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List Of U.s. Political Families




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 , the Roosevelts with New York, the Muhlenbergs with Pennsylvania , and the Tafts with Ohio . Other political families are less connected with a specific state; the Bush Family began in Ohio and 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 .

See also Political Families Of The World .


FAMILIES

Here are some of the more notable families visible on a national level:


The Adamses

''Main article: Adams Political Family ''
  • Samuel Adams , (1722–1803), organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signatory of the Declaration Of Independence .

  • --- Joseph Allen , {1749–1827), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1810–1811; nephew of Samuel Adams.


  • -- Charles Allen , (1797–1869), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1849–1853; son of Joseph Allen.

  • John Adams , (1735–1826), first Vice President (1789–1797) and second President (1791–1801) of the United States; Second Cousin of Samuel Adams.

  • --- John Quincy Adams , (1767–1848), U.S. senator from Massachusetts, 1803–1808; U.S. Secretary Of State , 1817–1825; sixth President, 1825–1829, and the first who was the son of a President; son of John Adams.


  • -- Charles Francis Adams , (1807–1886), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1859–1861; U.S. Ambassador to Britain, 1861–1868;, son of John Quincy Adams.



  • - Charles F. "Deacon" Adams , (1866–1954), U.S. Secretary of the Navy, 1929–1933; grandson of Charles Francis Adams.



The Baldwin, Evarts, Hoar & Sherman family

''Main article'': Baldwin, Hoar & Sherman Family

An exceedingly large political family spanning the country's history. See the above article for details. Especially notable figures include:


The Bayard and Clayton family

''Main article'': Bayard And Clayton Family


The Bayhs

''Main article'': Bayh Family


The Blairs



The Blunts



The Borens

''Main Article: Boren Family ''


The Browns

''Main article: Brown Family ''

(The Browns are not related to Willie Brown , former Mayor of San Francisco, California and former Speaker of the California State Assembly .)


The Bushes

''Main article: Bush Family ''

''See also'': The Fishes and The Walkers


The Byrds and Floods


(The Virginia Byrds are not related to Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia )


The Carnahans

  • A.S.J. Carnahan (1897–1968), U.S. Representative from Missouri , 1945–1947 and 1949–1961; U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone , 1961 –1963.

  • --- Melvin E. Carnahan (1934–2000), governor of Missouri, 1993–2000; died in plane crash while running for United States Senate , posthumously elected; son of A.S.J. Carnahan, husband of Jean Carnahan.

  • --- Jean Carnahan (b. 1933), wife of Mel Carnahan, appointed to Senate in his stead, 2000, served 2001–2002; mother of Russ and Robin Carnahan.


  • -- Russ Carnahan (b. 1958), U.S. Representative from Missouri, 2005-; son of Mel and Jean Carnahan.


  • -- Robin Carnahan (b. ?), Missouri Secretary of State, 2005-; daughter of Mel and Jean Carnahan.



The Carrolls

The Carrolls of Maryland were a very active family during the early history of the United States


The Carters



The Caseys

The Caseys are a family originally from New York City , but settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania after World War II .


The Celebrezzes



The Churches and Clarks



The Clintons



The Clintons and Rodhams

  • William J. Clinton (b. 1946), 42nd President, 1993–2001; husband of Hillary Clinton.

  • Hillary Rodham Clinton (b. 1947), U.S. Senator from New York , 2001-; US First Lady and wife of Bill Clinton, 1993-2001.

  • Hugh Rodham (brother of Hillary), Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Florida (1994).

  • Barbara Boxer (former mother-in-law of Hillary's other brother Tony Rodham ), U.S. Senator from California, 1993-.


''Note:'' Bill Clinton is not known to be related to the earlier Clinton family.


The Cornings



The Crowninshields

''Main article'': Crowninshield Family


The Cuomos



The D'Alesandros



The Daleys

''Main article: Daley Family ''

Two members of the Daley family served as Mayor Of Chicago , between them ruling the city for more than a third of a century.


The DeWines



The Dingells



The Dodds



The Doles

  • Bob Dole (b. 1923), U.S. Representative from Kansas , 1961–1969; U.S. Senator from Kansas, 1969–1996; Chairman of Republican National Committee, 1971–1973; Republican nominee for Vice President, 1976; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1980 and 1988; Republican nominee for President, 1996.

