List of United States political families
During its history, the
United States has seen many families who have repeatedly produced notable politicians from their ranks, and these
historic U.S. 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, 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.
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 familyAn exceedingly large political family spanning the country's history. See the above article for details. Especially notable figures include:
*
Roger Sherman (1721-1793)
*
John Adams*
John Quincy Adams*
William Tecumseh Sherman*
Susan B. Anthony*
William Maxwell Evarts*
Roger Sherman Baldwin*
George Frisbie Hoar*
Archibald Cox*
John Sherman*
Oliver Phelps*
Roger Sherman GreeneThe Bayard and Clayton family
Main article:
Bayard and Clayton family*
John Bubenheim Bayard (1738-1807) Member,
Pennsylvania state legislature, 1776; Delegate, Continental Congress from Pennsylvania, 1785; mayor,
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1790; state court judge,
New Jersey. Uncle of
James A. Bayard, Sr.*
Joshua Clayton (1744-1798) State court judge,
Delaware; Governor, Delaware, 1789-96; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1798; he died in office 1798. Son-in-law of
Richard Bassett; father of Thomas Clayton; uncle of John Middleton Clayton.
*
Richard Bassett (1745-1815) Served in the
Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War; lawyer; member, Delaware state senate, 1782; member, Delaware state house of representatives, 1786; member, U.S.
Constitutional Convention, 1787; U.S. Senator,
Delaware, 1789-93; common pleas court judge, Delaware, 1793-99; Governor, Delaware, 1799-1801; Judge,
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, 1801-02. Father-in-law of Joshua Clayton and James A. Bayard, Sr.; grandfather of
Richard H. Bayard and
James A. Bayard, Jr.; great-grandfather of
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr.; great-great-grandfather of
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.; great-great grandfather of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
**
James A. Bayard, Sr. (1767-1815) member, U.S. Representative,
Delaware at-large, 1797-1803; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1804-13. Nephew of
John Bubenheim Bayard; son-in-law of
Richard Bassett; father of
Richard H. Bayard and
James A. Bayard, Jr.; grandfather of
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr.; great-grandfather of
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.; great-great-great-grandfather of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
**
Thomas Clayton (1777-1854) Member,
Delaware state house of representatives, 1802-06, 1810, 1812-13; member, Delaware state senate, 1808, 1821; secretary of state, Delaware, 1808-10; Delaware state attorney general, 1810-15; U.S. Representative, Delaware at-large, 1815-17; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1824-27, 1837-47; judge, common pleas court, Delaware, 1828; superior court judge, Delaware, 1832. Son of Joshua Clayton; cousin of John Middleton Clayton.
**
Richard H. Bayard (1796-1868) Mayor,
Wilmington, Delaware, 1832; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1836-39, 1841-45; justice, Delaware state supreme court, 1839-41; U.S. Charge d'Affaires,
Belgium, 1851-53. Grandson of
Richard Bassett; son of
James A. Bayard, Sr.; brother of
James A. Bayard, Jr.; uncle of
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr.; granduncle of
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.; great-granduncle of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
**
John Middleton Clayton (1796-1856) Member,
Delaware state house of representatives, 1824; secretary of state, Delaware, 1826; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1829-36, 1845-49, 1853-56; died in office 1856; justice, Delaware state supreme court, 1837; U.S. Secretary of State, 1849-50. Nephew of Joshua Clayton; cousin of Thomas Clayton; great-granduncle of Clayton Douglass Buck.
***
James A. Bayard, Jr. (1799-1880) U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1851-64, 1867-69; delegate,
Democratic National Convention from Delaware, 1860, 1864. Grandson of
Richard Bassett; son of
James A. Bayard, Sr.; brother of
Richard H. Bayard; father of
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr.; grandfather of
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.; great-grandfather of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
****
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr. (1828-1898) U.S. Senator,
Delaware, 1869-85; candidate, Democratic nomination for President, 1880, 1884;
U.S. Secretary of State, 1885-89; U.S. Ambassador,
Great Britain, 1893-97. Great-grandson of
Richard Bassett; grandson of
James A. Bayard, Sr.; nephew of
Richard H. Bayard; son of
James A. Bayard, Jr.; father of
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.; grandfather of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
****
Henry Algernon du Pont (1838-1926) Colonel,
Union Army, Civil War; U.S. Senator,
Delaware, 1906-17; defeated, 1916. Received the
Medal of Honor in 1898 for his handling of the retreat at the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia,
October 19 1864. Cousin of
Thomas Coleman du Pont.
****
Thomas Coleman du Pont (1863-1930) Delegate,
Republican National Convention,
Delaware,
1908 (alternate), 1920, 1928; member, Republican National Committee, Delaware, 1908-30; candidate, Republican nomination for President, 1916; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1921-22, 1925-28; defeated, 1922; resigned 1928. Cousin of
Henry Algernon du Pont; father-in-law of Clayton Douglass Buck.
*****
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. (1868-1942) Lawyer; (
Skull & Bones) Chairman, Delaware
Democratic Party, 1906-16; U.S. Senator,
Delaware, 1922-29; defeated, 1928, 1930. Great-great-grandson of
Richard Bassett; great-grandson of
James A. Bayard, Sr.; grandnephew of
Richard H. Bayard; grandson of
James A. Bayard, Jr.; son of
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr.; married to Elizabeth Bradford du Pont Bayard; father of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
*****
Elizabeth Bradford du Pont Bayard (1880-1975) Alternate delegate,
Democratic National Convention,
Delaware,
1944. Married to
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr.; mother of Alexis Irenee du Pont Bayard.
*****
Clayton D. Buck (1890-1965) Governor,
Delaware, 1929-37; member,
Republican National Committee, Delaware, 1932; delegate,
Republican National Convention, Delaware, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1948; U.S. Senator, Delaware, 1943-49; defeated, 1948. Great-grandnephew of John Middleton Clayton; son-in-law of Thomas Coleman du Pont.
******
Alexis I. du Pont Bayard (1918-1985) Lawyer; alternate delegate,
Democratic National Convention,
Delaware,
1948; Lieutenant Governor, Delaware, 1949-53. Descendant of
Richard Bassett; great-great-great-grandson of
James A. Bayard, Sr.; great-grandnephew of
Richard H. Bayard; great-grandson of
James A. Bayard, Jr.; grandson of
Thomas F. Bayard, Sr.; son of
Thomas F. Bayard, Jr. and Elizabeth Bradford du Pont Bayard.
The Bayhs
Main article:
Bayh family*
Birch E. Bayh II, (b. 1928),
U.S. senator from
Indiana, 1963–1981, and 1976
presidential candidate
**
B. Evans "Evan" Bayh III, (b. 1955), Secretary of State, Indiana, 1986-89, Governor, Indiana, 1989–1997, U.S. Senator from Indiana, 1999-
The Blairs
*
Francis Preston Blair, (1791–1876), advisor to presidents
Andrew Jackson –
Andrew Johnson**
Montgomery Blair, (1813–1883),
Postmaster General, 1861–1864, son of Francis Preston Blair.
