The Family Business, American Political Dynasties

There is no greater tribute to an American’s legacy than when the family continues in the family business.  Where else but in the United States where Mother and Dad start a business and after they retire or die, the business is taken over by the children or grandchildren, or even the surviving spouse.

Like the family run heating and cooling company in Northeast Ohio; politics and in particularly American politics is also a family business.  The presidency alone has seen John Adams and John Quincy Adams and George HW Bush and George W. Bush as the only two father and son president pairs, William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harris as the only grandfather and grandson presidents.  Don't forget Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt as the two cousins who were president.  And of course, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton we’re almost the first two spouses to be president.   In one instance, during the 2000 Presidential Election, both Al Gore and George W. Bush, sons of political dynasties squared off to be the 43rd President of the United States.

But as you look through history, there were many families who chose to serve in government and politics at every level of the republic.  Some of them will make sense as they will have the same last name, but remember that the Schwarzeneggers are related to the Shrivers by marriage and the Shrivers are related to the Kennedys by marriage. Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao are married. Then there is Lyndon Johnson, father-in-law to Chuck Robb as is Linwood Holton the father of Anne Holton who is married to Tim Kaine. Even in government and politics the family dynamic can be complex.

This collection is dedicated to these dynasties in American politics from the Twentieth Century forward.