  • Elizabeth Dole (b. 1936), U.S. Secretary Of Transportation , 1983–1987; U.S. Secretary Of Labor , 1989–1991; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 2000; U.S. Senator from North Carolina , 2003-; wife of Bob Dole.



The Dulleses

''Main article: Dulles Family ''


The du Ponts

''Main article: Du Pont Family ; also see Du Pont company''

The du Pont immigrant to the United States, Pierre Samuel Du Pont De Nemours (1739–1817) was deputy of the Third Estate to the Estates-General of 1789 for the region of Nemours in France . The du Pont political dynasty is based on the family's manufacturing empire in Delaware .


The Edmondsons

''Main article'': Edmondson Family


The Eisenhowers

''Main article'': Eisenhower Family


The Feltons

''Main article'': Felton Family


The Fishes

''See also:'' The Bushes


The Franklin, Claiborne, Pell and Boggs Family

''Main article'': Franklin, Claiborne, Pell And Boggs Family


The Frelinghuysens



The Fergusons



The Gilligans and the Sebeliuses

''Main articles: Gilligan Family and Sebelius Family ''


The Grants



The Gores

''Main article: Gore Family ''

Writer Gore Vidal has asserted that his grandfather, Thomas Pryor Gore , was related to the Gores of Tennessee, but no such relationship has been proven.


The Hagans



The Harlans



The Harrisons

''Main article: Harrison Family ''
The Harrisons are related by marriage to the Lees, Washingtons, and Randolphs of Virginia.


The Hearsts



The Hiesters

''Main article: Hiester Family / Muhlenberg Family ''


The Houghtons

The Houghtons are heirs to the Corning glass fortune.


The Humphreys

  • Hubert H. Humphrey Jr. (1911–1978), mayor of Minneapolis , 1945–1948; U.S. Senator from Minnesota , 1949–1964 and 1971–1978; 38th Vice President, 1965–1969; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1960 and 1972; Democratic nominee for President, 1968.

  • Muriel Humphrey (1912–1998), appointed to the U.S. Senate upon Hubert Jr.'s death in 1978 to complete his term; wife of Hubert Humphrey Jr.

  • --- Hubert H. "Skip" Humphrey III (b. 1942), attorney general of Minnesota, 1983–1999, candidate for governor, 1998; son of Hubert and Muriel Humphrey.



The Hutchinsons



The Jacksons



The Johnsons

  • Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973), U.S. Representative from Texas , 1937–1941 and 1942–1949; U.S. Senator from Texas, 1948–1961; Senate Majority Leader, 1954–1961; Vice President, 1961–1963; 36th President, 1963–1969; father-in-law of Charles S. Robb.

  • --- Charles S. Robb (b. 1939), Governor of Virginia, 1982–1986; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1989–2001; co-chair of the Iraq Intelligence Commission , 2004; son-in-law of Lyndon Johnson.



The Kennedys

''Main article: Kennedy Family ''

Some commentators in the early 1960s made predictions that President John F. Kennedy would be the 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. , U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom 1938-1941.

  • John Francis Fitzgerald, (1863-1950), he was a member, Massachusetts state senate, 1893-1894; U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1895-1901, 1919-1921 (9th District 1895-1901, 10th District 1919-1921); mayor of Boston, Massachusetts , 1906-1907, 1910-1913; defeated, 1907; delegate, Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1912, 1932; candidate, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1916 and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1922. He was also the father-in-law of Joseph Patrick Kennedy; grandfather of Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr., John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Robert Francis Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith and Edward Moore Kennedy; great-grandfather of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph Patrick Kennedy II, Mark Kennedy Shriver and Patrick Joseph Kennedy.

  • --- John F. Kennedy , U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 1947-1953; U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 1953-1960; 35th President of the United States 1961-1963; son of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.

  • --- Robert F. Kennedy , Attorney General; U.S. Senator from New York 1965-1968; led the race for the 1968 Democratic Presidential nomination when he was assassinated the day after the California primaries; son of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.


  • -- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend , Lieutenant Governor of Maryland 1995-2003; daughter of Robert F. Kennedy.


  • -- Joseph P. Kennedy II , U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 1987-1999; son of Robert F. Kennedy.

  • --- Jean Kennedy Smith , Ambassador to Ireland 1993-1998; daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.