**
Francis Preston Blair, Jr., (1821–1875), 1868 Democratic candidate for Vice President,
Senator from
Missouri, 1871–1873, son of Francis Preston Blair.
The Blunts
*
Roy Blunt, (b. 1950), US Congressman from Missouri
*
Matt Blunt, (b. 1970),
Governor of Missouri, son of Roy Blunt
The Borens
Main article: Boren family
*
Lyle Boren (1909-1992), US Congressman from
Oklahoma.
**
David Boren (b. 1941),
Governor of Oklahoma and US Senator, son of Lyle Boren.
***
Dan Boren (b. 1973), US Congressman from
Oklahoma, son of David Boren.
The Browns
Main article: Brown family
*
Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Sr., (1905–1996), Governor of
California, 1959–1967; candidate for the Democratic nomination for President, 1960.
**
Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown Jr., (b. 1938),
Governor of California 1975–1983; candidate for the Democratic nomination for United States President in 1976, 1980, and 1992; Mayor of
Oakland, 1998–present, son of Pat Brown. Candidate for
Attorney General of California in 2006.
**
Kathleen Brown, (b. 1946),
California State Treasurer 1991–1995, Democratic candidate for Governor of California (1994), daughter of Pat Brown.
*
Harold C. Brown, (1908–1998), Justice of the
California Court of Appeal,
1966–1976, brother of Pat Brown.
* Geoffrey F. Brown, (1943-present), Commissioner
California Public Utilities Commission 2000-present, and the
Public Defender of
San Francisco 1978-2000, nephew of Edmund G. Brown and Harold Brown, cousin of Jerry and Kathleen Brown.
(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*
Samuel P. Bush (1863–1948), a close advisor to
President Hoover; chief of the Ordinance, Small Arms and Ammunition Section of the War Industries Board 1918-23; Director, Federal Reserve - Cleveland; father of Prescott Bush. His wife
Flora Sheldon and
Hamilton Fish were both descendants of Gilbert Livingston and his wife Cornelia Beekman.
**
Prescott Bush (1895–1972), U.S. Senator from
Connecticut, 1952–1963; father of George H.W. Bush. His wife was Dorothy
Walker, daughter of
St. Louis banker
George Herbert Walker.
***
Prescott Bush Jr. (b. 1922), served as chairman of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce; unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for US Senate for Connecticut, 1982.
***
George Herbert Walker Bush (b. 1924), U.S. Representative from
Texas, 1967–1971; Ambassador to the
United Nations, 1971–1973; Director of the
CIA, chairman of the
Republican National Committee, 1973–1974; 43rd Vice President (1981–1989), and 41st President (1989–1993); father of
George W. Bush and
Jeb Bush.
****
George Walker Bush (b. 1946), Governor of Texas, 1995–2000; 43rd President, 2001-; son of George H.W. Bush.
****
John E. "Jeb" Bush (b. 1953), Governor of
Florida, 1999-; son of
George H.W. Bush.
The Byrds and Floods
* Colonel
William Byrd I(1652–1704), married to
Mary Horsmanden, daughter of
Sir Warham Horsmanden a descendant of
Charlemagne** Colonel
William Byrd II(1674–1744) of
Westover Plantation-- Founded
Richmond, Virginia. Member of the
Royal Society of Great Britain and served on the Virginia
House of Burgesses.
***
William Byrd III (1752 – 1777) - served on the Virginia
House of Burgesses.
*Colonel
William Byrd (1828-1896) moved to Texas and was appointed
adjutant general of the
Confederate state of Texas. Married the daughter of
Robert Jones Rivers* Richard Evelyn BYRD II, brother to 1828 William Byrd, married Eleanor Bolling Flood the daughter of
Henry Delaware Flood, thus uniting these families.
*
Henry D. Flood (1865–1921), U.S. Representative from
Virginia, 1901–1921.
*
Joel W. Flood (1894–1964), U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1932–1933; brother of Henry D. Flood and uncle of Harry Byrd Sr.
**
Harry F. Byrd Sr. (1887–1966), Governor of Virginia, 1926–1930; Vice Chair of the
Democratic Party, 1929; candidate for Democratic nomination for President, 1932; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1933–1965; nominee for President of the
States Rights Party, 1956; received 15
electoral votes for President, 1960; nephew of Henry D. Flood and Joel West Flood, father of Harry Byrd, Jr; brother of
Richard Evelyn Byrd, aviator, explorer.
***
Harry F. Byrd Jr. (b.1914), U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1965–1983; son of Harry F. Byrd Sr.
(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
*
Charles Carroll, Barrister (1723–1783), delegate to the
Continental Congress from Maryland, 1776–1777.
*
Daniel Carroll (1730–1796), delegate to Continental Congress from Maryland, 1781–1783; signer of
Articles of Confederation, 1781; member of the
United States Constitutional Convention, 1787; U.S. Representative from
Maryland, 1789–1791; first cousin of Charles the Barrister and Charles of Carrolton.
**
Richard Brent (1757–1814), U.S. Representative from
Virginia, 1795–1799 and 1801–1803; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1809–1814; nephew of Daniel Carroll.
***
William Leigh Brent (1784–1848), U.S. Representative from
Louisiana, 1823–1829; nephew of Richard Brent.
*
John Carroll (1735–1815), First
Roman Catholic Bishop of Baltimore, brother of Daniel, first cousin of Charles the Barrister and Charles of Carrollton.
*
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832), delegate to the Continental Congress from Maryland, 1776–1781; signer of the
United States Declaration of Independence, 1776; U.S. Senator from Maryland, 1789–1792; first cousin of Charles the Barrister, Daniel and John.
**
Charles H. Carroll (1794–1865), U.S. Representative from
New York, 1843–1847; great-grandson of Daniel Carroll.
**
John Lee Carroll (1830–1911), Governor of
Maryland, 1876–1880; great-grandson of Charles Carroll of Carrollton.
The Carters
*
Jimmy Carter (b. 1924), Governor of
Georgia, 1971–1975; President, 1977–1981
**
Jack Carter (b. 1947), 2006 candidate for Senate from
NevadaThe Caseys
The Caseys are a family originally from
New York City, but settled in
Scranton, Pennsylvania after
World War II.
*
Bob Casey, Auditor General of
Pennsylvania;
Governor of Pennsylvania (1987–1995)
**
Bob Casey Jr., Treasurer of Pennsylvania (2005–); former candidate for Governor (2004); Democratic nominee for US Senate (2006)
The Celebrezzes
*
Anthony J. Celebrezze Sr. (1910–1998),
Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, 1958–1962;
United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1962–1965; judge on the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1965–1998.
**
Anthony J. "Tony" Celebrezze Jr. (d. 2003), Ohio secretary of state, 1979–1983; Ohio attorney general, 1983–1991; Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, 1990; son of Anthony Sr.
***
Anthony J. Celebrezze III, son of Anthony Jr.
