The first President I remember was Kennedy; I was in the 3rd grade when he was assassinated. No one really talked about the elections much until my senior year in high school which was the first year 18 years could vote (my birthday, alas, was the day after the election). My government class (taught by a guy from Australia of all things) held a mock vote and the entire class voted for Nixon - which was kinda sad since I lived in South Dakota and none of us voted for McGovern. We never really discussed the issues in government class but had weekly debates in American History class. I don't think a single one of my classmates discussed politics with their parents but we were sure opinionated about current events, including the American Indian Movement, Wounded Knee, the draft, and of course Vietnam. Somehow, all the politicking turned me off of elections and the first one I really participated in was Carter's election.
Having been raised to never talk about religion or politics, to this day, I still avoid conversations about either one. I complain a lot about politicians but I figure if I vote, I have the right to complain. If I don't vote, I should just shut up.
Our current President is the only one that I think is not trying to do his best for his country - Bush Sr may not have been my ideal leader, but I think at least he tried to do what he thought was best. So, RIP President Bush