Better known by his pen name, Mark Twain, renowned humorist Samuel Clemens (born Nov. 30, 1835) didn’t just write classic novels like “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and ”Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” His observations on life in general and human beings in particular are still widely cited.

Two of Twain’s acerbic gems, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure,” and “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please,” are clearly still relevant. Apparently Twain’s gift for irony isn’t as fully appreciated today as it was when he was penning his thoughts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though. Most (if not all) of the 18 individuals currently vying for the Democratic or Republican party presidential nomination would be doing America a favor if they’d stop taking the above sentiments so literally.

But Twain also dispensed wisdom displaying a more thoughtful, sensitive side, like, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see,” and, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.”

Given that publicly-stated capacity for empathy, if Twain were alive to mark his 180th birthday later this month it’s likely he’d try to cheer himself up by directing some kindness toward Scott Walker, who formally ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on September 21, citing low polling numbers and a lack of money. However, careful research reveals what actually brought about the union-busting Wisconsin governor’s meekly bowing out of the race for the White House, and it had nothing to do with funding or polls.

Walker was born Nov. 2, 1967, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. But it wasn’t the place of his birth that brought him down – it was its date.

The last American president born in November was elected in 1920. Most reputable scholars consider Warren Harding (born Nov. 2, 1865) America’s least effective 20th century chief executive. Known best for a corruption-wracked administration and some torrid extramarital affairs that were uncovered long after his death, Harding served less than two-and-a half years of his term before succumbing to a cerebral hemorrhage while on a western speaking tour in 1923.

Prior to Harding, four other United States presidents were born in November. James Garfield (Nov. 19, 1831) was struck by an assassin’s bullet less than four months after taking office in 1881 – he died two months later.

Franklin Pierce (Nov. 23, 1804), whose policies as president from 1853-1857 helped bring about the Civil War, was a profoundly unhappy man whose wife battled illness and depression most of her life. None of their three children lived past age 11. Not surprisingly, Pierce was a heavy drinker who died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1869.

Zachary Taylor (Nov. 24, 1784) took the oath of office in March of 1849; he died suddenly of a stomach ailment less than 18 months later. His immediate predecessor, James K. Polk (Nov. 2, 1795), served one term (1845- 1849) as commander-in-chief and acquitted himself well, but the job took such a toll on him that he died at age 54. The 103 days he lived after leaving office constitutes the shortest post-presidency in American history.

At this writing, not one of the 18 remaining 2016 presidential aspirants (three Democrats and 15 Republicans) has a November birthday. Hilary Clinton (Oct. 26, 1947), Martin O’Malley (Jan. 18, 1963), Bernie Sanders (Sept. 8, 1941), Carly Fiorina (Sept. 6, 1954), Donald Trump (June 14, 1946), Bobby Jindal (June 10, 1971), Mike Huckabee (Aug. 24, 1955), Jeb! Bush (Feb. 11, 1953!), Marco Rubio (May 28, 1971), Ben Carson (Sept. 18, 1951), Rand Paul (July 7, 1963), Rick Santorum (May 10, 1958), Jon Kasich (May 13, 1952), Jim Gilmore (Oct. 6, 1949), Chris Christie (Sept. 6, 1962), Ted Cruz (Dec. 22, 1970), George Pataki (June 24, 1945) and Lindsey Graham (July 9, 1955) were all born in one of the other 11 months.

It’s not just presidential timber November is short on. There have been 88 best actor Oscars bestowed since the award began in 1929, but of those honorees only Burt Lancaster (Nov. 2, 1913), Art Carney (Nov. 4, 1918), and Matthew McConaughey (Nov. 4, 1969) were born during the 11th month on the calendar.

This eerie scarcity doesn’t just exist in the drama field. Of the 68 living members of baseball’s Hall of Fame, only Whitey Herzog (Nov. 9, 1931), Bob Gibson (Nov. 9, 1935) and Tom Seaver (Nov. 11, 1944) began their lives in November.

But that’s not cause for Novemberites to hang their heads. Any month that produced Marie Curie, Billy Graham, Charles Schulz, Winston Churchill, and the three Turners (Ike, Tina, and Ted) can’t be all bad. As Twain presciently observed, “All generalizations are false, including this one.”

He also wrote, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt,” a thought which a significant number of the remaining presidential wannabes ought to pay more heed to.

— Despite not being born in November, Andy Young has no plans to seek the presidency. His favorite Mark Twain quote: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to reflect.”

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