*
Frank D. Celebrezze I (d. 1953), Cleveland municipal judge; Cleveland director of safety; assistant
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, prosecutor; brother of Anthony Sr.
**
Frank D. Celebrezze Sr., Chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, 1978–1986; son of Frank I.
***
Frank D. Celebrezze Jr. (b. 1952), Ohio appeals court judge, 2000-; son of Frank Sr.
**
James P. Celebrezze, Ohio Supreme Court judge, 1982–1984, son of Frank I.
The Chandlers
*
Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler I (1898–1991) was a
governor of Kentucky, a
U.S. Senator and the
Baseball Commissioner who oversaw the initial steps toward
integration of the major leagues, beginning with the debut of
Jackie Robinson with the
Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. .
*
Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III (born 1959) is an
American politician from
Kentucky and grandson of "Happy" Chandler. He was the democratic candidate for Governor in 2003 and now is the member of the
House of Representatives for the
sixth district of
Kentucky and was first elected in 2004.
The Churches and Clarks
*
Barzilla W. Clark (1880–1943), Mayor of
Idaho Falls, Idaho, 1935; Governor of
Idaho, 1937–1939.
*
Chase Addison Clark (1883–1966), Mayor of
Idaho Falls, Idaho, 1937–1938; Governor of Idaho from 1941–1943; brother of Barzilla W. Clark.
**
Frank Church (1924–1984), U.S. Senator from
Idaho, 1957–1981; candidate for
Democratic nomination for President, 1976; son-in-law of Chase Addison Clark.
The Clintons
*
Charles Clinton, legislator in colonial
New York**
George Clinton, son of Charles, delegate to
Continental Congress,
ary brigadier general, first
Governor of New York (for 21 years, still the US record),
Vice President under
Thomas Jefferson and
James Madison.
**
James Clinton, son of Charles, Revolutionary War general
***
DeWitt Clinton, son of James, legislator in New York, US Senator from New York, Mayor of New York City, candidate for US President, twice Governor of New York, responsible for
Erie CanalThe Clintons and Rodhams
*
William J. Clinton (b. 1946), 42nd President, 1993–2001; husband of Hillary Rodham 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 (born Blythe) is not known to be related to the earlier Clinton family.
The Cornings
*
Erastus Corning (1794–1872), mayor of
Albany, New York, 1834–1837; formed
New York Central railroad;
U.S. Congressman from New York, 1857–1859, 1861–1863.
**
Parker Corning (1874–1943), U.S. Congressman from New York, 28th District, 1923–1937; grandson of Erastus Corning.
**
Edwin Corning (1883–1934), New York
Democratic chair, 1926–1928; Lieutenant Governor of New York, 1927–1928; grandson of Erastus Corning.
***
Erastus Corning II (1909–1983), mayor of
Albany, 1942–1983; son of Edwin Corning.
The Crowninshields
Main article:
Crowninshield family*
Benjamin Williams Crowninshield,
Secretary of the Navy*
Jacob Crowninshield, his brother, representative from Massachusetts, appointed
Secretary of the Navy**
Arent S. Crowninshield, his grandson,
U.S. Navy admiral
The Cuomos
*
Mario Cuomo,
Governor of New York (1983–1994)
**
Andrew Cuomo, his son,
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1997–2001)
The D'Alesandros
*
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro, Jr. (1903–1987), U.S. Representative from
Maryland, 1939–1947;
Mayor of Baltimore, 1947–1959.
**
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro III (b. 1929), Mayor of Baltimore, 1967–1971; son of Thomas, Jr.
**
Nancy Pelosi (b. 1940),
Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from
California; daughter of Thomas, Jr.
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.
*
Richard J. Daley (1902–1976), mayor from 1955 until 1976.
**
Richard M. Daley (b. 1942), mayor since 1989; son of Richard J.
**
William M. Daley (b. 1948),
U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1997 until 2000.
**
John P. Daley,
Cook County Commissioner
The DeWines
*
R. Michael DeWine (b. 1947), U.S. Representative from
Ohio, 1983–1991; lieutenant governor of Ohio, 1991–1994; U.S. senator from Ohio, 1995-.
**
R. Patrick DeWine,
Cincinnati, Ohio, city councilman; son of Mike DeWine.
*
Kevin DeWine, Ohio state representative; cousin of Mike DeWine.
The Dingells
*
John D. Dingell, Sr. (1894–1955),
U.S. representative from
Michigan, 1933–1955.
**
John D. Dingell Jr. (b.1926), U.S. representative from Michigan, 1955–present; son of John Sr.
***
Chris Dingell, Michigan state senator, 1998-; son of John Jr.
The Dodds
*
Thomas J. Dodd, representative (1953–1957) and senator (1959–1971)from
Connecticut**
Christopher Dodd, his son, senator from Connecticut (1981-)
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
*
John Watson Foster (1836–1917), General,
Union Army,
Civil War; U.S. Ambassador to
Mexico, 1873–1880; U.S. Ambassador to
Russia, 1880–1881; U.S. Ambassador to
Spain, 1883–1885;
Secretary of State, 1892–1893.
**
John Foster Dulles (1888–1959), U.S. Senator from
New York, 1949;
Secretary of State, 1953–1959; grandson of John Watson Foster. Namesake for the
Washington Dulles International Airport***
Avery Robert Dulles (b. 1918),
cardinal of the
Catholic Church; son of John Foster and Janet Avery (Pomeroy) Dulles.
**
Allen W. Dulles (1893–1969), second director of the
CIA, 1953–1961; member,
Warren Commission. He was the brother of John Foster and Eleanor Lansing Dulles.
*
Robert Lansing (1864–1928),
Secretary of State, 1915–1920; uncle of John Foster Dulles.
**
Eleanor Lansing Dulles (b. 1895--d. 1996) The sister of Allen and John, organized of the
Berlin Desk before the end of
World War II, was the U.S. political adviser in
Austria and then assisted President
Franklin D. Roosevelt in setting up the
Social Security system during her two (2) decades of service in the
US State Department.
*
Theodore Medad Pomeroy grandfather of Janet Pomeroy Avery Dulles
(wife of John Foster Dulles and mother of Cardinal Avery Dulles), a US Congressman and the Speaker of the
US House of Representatives for one day.
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.
*May Lammot du Pont married
Willard Saulsbury U.S. Senator from Delaware (elected 1912).
*Renée de Pelleport du Pont married
LeRoy Harvey, mayor of
Wilmington, Delaware.
*
Ethel du Pont (1916–1965) married
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Jr. *
Henry Algernon du Pont (1838–1926), Colonel in Union Army during
Civil War; U.S. Senator from Delaware, 1906–1917.
*
T. Coleman du Pont (1863–1930), U.S. Senator from Delaware, 1921–1922 and 1925–1928; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1916; cousin of Henry A. du Pont.
*
Pierre S. du Pont, IV (b. 1935), U.S. Representative from Delaware, 1971–1974; Governor of Delaware, 1977–1985; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1988.
