Wiki Commons by The White House
It's a key role to help keep a powerful elected official on track — who would be your Chief of Staff?
Denis McDonough
Andrew Card
Donald Regan
Marvin Watson

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Vice President
Visions of America/UIG/GettyImages
The Vice President on a ticket can be just as important as the name at the top. Who is your VP?
Cory Booker
Al Gore
Nelson Rockefeller
Hubert Humphrey

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White House
JTSorrell/E+/GettyImages
Of course, the big question: Which of these presidents would you choose to run the country?
Barack Obama
George H. W. Bush
Ronald Reagan
John F. Kennedy

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House of Representatives
uschools/E+/GettyImages
Although it's the "lower" chamber, The House of Representatives is said to better represent the will of common people. Which of these House representatives would you choose in your dream government?
Henry Hyde
Strom Thurmond
Tom Foley
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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US Congress
Andy Clement - andyc.com/Moment/GettyImages
The Senate is the highest chamber in Congress and wields significant power in lawmaking. Who would you choose as your ideal senator?
Tim Kaine
John McCain
Mitt Romney
Lloyd Bentsen

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Henry Kissinger
Wiki Commons by PD-USGOV
Foreign relations are critical in defining a country's policy. Who would manage these relationships as your Secretary of State?
Henry Kissinger
James Baker
John Kerry
Hillary Clinton

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Nancy Pelosi
Wiki Commons by PD-USGOV
The Speaker of the House leads the lower chamber and is one of the most powerful individual politicians in the country. Who would be your Speaker?
Nancy Pelosi
Tip O'Neill
Carl Albert
Sam Rayburn

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Robert McNamara
Wiki Commons by Cecil Stoughton
Defending the country is a critical role for government. Which person would be your Secretary of Defense, leading the military?
Jim Mattis
Dick Cheney
Caspar Weinberger
Robert McNamara

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Michael Froman
Wiki Commons by U.S. Department of State
Every president needs to stay in touch with the world of commerce. Which of these names would serve as your Trade Representative?
Michael Froman
Robert Lighthizer
Michael Bloomberg
William Roth

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Sean Spicer
ABC
Any political operation needs someone to spin things properly in the media. Who would be your press secretary?
Josh Earnest
Mike McCurry
Ari Fleischer
Sean Spicer

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Supreme Court
Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Moment/GettyImages
The judges of the Supreme Court make some of the most important decisions of the judicial branch. Who would you choose as Chief Justice?
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Sonia Sotomayor
John Roberts
Neil Gorsuch

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Patrick Leahy
Wiki Commons by U.S. Department of State
Though it's more ceremonial than other roles, the President pro tempore of the Senate still has an important job. Who would be your President pro tempore?
Carl Hayden
James Eastland
Robert Byrd
Patrick Leahy

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United Nations
Purestock/GettyImages
The UN helps keep the world at peace. Which of these officials would you pick to represent the government in the UN?
Susan Rice
Nikki Haley
Madeleine Albright
John A. Scali

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Karl Rove
Wiki Commons by Jay Godwin
A campaign has to have great funding to succeed. Who would be your chief fundraising manager?
Faiz Shakir
David Axelrod
Karl Rove
Stephen Edward Smith

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George Stephanopoulos
Wiki Commons by Tulane Public Relations
It requires some careful planning and foresight to craft a successful strategy to govern with. Who would be your chief strategist?
David Plouffe
George Stephanopoulos
Henry Kissinger
Alexander Haig

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Tom Perez
Wiki Commons by Mobilus In Mobili
A Labor Secretary maintains prosperity for the country's working class. Who would you choose as your Secretary of Labor?
Elaine Chao
Tom Perez
Raymond J. Donovan
James D. Hodgson

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Barack Obama
Wiki Commons by Center for American Progress Action Fund
State senators can help control the trajectory of the states they represent, which in turn can push the federal government. Who would you want as state senator?
Barack Obama
Robert Hertzberg
John Flanagan
Pete Flores

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United Kingdom
Robert Ingelhart/E+/GettyImages
They are one of our most important modern allies — who would you select as your delegate to the United Kingdom?
Robert Tuttle
David K.E. Bruce
Matthew Barzun
Philip Lader

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Eric Holder
Wiki Commons by AFGE
Running the Justice Department is an important task, as the current administration has shown us. Who would be your Attorney General?
Eric Holder
Alberto Gonzales
Edwin Meese
Robert F. Kennedy

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Vivek Murthy
Wiki Commons by United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Healthcare is a national issue, which is why the leader of our system has to be knowledgeable in both health and politics. Who would you choose as your Surgeon General?
Audrey F. Manley
Luther Terry
Vivek Murthy
C Everett Koop

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Radio tower
Nora Carol Photography/Moment/GettyImages
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has an important role regulating the way people transmit information. Who would be your FCC chair?
Tom Wheeler
Reed Hundt
Alfred C. Sikes
Charles Ferris

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Warren Buffett
Wiki Commons by Pete Souza
The Office of Management and Budget sets the tone for government spending. Who would oversee your dream OMB?
Shaun Donovan
Leon Panetta
Warren Buffett
Mick Mulvaney

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David Petraeus
Wiki Commons by Robert D. Ward
Maintaining our intelligence activities helps protect the country. Which of these names would be your CIA director?
David Petraeus
George Tenet
R. James Woolsey
John A. McCone

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Dwight Eisenhower
Wiki Commons
The Joint Chiefs of Staff help advise the president on defense, security and military issues. Which of these people would serve as your chairman of the Joint Chiefs?
Richard Myers
Dwight Eisenhower
Stanley McChrystal
Norman Schwarzkopf

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Mass transit
Bim/E+/GettyImages
Keeping transportation channels efficient makes a country better in several ways. Who are you selecting as your Secretary of Transportation?
Anthony R. Foxx
Norman Y. Mineta
Elizabeth H. Dole
Neil E. Goldschmidt

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Pollution
Schroptschop/E+/GettyImages
We only have one environment, and protecting it is key. Who is leading the Environmental Protection Agency in your dream government?
Gina McCarthy
Carol Browner
Lee M. Thomas
Douglas M. Costle

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Betty and Barack
Wiki Commons by Pete Souza
Celebrities can sometimes communicate more effectively with normal people. Who would you select as a celebrity political spokesperson?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Betty White
Beyonce
George Clooney

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Literature
David Madison/DigitalVision/GettyImages
It's important for us to appreciate poetry and literature. Who would you pick as your Poet Laureate?
Billy Collins
Maya Angelou
Robert Penn Warren
William Carlos Williams

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Jack Dorsey
Wiki Commons by JD Lasica
Technology is vital for society to advance. Who is heading up your government's innovation department?
Jack Dorsey
Bill Gates
Larry Ellison
Bill Hewlett

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Space shuttle
Stocktrek Images/Stocktrek Images/GettyImages
There may be a new Space Race coming up soon. Who do you want to head up your dream NASA?
Neil deGrasse Tyson
James C. Fletcher
James M. Beggs
James E. Webb

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