Here’s a fun fact that my father-in-law on Monday thinks hasn’t gotten enough attention — assuming Dick Cheney doesn’t run for president, 2008 will be the first election since 1952 in which neither an incumbent or vice president is running on either side.

2004: George W. Bush (incumbent)
2000: Al Gore (VP)
1996: Bill Clinton (incumbent)
1992: George H.W. Bush (incumbent)
1988: George H.W. Bush (VP)
1984: Ronald Reagan (incumbent)
1980: Jimmy Carter (incumbent)
1976: Gerald Ford (incumbent)
1972: Richard Nixon (incumbent)
1968: Hubert Humphrey (VP)
1964: Lyndon Johnson (incumbent)
1960: Richard Nixon (VP)
1956: Dwight Eisenhower (incumbent)

Historical challenge: How many other times has this happened in American history?