The Edmondsons
*
J. Howard Edmondson, (1925-1971), Governor of Oklahoma
*
Ed Edmondson, (1919-1990), U.S. Congressman from
Oklahoma, brother of J. Howard Edmondson
**
Drew Edmondson, (b. 1946), Oklahoma Attorney General, son of Ed Edmondson
**
James E. Edmondson, (b.1945),
Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice, son of Ed Edmondson
The Eisenhowers
Main article:
Eisenhower family*
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969), General of the
United States Army and
Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Forces during
World War II; 34th President (1953–1961).
**
John Eisenhower (b. 1922), U.S. Ambassador to
Belgium; son of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
***
David Eisenhower, John's son, eponym of
Camp David and son-in-law of
Richard NixonThe Feltons
Main article:
Felton family*
William Harrell Felton (1823–1909), U.S. Representative from
Georgia, 1875–1881; husband of Rebecca Felton.
*
Rebecca Latimer Felton (1835–1930), U.S. Senator from Georgia, 1922–1923; first woman in U.S. Senate; wife of William H. Felton.
The Fishes
See also: The Bushes;
The Keans*
Hamilton Fish, (1808-1893) US Representative, New York, 1843-45; Governor,
New York, 1849; US Senator, New York, 1851-57;
US Secretary of State, 1869-77. Uncle of
John Kean (b. 1852) and
Hamilton Fish Kean. Had a common ancestor with
Flora Sheldon, the wife of
Samuel Prescott Bush.
**
Hamilton Fish II, (1849-1936) US Representative,
New York, 1909-1911
***
Hamilton Fish III, (1888-1991) US Representative, New York, 1920-1945
****
Hamilton Fish IV, (1926-1996) US Representative, New York, 1969-1995
*****
Hamilton Fish V, political candidate
The Franklin, Claiborne, Pell and Boggs Family
Main article:
Franklin, Claiborne, Pell and Boggs family*
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Delegate,
Continental Congress,
Pennsylvania, 1775; signer,
Declaration of Independence, 1776; delegate to Pennsylvania state constitutional convention, 1776; U.S. Minister,
France, 1778-85; President, Pennsylvania, 1785; member, U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1787. Famed for his experiments with electricity; invented bifocal glasses and the harmonica. Uncle of
Franklin Davenport; grandfather-in-law of
Robert John Walker, father of
William Franklin.
**
William Franklin bastard son of
Benjamin Franklin, Colonial Governor of New Jersey.
*
Thomas Claiborne (1749-1812) Member,
Virginia state legislature; U.S. Representative, Virginia, 1793-99, 1801-05 (8th District 1793-97, at-large 1797-99, 1801-05). granduncle of
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne; great-great-great-great-granduncle of
Corinne Claiborne Boggs.
**
Franklin Davenport (1755-1832) Member,
New Jersey state legislature; U.S. Senator, New Jersey, 1798-99; U.S. Representative, New Jersey 5th District, 1799-1801. Nephew of
Benjamin Franklin.
**
Alexander James Dallas (1759-1817) Secretary, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, 1791-1801; U.S. District Attorney, Eastern District, Pennsylvania, 1801-14;
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1814-16. Father of
George Mifflin Dallas.
***
William Charles Cole Claiborne (1775-1817) Delegate,
Tennessee state constitutional convention, 1796; judge, state court, Tennessee, 1796; U.S. Representative, Tennessee ; Governor,
Mississippi Territory, 1801-04; Governor,
Orleans Territory, 1804-12; Governor,
Louisiana, 1812-16; U.S. Senator,
Louisiana, 1817; Nephew of
Thomas Claiborne; brother of
Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne; uncle of
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne; great-great-granduncle of
Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr.; great-great-great-granduncle of
Corinne Claiborne Boggs and
Claiborne de Borda Pell.
***
John Claiborne (1777-1808) U.S. Representative,
Virginia, 1805-08 (at-large 1805-07, 17th District 1807-08); died in office 1808. Son of
Thomas Claiborne (1749-1812); brother of
Thomas Claiborne (1780-1856).
***
Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne (1777-1859) Member,
Virginia state legislature; U.S. Representative, Virginia, 1825-37 (7th District 1825-35, 3rd District 1835-37). Nephew of
Thomas Claiborne; brother of
William Charles Cole Claiborne; uncle of
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne; great-great-granduncle of
Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr.; great-great-great-granduncle of
Corinne Claiborne Boggs and
Claiborne de Borda Pell.
***
Thomas Claiborne (1780-1856) Member,
Tennessee state house of representatives, 1811-15, 1831-33; U.S. Representative, Tennessee at-large, 1817-19. Son of
Thomas Claiborne (1749-1812); brother of
John Claiborne.
***
George Mifflin Dallas (1792-1864) Mayor,
Philadelphia, PA, 1829; U.S. District Attorney, Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, 1829-31; U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania, 1831-33; Pennsylvania state attorney general, 1833-35; U.S. Minister,
Russia, 1837-39;
Great Britain, 1856-61; Vice President, United States, 1845-49. Son of
Alexander James Dallas; uncle by marriage of
Robert John Walker; great-great-granduncle of
Claiborne de Borda Pell.
***
Robert John Walker (1801-1869) U.S. Senator,
Mississippi, 1835-45; resigned 1845; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1845-49; Governor,
Kansas Territory, 1857. Grandson-in-law of
Benjamin Franklin; nephew by marriage of George Mifflin Dallas; father-in-law of
Benjamin Harris Brewster.
****
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne (1807-1884) Member,
Mississippi state legislature; U.S. Representative, Mississippi at-large, 1835-37, 1837-38. Grandnephew of
Thomas Claiborne; nephew of
William Charles Cole Claiborne and
Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne; great-grandfather of
Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr.; great-great-granduncle of
Corinne Claiborne Boggs; great-great-grandfather of
Claiborne de Borda Pell.
****
Benjamin Harris Brewster (1816-1888)
Pennsylvania state attorney general, 1867-68; Presidential Elector, Pennsylvania, 1876; U.S. Attorney General, 1882-85. Son-in-law of
Robert John Walker.
*****
Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr. (1884-1961) U.S. Representative,
New York 17th District, 1919-21; defeated, 1920; Chairman, New York Democratic Party, 1921-26; delegate,
Democratic National Convention, New York, 1924; U.S. Minister,
Portugal, 1937-41;
Hungary,
1941. Great-great-grandnephew of
William Charles Cole Claiborne and
Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne; great-grandson of
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne; father of
Claiborne de Borda Pell.
******
Thomas Hale Boggs (1914-1972) U.S. Representative,
Louisiana 2nd District, 1941-43, 1947-72; died in office 1972; delegate,
Democratic National Convention, Louisiana, 1948; candidate, Governor of Louisiana, 1952. Son of
William Robertson Boggs and Claire Josephine (Hale) Boggs; married,
January 22, 1938, to Corinne Claiborne; father of
Barbara Boggs Sigmund,
Tommy Boggs and
Cokie Roberts (
National Public Radio &
CNN reporter and commentator).
