17 photos of politicians kissing babies — and why they do it
Ever wonder why they do it? A look at why politicians kiss babies:
- Danielle Beyer | | @daniellebeyer
- Updated
You see it during every election cycle — parents hand their young children over to campaigning politicians. The babies get a big kiss, and the politicians look a little more human in the eyes of potential voters.
But why?
The practice dates back to at least 1833 with President Andrew Jackson. As recounted in a later issue of Cosmopolitan, Jackson actually pawned the job off onto his Secretary of War, John Henry Eaton, according to Mother Jones.
The 1888 story in Cosmopolitan went like this:
"At this Jackson again raised his hat and said, 'I am he, and I am glad to know you. And is that fine boy your baby? Let me have him.'
The woman handed the dirty-faced infant to Old Hickory. Jackson took it and held it up before him.
'Ah! There is a fine specimen of American childhood. I think, madam, your boy will make a fine man some day.'
Then, with a quick gesture, he put the dirty face of the infant close to the face of Secretary [of War] Eaton, saying quickly and soberly, 'Eaton, kiss him?'
General Eaton pretended to do so with a wry face, amid the laughter of the crowd, and Jackson then handed the baby back to the happy mother."
Over the years, kissing babies has become a regular part of campaigning. While there have been some complaints — usually involving hygiene and safety for the child — the practice continues.
Life magazine looked into politicians kissing babies in a 1960 issue. The explanation offered was simple. "There is only one excuse for baby kissing: it works. The aim, whether the pol is a machine-backed hack or a machine-bucking amateur, is to win the votes."
Campaign 2016 Trump
- Evan Vucci
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump kisses a baby during a campaign rally, Friday, July 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Campaign 2016 Trump
- Evan Vucci
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a pair of babies as he works the rope line during a campaign rally, Friday, July 29, 2016, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton picks up a baby as she greets members of the audience after speaking at a rally at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, Colo., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, to attend a rally. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Mary Altaffer
- Updated
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds a baby during a campaign event at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds up a baby as she greets members of the audience after speaking at a rally at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds up a baby as she greets members of the audience after speaking at a rally at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Hillary Clinton
- Carolyn Kaster
- Updated
ADDS NAMES OF BABY AND CHILD'S FATHER - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pats the tummy of Merric Kee, being held by father, James Kee, as Clinton visits 8 Sisters Bakery in Marion, Ohio, Sunday, March 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Hillary Clinton
- Jacquelyn Martin
- Updated
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets a baby at the end of her event in Hampton, N.H., Tuesday Feb. 2, 2016, Clinton's first day in New Hampshire after winning the Iowa Caucus. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Donald Trump
- Gerry Broome
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reaches for a baby during a campaign rally in Fayetteville, N.C., Wednesday, March 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Donald Trump
- Hilary Scheinuk
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs the hand of unofficial "Trump Baby" Curtis Ray Jeffrey, 19-months-old, as he walks the rope line following speaking at a campaign rally, Thursday, February 11, 2016, at the Baton Rouge River Center. (AP Photo/Hilary Scheinuk)
Jeb Bush, Rachel Sorial, Luke Sorial
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Rachel Sorial of Blythewood, S.C. watches as Republican presidential candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush holds her newborn baby, Luke, following a rally at Summerville Country Club in Summerville, S.C., Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Bernie Sanders
- Evan Vucci
- Updated
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., holds a baby during a campaign rally at the Burlington Memorial Center, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Burlington, Iowa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Marco Rubio
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., poses for a photograph with a woman and a baby following a town hall at the Iowa State University Alumni Center in Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
John Kasich, Lauren Barbian, Violet Barbian
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Lauren Barbian of Columbia, S.C., left, laughs as Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich holds her baby, Violet after a town hall at The Hall at Senate's End in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
John Kasich
- Andrew Harnik
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich stops to kiss a baby after speaking during a town hall at a Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
John Kasich
- Matt Rourke
- Updated
Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich holds a baby during a campaign stop, Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, in Orangeburg, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
More like this...
- Danielle Beyer | | @daniellebeyer
You see it during every election cycle — parents hand their young children over to campaigning politicians. The babies get a big kiss, and the politicians look a little more human in the eyes of potential voters.
But why?
The practice dates back to at least 1833 with President Andrew Jackson. As recounted in a later issue of Cosmopolitan, Jackson actually pawned the job off onto his Secretary of War, John Henry Eaton, according to Mother Jones.
The 1888 story in Cosmopolitan went like this:
"At this Jackson again raised his hat and said, 'I am he, and I am glad to know you. And is that fine boy your baby? Let me have him.'
The woman handed the dirty-faced infant to Old Hickory. Jackson took it and held it up before him.
'Ah! There is a fine specimen of American childhood. I think, madam, your boy will make a fine man some day.'
Then, with a quick gesture, he put the dirty face of the infant close to the face of Secretary [of War] Eaton, saying quickly and soberly, 'Eaton, kiss him?'
General Eaton pretended to do so with a wry face, amid the laughter of the crowd, and Jackson then handed the baby back to the happy mother."
Over the years, kissing babies has become a regular part of campaigning. While there have been some complaints — usually involving hygiene and safety for the child — the practice continues.
Life magazine looked into politicians kissing babies in a 1960 issue. The explanation offered was simple. "There is only one excuse for baby kissing: it works. The aim, whether the pol is a machine-backed hack or a machine-bucking amateur, is to win the votes."
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Andrew Harnik
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton picks up a baby as she greets members of the audience after speaking at a rally at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, Colo., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, to attend a rally. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Andrew Harnik
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds up a baby as she greets members of the audience after speaking at a rally at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Campaign 2016 Clinton
- Andrew Harnik
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holds up a baby as she greets members of the audience after speaking at a rally at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Hillary Clinton
- Carolyn Kaster
ADDS NAMES OF BABY AND CHILD'S FATHER - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pats the tummy of Merric Kee, being held by father, James Kee, as Clinton visits 8 Sisters Bakery in Marion, Ohio, Sunday, March 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Hillary Clinton
- Jacquelyn Martin
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets a baby at the end of her event in Hampton, N.H., Tuesday Feb. 2, 2016, Clinton's first day in New Hampshire after winning the Iowa Caucus. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Donald Trump
- Hilary Scheinuk
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs the hand of unofficial "Trump Baby" Curtis Ray Jeffrey, 19-months-old, as he walks the rope line following speaking at a campaign rally, Thursday, February 11, 2016, at the Baton Rouge River Center. (AP Photo/Hilary Scheinuk)
Jeb Bush, Rachel Sorial, Luke Sorial
- Andrew Harnik
Rachel Sorial of Blythewood, S.C. watches as Republican presidential candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush holds her newborn baby, Luke, following a rally at Summerville Country Club in Summerville, S.C., Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Marco Rubio
- Andrew Harnik
Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., poses for a photograph with a woman and a baby following a town hall at the Iowa State University Alumni Center in Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
John Kasich, Lauren Barbian, Violet Barbian
- Andrew Harnik
Lauren Barbian of Columbia, S.C., left, laughs as Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich holds her baby, Violet after a town hall at The Hall at Senate's End in Columbia, S.C., Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
John Kasich
- Andrew Harnik
Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich stops to kiss a baby after speaking during a town hall at a Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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