List of US political families
During its history the United States has seen many families who have repeatedly produced notable politicians from their ranks, and these historic US political families have had a significant impact on politics in the United States.Many of these families have moved to national prominence from a state or regional power base. The Kennedys, for example, are particularly associated with Massachusetts; the Long family is identified with Louisiana, the Lees with Virginia, and the Tafts with Ohio. Other political families are less connected with a specific state; the Bush family began in Connecticut, but is now more closely identified with Texas, and a member of the family is the governor of Florida. Kennedy family member Maria Shriver's husband Arnold Schwarzenegger is now governor of California.
Here are some of the more notable families visible on a national level:
Two members of the Bush family have served as President of the United States and a number of Bush family members have served in other high offices:
Two members of the Daley family served as Mayor of Chicago, between them ruling the city for more than a third of a century.
Several members of the Dulles family served in important positions, including:
The du Pont immigrant to the United States, Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817) was deputy of the Third Estate to the States General for the region of Nemours in France. The du Pont political dynasty is based on the family's manufacturing empire in Delaware.
Several members of the Gore family of Tennessee have held important national political offices, including:
William Henry Harrison, the 9th President, was grandfather of the 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison.
Some commentators in the early 1960s made predictions that President John F. Kennedy would be first of a dynasty in the White House, but these predictions were not borne out, and the idea largely dropped off the public's radar after Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 and Edward Kennedy was involved in a drunk-driving incident (in which a passenger in his car was killed) in 1969. However, a number of Kennedy family members have held high office since then.
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr was appointed as US Ambassador to the UK. Three of his sons pursued political careers:
The Lees of Virginia have produced many prominent national figures, of whom the best known include:
The Longs of Louisiana have produced a number of important political leaders, including:
Nelson A. Rockefeller, Vice-President under Gerald Ford, was the brother of Winthrop Rockefeller, Governor of Arkansas, and the uncle of Jay Rockefeller (John D. Rockefeller, IV), Governor and later Senator of West Virginia.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President, was fourth cousin once removed, and nephew by marriage, of Theodore Roosevelt the 26th President.
The Tafts of Ohio have produced a number of leaders on the national stage, including:
Families
The Adamses
Main article: Adams family
The Browns
Main article: Brown family
The Bushes
Main article: Bush familyThe Daleys
Main article: Daley familyThe Dulleses
Main article: Dulles familyThe du Ponts
Main ariticle: du Pont familyThe Gores
Main article: Gore familyThe Harrisons
Main article: Harrison familyThe Kennedys
Main article: Kennedy family
Other Kennedy family members elected or appointed to high office include:
The Kennedys have also made marriages with political figures:
The Lees
Main article: Lee familyThe Longs
Main article: Long familyThe Rockefellers
Main article: Rockefeller familyThe Roosevelts
Main article: Roosevelt familyThe Tafts
Main article: Taft familyExternal references