******
Corinne Claiborne Boggs (b. 1916) U.S. Representative,
Louisiana 2nd District, 1973-91; elected unopposed 1986; U.S. Ambassador,
Holy See, 1997-. Great-great-great-great-grandniece of
Thomas Claiborne; great-great-great-grandniece of
William Charles Cole Claiborne and
Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne; great-great-grandniece of
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne; married,
January 22 1938, to
Thomas Hale Boggs; mother of
Barbara Boggs Sigmund,
Tommy Boggs and
Cokie Roberts (CNN & National Public Radio reporter and commentator).
******
Claiborne de Borda Pell (b. 1918) U.S. Senator,
Rhode Island, 1961-97. Great-great-great-grandnephew of William Charles Cole Claiborne and
Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne; great-great-grandnephew of
George Mifflin Dallas; great-great-grandson of
John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne; son of
Herbert Claiborne Pell, Jr..
*******
Barbara Boggs Sigmund (1939-1990) Delegate,
Democratic National Convention,
New Jersey, 1980; candidate, U.S. Senator, New Jersey, 1982; mayor, Princeton, N.J., 1983-90. Daughter of
Thomas Hale Boggs and Corinne Claiborne Boggs; sister of
Cokie Roberts (
National Public Radio and
CNN reporter and commentator) and
Tommy Boggs.
*******
Tommy Boggs (b. 1940) candidate, U.S. Representative,
Maryland 8th District, 1970. Son of
Thomas Hale Boggs and
Corinne Claiborne Boggs; brother of Barbara Boggs Sigmund; married,
December 27 1960, to Mary Barbara Denechaud
The Frelinghuysens
*
Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753–1804),
New Jersey delegate to
Continental Congress,
1778;
U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1793–1796.
**
Theodore Frelinghuysen (1787–1862), U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1829–1835; son of Frederick.
***
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (1817–1885), U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1866–1869 and 1871–1877;
United States Secretary of State, 1881–1885; nephew of Theodore.
****
Joseph S. Frelinghuysen (1869–1948), U.S. Senator from New Jersey, 1917–1923; nephew of Frederick T.
******
Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr. (b. 1916),
U.S. Representative from New Jersey, 1953–1975; great-great-great-grandson of Frederick.
*******
Rodney Frelinghuysen (b. 1946), U.S. Congressman from New Jersey, 1995–present; son of Peter Jr.
The Fergusons
*
James Edward Ferguson aka Pa Ferguson (1871–1944),
Governor of Texas, 1915–1917; impeached by Texas House and removed from office; husband of Miriam Ferguson.
*
Miriam Ferguson aka Ma Ferguson (1875–1961), Governor of Texas, 1925–1927 and 1933–1935.
The Gilligans and the Sebeliuses
Main articles: Gilligan family and Sebelius family*
John J. Gilligan (b. 1921),
U.S. Representative, 1965–1967;
governor of
Ohio, 1971–1975.
*
Keith Sebelius (1916–1982), U.S. Representative from
Kansas, 1969–1981.
**
Kathleen Sebelius (b. 1949), Kansas insurance commissioner, 1995–2003; Governor of
Kansas, 2003-; daughter of John Gilligan and daughter-in-law of Keith Sebelius.
The Grants
*
Ulysses S. Grant, eighteenth
President of the United States**
Frederick Dent Grant, U.S. Minister to
Austria,
New York City Police Commissioner, son of Ulysses S. Grant
***
Ulysses S. Grant III, U.S. Army general, Member of the U.S. delegation to the
Supreme War Council at
Versailles, son of Frederick Dent Grant. He married Edith Root, daughter of
Elihu Root.
**
Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., Delegate to the
Republican National Convention from
California, Presidential elector for California, son of Ulysses Grant. He married Fannie Josephine Chaffee, daughter of
Jerome Bunty ChaffeeThe Gores
Main article: Gore family
*
Albert A. Gore Sr. (1907–1998),
U.S. Representative from
Tennessee, 1939–1944 and 1945–1953;
U.S. Senator from Tennessee, 1953–1971.
**
Albert A. Gore Jr. (b. 1948), U.S. Representative from Tennessee, 1977–1985; U.S. Senator from Tennessee, 1985–1993; candidate for
Democratic nomination for President, 1988;,
Vice President, 1993–2001; Democratic nominee for President,
2000; son of Albert Gore Sr.
**
Louise Gore, State Senator and gubernatorial candidate in
Maryland and U.S. Ambassador to
UNESCO, was a
second cousin of Al Gore, Jr.
***
Deborah Gore Dean, former
HUD official convicted in a kickback scandal, is a niece of Louise Gore.
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
*
Robert E. Hagan was a
Trumbull County, Ohio, commissioner and held a seat in the
Ohio House of Representatives**
Timothy Hagan, his son, was a
Cuyahoga County, Ohio, commissioner and 2002 Democratic nominee for Ohio governor
**
Robert F. Hagan, Tim's brother, is a member of the
Ohio SenateThe Harlans
*
James Harlan (1800–1863), U.S. Representative from
Kentucky, 1835–1839; Kentucky state attorney general, 1849–1859.
**
John Marshall Harlan (1833–1911), U.S. District Attorney for Kentucky, 1861–1863; Kentucty state attorney general, 1861–1865;
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1877–1911; son of James Harlan.
***
John Marshall Harlan II (1899–1971), justice of
2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, 1954–1955; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1955–1971; grandson of John Marshall Harlan.
The Harrisons
Main article: Harrison family
The Harrisons are related by marriage to the Lees, Washingtons, and Randolphs of Virginia.
*
Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791), delegate to the
Continental Congress from
Virginia, 1774; signer of the
U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776; Governor of Virginia, 1782–1784.
**
Carter Bassett Harrison (1758–1808), U.S. Representative from
Virginia, 1793–1799; son of Benjamin V and brother of William Henry.
**
William Henry Harrison (1773–1841), Governor of
Indiana Territory, 1801–1812; U.S. Representative from
Ohio, 1816–1819; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1825–1828; U.S. Minister to
Gran Colombia, 1828–1829;
Whig party nominee for President, 1836; 9th President, 1841; son of Benjamin Harrison V, brother of Carter Bassett Harrison, cousin of Beverly Randolph.
***
John Scott Harrison (1804–1878), U.S. Representative from
Ohio, 1853–1857; son of William Henry Harrison.
****
Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901), general in the Union Army during
Civil War; U.S. Senator from
Indiana, 1881–1887; 23rd President, 1889–1893; grandson of William Henry Harrison the elder and son of John Scott Harrison, grandfather of William Henry Harrison the younger.
******
William Henry Harrison (1896–1990), U.S. Representative from
Wyoming, 1951–1955 and 1961–1965 and 1967–1969; grandson of Benjamin Harrison.