  • --- Edward M. Kennedy (), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 1962-; son of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.


  • -- Patrick J. Kennedy , Rhode Island State Representative 1989-1995; U.S. Representative from Rhode Island 1995-; son of Edward M. Kennedy.


The Kennedys have also made marriages with political figures:


The La Follettes

''Main article: La Follette Family ''

  • --- Doug LaFollette (1940-present), Wisconsin Secretary of State; first cousin three times removed of Senator Robert La Follette,Sr.



The Landrieus

Main article: Landrieu Family



The Lees

''Main article: Lee Family ''

The Lees of Virginia are related by marriage to the Washingtons, Randolphs, and Harrisons, as well as other prominent political families:


The Levins

A (comparatively) rare Jewish political family.
  • Theodore Levin (1897–1970), federal judge; father of Charles and Joseph.

  • --- Charles Levin (b. 1926), justice of Michigan State Supreme Court, 1973–1996; son of Theodore.

  • --- Joseph Levin (b. ?), candidate for U.S. representative from Michigan; son of Theodore and brother of Charles.

  • Saul Levin (?-?), U.S. Ambassador to Honduras; brother of Theodore.

  • --- Carl Levin (b. 1934), U.S. senator from Michigan, 1979-; son of Saul and brother of Sander.

  • --- Sander Levin (b. 1931), U.S. representative from Michigan, 1983–2003; son of Saul and brother of Carl.



The Lincolns, Edwards and Porters



The Lodges and Cabots

The Cabots and Lodges were relatives by marriage of the Adams family.
  • George Cabot (1752–1823), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts , 1791–1796.



  • - Henry Cabot Lodge (1850–1924), U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, 1887–1893; U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1893–1924; great-grandson of George Cabot.




  • --- Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1902–1985), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1937–1944 and 1947–1953; Colonel in the Army during World War II ; Ambassador to the UN , 1953–1960; Republican nominee for Vice President, 1960; Ambassador to Vietnam , 1963–1964 and 1965–1967; Ambassador to Germany , 1968–1969; candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1964; grandson of Henry Cabot Lodge and brother of John Davis Lodge.




  • --- John Davis Lodge (1903–1985), professional actor, 1933–1940; U.S. Representative from Connecticut , 1947–1951; governor of Connecticut, 1951–1955; U.S Ambassador to Spain , 1955–1961; Ambassador to Argentina , 1969–1973; Ambassador to Switzerland , 1983–1985; grandson of Henry Cabot Lodge and brother of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.



The Longs

''Main article: Long Family ''
  • George Long (1883–1958), U.S. Representative from Louisiana , 1953–1958; brother of Huey Long and Earl Long.

  • Huey Long (1893–1935), Governor of Louisiana, 1928–1932; U.S. Senator from Louisiana, 1932–1935; assassinated in 1935; husband of Rose McConnell Long, brother of George and Earl Long.

  • Rose McConnell Long (1892–1970), U.S. senator from Louisiana, 1936–1937; wife of Huey Long.

  • --- Russell B. Long (b. 1918), U.S. senator from Louisiana, 1948–1987; son of Huey and Rose Long.

  • Earl Long (1895–1960), Governor of Louisiana, 1939–1940, 1948–1952, 1956–1960; brother of Huey and George Long.

  • --- Gillis Long (1923–1985), U.S. Representative from Louisiana, 1963–1965 and 1973–1985; cousin of Russell and Speedy Long, husband of Catherine.

  • --- Catherine Small Long (b. 1924), U.S. Representative from Louisiana, 1985–1987; wife of Gillis Long.

  • --- Speedy Oteria Long (b. 1928), U.S. Representative from Louisiana, 1965–1973; cousin of Gillis and Russell Long.



The MacArthurs



The Metzenbaums and Hyatts



The Muhlenbergs

''Main Article: Muhlenberg Family / Hiester Family ''


The Murkowskis

''Main article: Murkowski Family ''
  • Frank Murkowski (b. 1933), U.S Senator from Alaska , 1981–2002; Governor of Alaska, 2002-; father of Lisa Murkowski.

  • --- Lisa Murkowski (b. 1957), Alaska state representative; U.S. senator from Alaska, 2002-; daughter of Frank.



The Parfitts

  • Harold Parfitt was Governor of the Panama Canal Zone 1975-1979.

