As you know, it's Zach Kanin week here at the _floss. Here's a wonderful excerpt from his new book, The Short Book, that looks at the last 15 elections in feet and inches. (Winning presidents are in bold.)

U.S Presidents and Their Opponents Since the Ubiquity of Television 1948

Harry S. Truman (D) 5' 9"

Thomas E. Dewey (R) 5' 8"

Difference 1" 1952

Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) 5' 10 1/2"

Adlai Stevenson (D) 5' 10"

Difference 1/2" 1956

Dwight D. Eisenhower (R) 5' 10 1/2"

Adlai Stevenson (D) 5' 10"

Difference 1/2" 1960

John F. Kennedy (D) 6' 0"

Richard M. Nixon (R) 5' 11 1/2"

Difference 1/2" 1964

Lyndon Johnson (D) 6' 3"

Barry Goldwater (R) 6' 0"

Difference 3" 1968

Richard M. Nixon (R) 5' 11 1/2"

Hubert H. Humphrey (D) 5' 11 1/2"

Difference 0" 1972

Richard M. Nixon (R) 5' 11 1/2"

George McGovern (D) 6' 1"

Difference - 1 1/2 " 1976

Jimmy Carter (D) 5' 9"

Gerald R. Ford (R) 6' 1"

Difference - 4" 1980

Ronald Reagan (R) 6' 1"

Jimmy Carter (D) 5' 9"

Difference 4" 1984

Ronald Reagan (R) 6' 1"

Walter F. Mondale (D) 5' 10"

Difference 3" 1988

George H. W. Bush (R) 6' 2"

Michael Dukakis (D) 5' 8"

Difference 6" 1992

William J. Clinton (D) 6' 2"

George H. W. Bush (R) 6' 2"

Difference 0" 1996

William J. Clinton (D) 6' 2"

Robert Dole (R) 6' 1"

Difference 1" 2000

George W. Bush (R) 5' 11"

Albert Gore (D) 6' 1"

Difference -2" 2004

George W. Bush (R) 5' 11"

John Kerry (D) 6' 4"

Difference -5" The data shows the bleak possibilities for shorter candidate. Based on the statistical chances of George W. Bush defeating not one but TWO taller candidates, we can only conclude once and for all that he stole both elections.