**
Beverly Randolph (1754–1797), Governor of Virginia, 1788–1791; nephew of Benjamin Harrison V.
**
Burwell Bassett (1764–1841), U.S. Representative from Virginia, first cousin of William Henry Harrison and nephew by marriage of
George Washington.
***
Carter Harrison, Sr. (1825–1893), U.S. Representative from
Illinois, 1875–1879; Mayor of
Chicago, 1879–1887 and in 1893;
first cousin once removed to Carter Bassett and William Henry Harrison, father of Carter Henry Harrison, Jr..
****
Carter Harrison, Jr. (1860–1953), Mayor of Chicago, 1897–1905 and 1911–1915; son of John Scott Harrison.
The Hearsts
*
George Hearst (1820–1891), U.S. Senator from
California, 1886–1891.
**
William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951), newspaper baron; U.S. Representative from
New York, 1903–1907; candidate for
Democratic nomination for President, 1904.
The Hiesters
Main article: Hiester Family/Muhlenberg Family
*
John Hiester (brother of Daniel and Gabriel):
American Revolutionary War colonel; Pennsylvania militia general; Congressman 1807-1809
**
Daniel Hiester the Younger (son of John): Pennsylvania Congressman 1809-1811
*
Daniel Hiester (brother of John and Gabriel): General in Pennsylvania militia; member of Pennsylvanian Supreme Executive Council; Congressman 1788-1796/1800-1804
*
Gabriel Hiester (brother of Daniel and John): Colonel in
Continental Army; state senator 1795-1796/1805-1812
*
Joseph Hiester (cousin of John, Daniel, and Gabriel): Revolutionary War officer; congressman 1803-1817;
Governor of Pennsylvania 1820-1823
The Houghtons
The Houghtons are heirs to the Corning glass fortune.
*
Alanson B. Houghton 1863â€"1941, U.S. Representative from
New York, 1919–1922;
U.S. Ambassador to
Germany, 1922–1925; U.S. Ambassador to
Britain, 1925–1929.
**
Amory Houghton (1899–1981), U.S. Ambassador to
France, 1957–1961; son of Alanson B. Houghton, father of Amo Houghton.
***
Amo Houghton (b. 1926), former
CEO of
Corning Glass Works; U.S. Representative from
New York, 1987–2005; son of Amory Houghton.
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), wife of Hubert Humphrey Jr., appointed to the U.S. Senate upon his death in 1978 to complete his term.
**
Hubert H. "Skip" Humphrey III (b. 1942), attorney general of Minnesota, 1983–1999, candidate for governor, 1998; son of Hubert and Muriel Humphrey.
***
Hubert H. "Buck" Humphrey IV; candidate for Minnesota Secretary of State , 2002.
The Hutchinsons
*
Asa Hutchinson (b. 1950), U.S. Representative from
Arkansas, 1997–2001; administrator of the
Drug Enforcement Administration, 2001–2003; Undersecretary for Border & Transportation Security for the
Department of Homeland Security, 2003–2005; brother of Tim Hutchinson
*
Tim Hutchinson (b. 1949), U.S. Representative from Arkansas, 1993â€"1997; U.S. Senator from Arkansas, 1997â€"2003; brother of Asa Hutchinson.
The Jacksons
* Rev.
Jesse Jackson (b. 1941),
Democratic candidate for
President, 1984 and 1988; longtime
activist and frequently
minister without portfolio**
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (b. 1965), U.S. Representative from
Illinois, 1995–
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 Keans
See also: The Fishes*
John Kean (1756-1795); Continental Congress for
South Carolina (1785-1787).
**
John Kean (1852-1914); US Senator from New Jersey (1899-1911). Great-grandson of John Kean (b. 1756); nephew of
Hamilton Fish (b. 1808).
**
Hamilton Fish Kean (1862-1941); US Senator from
New Jersey (1929-1935). Brother of John Kean (b. 1852); nephew of Hamilton Fish (b. 1808).
***
Robert Winthrop Kean (1893-1980); US Representative from New Jersey (1938-1959). Son of Hamilton Fish Kean; grand-nephew of Hamilton Fish; married a niece of Hamilton Fish.
****
Thomas "Tom" Kean (b. 1935), Governor of New Jersey (1982-1990), Chairman of
9/11 Commission (2002-2004). Son of Robert W. Kean; grand-nephew
and great-grand-nephew of Hamilton Fish.
*****
Tom Kean, Jr. (b. 1968); New Jersey Assemblyman (2001-2003), New Jersey Senator (2003-). Candidate for Republican nomination for US Senate (2006). Son of Tom Kean.
Note: The Fishes and Keans intermarried twice, but the spouses in both cases shared only a distant common ancestor, Robert Livingston (b. 1654).
The Kennedys
Main article: Kennedy family
Predictions that President
John F. Kennedy would be the first of a
dynasty in the White House have not borne out, though a number of Kennedy family members have held high office since then. The family is notoriously burdened by tragedies such as
assassinations and personal foibles, collectively known as the
Kennedy curse.
*
Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (1888-1969); US Ambassador to the
United Kingdom 1938-1941.
*
John F. Fitzgerald (1863-1950); US Representative from Massachusetts, 1895-1901, 1919-1921; Mayor of
Boston, 1906-1907, 1910-1913; candidate for US Senator from Massachusetts, 1916 and candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, 1922. Father-in-law of Joseph P. Kennedy and grandfather of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy.
**
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), 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. Assassinated November 22, 1963.
**
Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968); U.S. Attorney General 1961-1965; U.S. Senator from
New York 1965-1968; assassinated during campaign for presidency. Robert F. Kennedy was the 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 (DOB 2/22/32), 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:
*
Eunice Kennedy (daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.) is married to
(Robert) Sargent Shriver, Jr. (see
The Shrivers).
**
Maria Shriver (daughter of Eunice Kennedy and Sargent Shriver) is married to
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California.
*
Mary Kerry Kennedy (daughter of Robert F. Kennedy) married
Andrew Cuomo in 1990, but they separated in 2004 (see
The Cuomos).
Current Louisiana State Treasurer
John N. Kennedy is of no relation to the family
The La Follettes
Main article: La Follette family
* [common grandparent of Robert Sr. and William (presumably paternal grandfather named La Follette)]
**
Robert M. La Follette, Sr. (1855–1925), U.S. Representative from
Wisconsin, 1885–1891; Governor of
Wisconsin, 1901–1906; U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, 1906–1925; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1908 and 1916;
Progressive Party nominee for President, 1924; married to
Belle Case La Follette; father of Robert Jr. and Philip.
***
Robert M. La Follette, Jr. (1895–1953), U.S Senator from Wisconsin, 1925–1947; son of Robert Sr. and brother of Philip.
****
Bronson Cutting La Follette, Attorney General of Wisconsin, 1965–69 and 1974–1987; son of Robert Jr.
***
Philip F. La Follette (1897–1965), Governor of Wisconsin, 1931–1933 and 1935–1939; son of Robert Sr. and brother of Robert Jr.