  • --- Karen Parfitt Hughes , daughter of Harold, is U.S. Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, and has been an adviser and speechwriter for Republican Presidents since Reagan.



The Peckhams



The Popes

''Main article: Pope Family
The following are members of the Pope family in no particular order:
  • William Pope Duval , (1784–1854), first governor of Florida Territory.

  • John Pope , (1770–1845), brother of Nathaniel, U.S. Senator from Kentucky, Governor of Arkansas Territory, U.S. Representative from Kentucky

  • Nathaniel Pope , (1784–1850), brother of John, Delegate and Secretary of Illinois Territory, U.S. District judge in Illinois.

  • --- John Pope (1822–1892), son of Nathaniel, U.S. Soldier, Union General in the Civil War.

  • --- Daniel Pope Cook , (1794–1827), nephew of Nathaniel and John, newspaper editor, Attorney General and U.S. Representative from Illinois


  • -- John Cook , son of Daniel Pope Cook, was a Union general in the Civil War .



The Powells

''Main article: Powell Family ''


The Pratts and Romneys

''Main article: Pratt-Romney Family ''
  • William Pratt (1609–1670), lieutenant, Pequot War . Representative, General Court (Colonial Legislature) of Connecticut , served 23 terms.

  • --- Parley P. Pratt (1807–1895) Mormon apostle; member, Utah Territorial Legislature, 1854. The 3rd great-grandson of William Pratt

  • --- Orson Pratt (1811–1881) Mormon apostle; member, Utah Territorial Legislature, 1869-1879. The brother of Parley P. Pratt.

  • George W. Romney (1907–1995), Governor, Michigan 1963–1969; Republican presidential candidate, 1968; HUD Secretary, 1969–1973. Great grandson of Parley P. Pratt.

  • --- Willard Mitt Romney (b. 1948), current Governor, Massachusetts , 2003-; son of George Wilcken Romney.

  • Lenore Romney (b. 1909) Candidate, U.S. Senator from Michigan , 1970. She married George Wilcken Romney; former-mother-in-law of Ronna Romney; and the mother of Willard Mitt Romney.

  • --- Ronna Romney (b. 1943), Alternate delegate, Republican National Convention , Michigan, 1988; member, Republican National Committee , Michigan , 1988; candidate, U.S. Senator, Michigan, 1994 (primary), 1996. She is the former-daughter-in-law of George Wilcken Romney and Lenore Romney, the ex-wife of Scott Romney.



The Riffes



The Rockefellers and Aldriches

''Main article: Rockefeller Family ''
  • William Aldrich (1820–1885), U.S. Representative from Illinois , 1877–1883; cousin of Nelson Aldrich and father of James Aldrich.

  • --- James Franklin Aldrich (1853–1933), U.S. Representative from Illinois , 1893–1897; son of William Aldrich.

  • Nelson Aldrich (1841–1915), U.S. Representative from Rhode Island , 1879–1881; U.S. Senator from Rhode Island , 1881–1911. Cousin of William Aldrich and father of Richard Aldrich, grandfather of Nelson A. Rockefeller and Winthrop Rockefeller, great grandfather of John D. Rockefeller IV and Win Rockefeller.

  • --- Richard S. Aldrich (1884–1941), U.S. Representative from Rhode Island, 1923–1933; son of Nelson Aldrich, uncle of Nelson A., David, Laurance and Winthrop Rockefeller.


  • -- Nelson A. Rockefeller (1908–1979), Governor Of New York , 1959–1973; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1964 and 1968; Vice-President, 1974–1977; brother of Winthrop Rockefeller.


  • -- Winthrop Rockefeller (1912–1973), Governor Of Arkansas , 1967–1971; brother of Nelson A. Rockefeller and father of Win Rockefeller.



  • - Jay Rockefeller (John D. Rockefeller, IV) (b. 1937), Secretary of State of West Virginia , 1969–1972; Governor of West Virginia, 1977–1985; U.S. Senator from West Virginia, 1985-; great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller and nephew of Nelson Rockefeller.


  • -- Charles Percy (b. 1919), U.S. Senator from Illinois , 1967–1985; father-in-law of Jay Rockefeller.



  • - Mark Dayton (b. 1947), U.S. Senator from Minnesota, 2001–2007; brother-in-law of Jay Rockefeller.



