By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
Paul Ryan has already made history by being on the Republican presidential ticket with Mitt Romney.
For the first time since 1932, no presidential or vice presidential candidate for the Democratic or Republican party has any military experience. Franklin Roosevelt was a former assistant secretary of the Navy, but that is a civilian position.
Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom, appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, today dismissed concerns about the lack of foreign policy experience on the GOP ticket or Ryan not being ready to be vice president or president.
Fehrnstrom said Ryan, as chairman of the House Budget Committee, regularly interacts with military leaders because his panel has oversight responsibility for the Pentagon's budget.
"Of course he's prepared," Fehrnstrom said, also noting Ryan's 13-plus years in Congress are more than the two years Barack Obama had in the Senate when he ran for president.
Other "firsts" now that Ryan is in the mix:
The Wisconsin congressman is the first House member on a presidential ticket since Geraldine Ferraro was tapped to be Democrat Walter Mondale's running mate in 1984. At the time, Ferraro was representing a congressional district in New York City, based in Queens.
Ryan is also the first presidential or vice presidential candidate of recent vintage who is not a Baby Boomer. Ryan, 42, was born on Jan. 29, 1970 -- the same year that Mitt Romney's eldest son, Tagg, was born.
It's the first time in modern history that at least one-half of the presidential ticket isn't a Protestant. Romney is Mormon, while Ryan is Catholic.