**
William Leroy La Follette (1860–1934), U.S. Representative from
Washington; 1st cousin of Robert Sr. and father of Suzanne and Chester.
***
Suzanne La Follette (1893–1983), feminist author; daughter of William and sister of Chester.
***
Chester La Follette (1897–1993) , painter; son of William and brother of Suzanne.
**
Charles M. La Follette (1898–1974), U.S. Representative from Indiana; third cousin of Robert M. La Follette, Jr. and Philip La Follette.
**
Doug LaFollette (1940-present), Wisconsin Secretary of State; first cousin twice removed of Senator Robert La Follette, Sr.
The Landrieus
Main article: Landrieu family
*
Moon Landrieu (b. 1930), Mayor of
New Orleans, Louisiana, 1970–1978;
United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under
Jimmy Carter, 1977–1980; judge,
4th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1991–2000.
**
Mary Landrieu (b. 1955), U.S. Senator from
Louisiana, 1997-; daughter of Moon Landrieu.
**
Mitch Landrieu (b. 1960), Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana; candidate for Mayor of
New Orleans, Louisiana, 2006, son of Moon Landrieu
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:
*
Richard Henry Lee (1732–1794), delegate to
Continental Congress from Virginia and president of that body, 1774; signer of the
U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776; U.S. Senator from Virginia, 1789–1792; brother of Francis Lightfoot and Arthur.
***
Samuel Phillips Lee (1812–1897), US Navy rear admiral in the Civil War; husband of
Elizabeth Blair Lee (1818–1906) and grandson of Richard Henry Lee.
****
Francis Preston Blair Lee (1857–1944), U.S. Senator from
Maryland, 1914–1917; son of Samuel P. Lee and grandson of
Francis Preston Blair.
******
Blair Lee III (1916–1985), lieutenant governor of Maryland, 1971–1977; governor of Maryland, 1977–1979; grandson of Francis Preston Blair Lee.
*
Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734–1797), delegate to
Continental Congress from Virginia, 1775; signer of the
U.S. Declaration of Independence, 1776; brother of Richard Henry and Arthur.
*
Arthur Lee (1741–1792), delegate to
Continental Congress from Virginia, 1782; brother of Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot.
**
Henry Lee III (1756–1818), known as "Light Horse Harry Lee", delegate to
Continental Congress from Virginia, 1786–1788; Governor of Virginia, 1791–1794; U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1799–1801;
first cousin once removed of Richard Henry, Francis Lightfoot, and Arthur Lee, brother of Charles Lee and Richard Bland Lee.
**
Charles Lee (1758–1815),
Attorney General of the United States, 1795–1801; brother of Henry Lee and Richard Bland Lee, son-in-law and
first cousin once removed of Richard Henry Lee.
**
Richard Bland Lee (1761–1827), U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1789–1795; brother of Charles and Henry Lee.
***
Robert E. Lee,
Confederate general in the
United States Civil War.
****
Fitzhugh Lee (1835–1905), Confederate general in the
Civil War; Governor of Virginia, 1886–1890; general in U.S. Army in
Spanish-American War; nephew of Robert E. Lee and grandson of Charles Lee.
****
William H. F. Lee (1837–1891), general in Confederate Army during Civil War; U.S. Representative from Virginia, 1887–1891; grandson of Henry Lee.
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 M. Levin (b. 1931), U.S. representative from Michigan, 1983–2003; son of Saul and brother of Carl.
***Andy Levin (b. ?), seeking election to the
Michigan Senate.
The Lincolns, Edwards and Porters
*
Benjamin Edwards (1753-1829) Member,
Maryland state house of delegates, 1782-84; judge, state court, Maryland, 1793; U.S. Representative, Maryland 3rd District, 1795. Father of
Ninian Edwards; grandfather of Benjamin Edwards Grey.
**
Ninian Edwards (1775-1833) Member,
Kentucky state house of representatives, 1796-97; judge, state court, Kentucky, 1803; justice, Kentucky state supreme court, 1808; Governor,
Illinois Territory, 1809-18; U.S. Senator,
Illinois, 1818-24; Governor, Illinois, 1826-30; candidate, U.S. Representative, Illinois, 1832. Son of
Benjamin Edwards; brother of Cyrus Edwards; father-in-law of
Daniel Pope Cook; father of
Ninian W. Edwards.
**
Cyrus Edwards Candidate, Governor of
Illinois, 1838; delegate, Illinois state constitutional convention, Madison County, 1847. Brother of
Ninian Edwards.
***
Ninian W. Edwards (1809-1889) Attorney General,
Illinois, 1834-35; member, Illinois state house of representatives, 1837-41, 1849-53; member, Illinois state senate, 1845-49; delegate, Illinois state constitutional convention,
Sangamon County, 1847; superintendent, Illinois public instruction, 1854-57. Son of
Ninian Edwards; married to the sister-in-law of
Abraham Lincoln.
****
Benjamin Edwards Grey Member,
Kentucky state legislature; U.S. Representative, Kentucky 2nd District, 1851-55. Grandson of
Benjamin Edwards.
***
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) Member,
Illinois state house of representatives, 1834-41; U.S. Representative, Illinois 7th District, 1847-49; candidate, Republican nomination, Vice President, 1856; candidate, U.S. Senator, Illinois, 1858;
President of the United States, 1861-65; assassinated in office 1865. Grandnephew by marriage of
David Rittenhouse Porter to
Mary Todd; married to the sister-in-law of
Ninian W. Edwards; married to the half-sister-in-law of N. H. R. Dawson; father of
Robert Todd Lincoln.
****
Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926)
U.S. Secretary of War, 1881-85; U.S. Minister,
Great Britain, 1889-93. Chairman,
Pullman Company. Son of Abraham Lincoln; son-in-law of
James Harlan.
***
James Harlan (1820-1899) Superintendent,
Iowa public instruction, 1847; president,
Iowa Wesleyan College, 1853-55, 1869-70; U.S. Senator, Iowa, 1855-57, 1857-65, 1867-73;
U.S. Secretary of the Interior, 1865-66; candidate, Republican nomination for Vice President, 1868. Father-in-law of
Robert Todd Lincoln.
***
James Madison Porter (1793-1862) Colonel,
War of 1812; judge, state court,
Pennsylvania, 1839-40, 1853-55;
U.S. Secretary of War, 1843-44; member, Pennsylvania state legislature, 1849. Founder,
Lafayette College. Brother of
David Rittenhouse Porter and
George Bryan Porter; uncle of
Horace Porter.
***
George Bryan Porter (1791-1834) Major, U.S. Army during the
War of 1812; member,
Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1827; Governor,
Michigan Territory, 1831-34; died in office 1834. Brother of
David Rittenhouse Porter and
James Madison Porter; uncle of
Horace Porter.
***
David Rittenhouse Porter (1788-1867) Member,
Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1819; member, Pennsylvania state senate, 1836; Governor, Pennsylvania, 1839-45. Brother of
George Bryan Porter and
James Madison Porter; granduncle by marriage of
Abraham Lincoln; father of
Horace Porter.