  • - Win Rockefeller (b. 1948), Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, 1999–2005; candidite for governor, 2006; son of Winthrop Rockefeller.



The Roosevelts

''Main article: Roosevelt Family ''


The Scrantons



The Sheppards and Macks



The Shrivers



The Stevensons

''Main article: Stevenson Family ''

The Stevensons of Illinois have produced a number of important political figures:


The Talmadges



The Tafts, Lippitts, and Chafees

''Main article: Taft Family ''


See also

Lippitt Family Papers - http://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss538.htm


The Tylers

''Main article: Tyler Family ''
  • John Tyler, Sr. (1747-1813), Governor of Virginia (1809-1811)

  • --- John Tyler (1790-1862), President of the United States (1841-1845), son of John Tyler Sr.


  • -- David Gardiner Tyler (1846-1927), U.S. Congressman from Virginia (1893-1897), son of John Tyler


  • -- Lyon Gardiner Tyler (1853-1935), historian and educator, son of John Tyler



The Udalls

''Main article: Udall Family ''

The Udalls are a politically notable family in The West . Despite having many Republican politicians in the family, most that have risen to national prominence have been Democrats.


The Van Rensselaers

The Van Rensselaers are a wealthy and politically notable family centered in Albany, New York .


The Walkers

''See also'': The Bushes

Dorothy Walker was a descendant of William P. Walker, and was the wife of US Senator Prescott Bush and the mother of the 41st US President George Herbert Walker Bush (who was named after Dorothy Walker's father), the grandmother of the 43rd US President George W. Bush and his brother the Governor of the State of Florida John Jeb Bush .
  • William P. Walker, (1778-1858) Father-in-law of both Julius Rockwell and David Davis. Member of Massachusetts state house of representatives; member of Massachusetts state senate; member of Massachusetts Governor's Council; probate judge in Massachusetts, 1824-48.

  • ---David Davis, (1815-1886) Son-in-law of William P. Walker; cousin of Henry Winter Davis ; great-grandfather of David Davis IV; First Cousin Thrice Removed of George Herbert Walker Bush . Republican . Member of Illinois state house of representatives, 1845; delegate to Illinois state constitutional convention McLean County , 1847 ; state court judge in Illinois, 1848; delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1860; Justice of U.S. Supreme Court , 1862-77; received one electoral vote for President, 1872; U.S. Senator from Illinois, 1877-83.

  • ---Julius Rockwell, (1805-1888) Son-in-law of William P. Walker; father of Francis Williams Rockwell. Republican. Member of Massachusetts state house of representatives, 1834; U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 7th District, 1843-51; U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1854-55; candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1855; state court judge in Massachusetts, 1859.


  • --Francis Williams Rockwell, (1844-1929) Son of Julius Rockwell. Republican. State court judge in Massachusetts , 1873; member of Massachusetts state house of representatives, 1879; member of Massachusetts state senate, 1881; U.S. Representative from Massachusetts 12th District, 1884-1891.


The following descendants of Walker have also served the public.


  • -Chief Judge John Mercer Walker, Jr. (b. 1940), Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; former State counsel, Republic of Botswana , 1966-1968; Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division, Southern District of New York, 1970-1975; ; Assistant Treasury Secretary, 1981-1985; U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, from 1985 to 1989; United States Court Of Appeals for the Second Circuit, serving from 1989 - present; made the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in October 2000.



  • -Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, (b. 1944) U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ; received his commission, November 1989; made Chief Judge, 2004.


  • -- George Herbert Walker III , (b. 1931) the current US Ambassador to Hungary ,


  • -- Craig R. Stapleton (b. 1945), appointed as Ambassador to France on April 13 2005 ; former Ambassador to the Czech Republic , 2001-2004; He is married to Dorothy "Doro" (Walker) Stapleton, whose father Louis Walker worked for the CIA .




  • Christie Todd Whitman , (b. 1946) candidate for the New Jersey US Senate, but was narrowly defeated by incumbent Senator Bill Bradley , 1990; Former New Jersey Governor, 1994-2001; former Bush EPA Administrator, 2001-2003. ''(Christie's brother Webster B. Todd married George Bush's first cousin Sheila O'Keefe. Christie's first nephew was named William Walker Todd, after Sheila's father James Wear Walker.)''



SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL REFERENCES