***
N. H. R. Dawson Delegate,
Democratic National Convention,
Alabama, 1860; Speaker, Alabama State House of Representatives, 1880. Married to the half-sister-in-law of
Abraham Lincoln.
****
Horace Porter (1837-1921) General,
Union Army,
Civil War; received the
Medal of Honor for action at
Chickamauga,
September 20 1863; executive secretary, to President
Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-73; vice-president,
Pullman Company (railroad cars); president,
New York West Shore and Buffalo Railroad; U.S. Ambassador,
France, 1897-1905. Son of
David Rittenhouse Porter; nephew of
George Bryan Porter and
James Madison Porter.
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
*
Arthur MacArthur, Sr.,
Governor of Wisconsin (1856)
**
Arthur MacArthur, Jr., his son; Army general, military governor of the Philippines 1900-1901
***
Douglas MacArthur, his son;
Chief of Staff of the United States Army (1930-1935), Pacific Theater Commander (1941-1945), Commander of
Occupied Japan (1945-1951), Commander of UN Forces in Korea (1950-1951), Candidate for President of the United States, 1952.
****
Douglas MacArthur II, nephew of Douglas MacArthur and son-in-law of
Alben Barkley; U.S. Ambassador to
Japan (1957-1961),
Belgium (1961-1965),
Austria, (1967-1969), and
Iran (1969-1972).
The Metzenbaums and Hyatts
*
James Metzenbaum, prominent
Cleveland, Ohio, lawyer and candidate for the
Ohio Supreme Court**
Howard Metzenbaum (b. 1917), U.S. senator from
Ohio, 1974 and 1977–1995; son of James.
***
Joel Hyatt (b. ?), Democratic nominee for U.S. senator from Ohio, 1994; son-in-law of Howard Metzenbaum.
The Mortons
*
Thruston B. Morton (1907-1982), congressman and Senator from
Kentucky, chairman of
Republican National Committee (1959-1961); brother of Rogers
*
Rogers Morton (1914-1979), congressman from
Maryland, chairman of RNC (1969-1971), Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Commerce; brother of Thruston
The Muhlenbergs
Main article: Muhlenberg family/Hiester family
*
Henry Muhlenberg (1711-1787) Founder of the Lutheran Church in America
**
Peter Muhlenberg (1746-1847) Minister; Continental Army General; US Congressman; US Senator; son of Henry Muhlenberg
**
Frederick Muhlenberg (1750-1801) Member of Continental Congress; first Speaker of US House of Representatives; son of Henry Muhlenberg
******
Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg (1887-1980) US Congressman; World War I and World War II soldier, great-great-grandson of Frederick
***
John Andrew Shulze (1774-1852) Governor of Pennsylvania, grandson of Henry
***
Henry A. P. Muhlenberg (1782-1844) US Congressman; Minister to Austria, grandson of Henry
****
Henry Augustus Muhlenberg (1823-1854) US Congressman, son of Henry A.P.
***
Francis Swaine Muhlenberg (1795-1831) US Congressman, grandson of Henry
The Murkowskis
*
Frank Murkowski (b. 1933), US Senator from
Alaska, 1981–2002; Governor of Alaska, 2002-.
**
Lisa Murkowski (b. 1957), Alaska state representative; U.S. senator from Alaska, 2002-; daughter of Frank Murkowski.
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
*
Rufus W. Peckham (1809–1873), U.S. Representative from
New York; District Attorney of
Albany, New York; Justice of the New York Supreme Court and New York Court of Appeals.
**
Rufus Wheeler Peckham (1838–1909), Albany District Attorney; Justice of New York Supreme Court and New York Court of Appeals;
Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States, 1895–1909; son of Rufus W.
**
Wheeler Hazard Peckham, (1833 – 1905), lawyer in New York who prosecuted
Boss Tweed; appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by
Grover Cleveland but not confirmed; son of Rufus W. and brother of Rufus Wheeler.
The Popes
''Main article:
Pope familyThe following are members of the Pope family in no particular order:
*
William Pope Duval, (1784â€"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
*
Colin Powell (b. 1937),
Army general;
National Security Advisor, 1987–1989;
Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1989–1991;
Secretary of State, 2001–2005.
**
Michael Powell (b. 1963), Chairman of the
Federal Communications Commission, 2001–2005; son of Colin Powell.
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 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 (1948-2006), Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, 1999–2005; candidate for Governor, 2006 (withdrawn); son of Winthrop Rockefeller.
The Roosevelts
Main article: Roosevelt family
*
Archibald Bulloch, (1730-1777), he was a delegate, Continental Congress from
Georgia, 1775; and the first provisional governor of the
Georgia, 1776-77. He was also the father of
William Bellinger Bulloch; great-great-grandfather of Theodore Roosevelt and the great-great-great-grandfather of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
*
Corinne Douglas Robinson , (1886-1971),
Connecticut State Representative,
Connecticut State Assembly daughter of
Corinne Roosevelt Robinson,niece of
Theodore Roosevelt.
*Edward Hutchinson Robbins, (1758-1837), he was the Lieutenant Governor of the state of
Massachusetts, 1802-06. He was also the great-great-grandfather of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
****Warren Delano Robbins, (1885-1935), he was the U.S. Minister,
El Salvador, 1928; and U.S. Minister,
Canada, 1933-35. He was also the first cousin of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
*William Bellinger Bulloch, (1777-1852), he was the Mayor of
Savannah, Georgia, 1809-11, 1811-12; U.S. Senator,
Georgia, 1813-15; member, Georgia state house of representatives; and a member, Georgia state senate. He was also the son of Archibald Bulloch.
*James I. Roosevelt, (1795–1875), U.S. Representative from
New York, 1841–1843.
**Robert B. Roosevelt, (1829–1906), U.S. Representative from New York, 1871–1873; U.S. Minister to
The Netherlands, 1888–1889. He was also the nephew of James I. Roosevelt.
***
Theodore Roosevelt, (1858–1919), colonel in
U.S. Army during
Spanish-American War; governor of New York, 1899–1901; Vice President of the United States, 1901; 26th President of the United States, 1901–1909; Progressive Party nominee for President, 1912. He was also the nephew of Robert Barnwell Roosevelt.
****
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. (1887–1944), colonel in the U.S. Army during
World War I; general in the Army in
World War II;
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1921–1923;
Governor of Puerto Rico, 1929–1932;
Governor General of the Philippines, 1932–1933; son of Theodore Roosevelt.
*****
William F. Weld, (b. 1945), He was a candidate,
Massachusetts state attorney general, 1978; U.S. District Attorney for Massachusetts, 1981-86; Governor of Massachusetts, 1991-97; candidate, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1996. His former wife, Susan Roosevelt Weld, is the great-granddaughter of
Theodore Roosevelt.
****
Kermit Roosevelt 1889–1943, British and American soldier in both World Wars; son of Theodore Roosevelt.
*****
