America’s Political Families
The Clintons Are the First Husband and Wife to Seek the White House
Bill and Hillary Clinton are the first political couple to seek husband and wife terms in the White House, but families have been trying to dominate American politics since 1825.
John Quincy Adams started it when he became the sixth president, following his father, John Adams, the second president. Each served four years.
The Bush, Roosevelt, Kennedy, Taft and Gore families rank among America’s most prominent political families in terms of years served as President, Vice President, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative and/or governor.
Bush Family Has Won Nine Terms
President George H. W. Bush won two vice presidential terms and one presidential term (1988). His son George W. Bush won two presidential terms (2000 & 2004) and two terms as governor of Texas, serving six years. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush served eight years. Together the Bushes have won nine terms and served 34 years, as governor, vice president or president.
Roosevelts have won the most White House terms, but Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt were only fifth cousins and were not as closely related as the Bushes. Theodore served as a Republican (1901-09), then lost his bid for another term in 1912 as the Progressive Party nominee. He served three years as New York governor and six months as vice president.
Franklin Roosevelt Won Most Presidential Terms
FDR won one term as New York governor and four terms as President. He died early in his last term. Together the two Roosevelts won two governor elections, a vice presidential election and five presidential elections. They served more than 26 years in those offices.
The Kennedys were potentially the most powerful political family of all, but assassinations and accidents limited their careers. Both President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy were assassinated, the latter while campaigning for the Democratic nomination.
Their younger brother, Edward Kennedy, has served in the U.S. Senate since 1963. He was involved in a controversial accident that killed a young female associate, ending his White House hopes. Younger members of the Kennedy family were also short circuited in their political pursuits.
Gores Served 55 Years in Washington
The Gores of Tennessee served 55 years as elected officials in Washington, but the political careers of both U.S. Sen. Albert Gore Sr. and VP Al Gore Jr. ended in defeats. The elder Gore served 13 years as a U.S. Representative and 18 as a U.S. Senator, before losing a bid for a fourth term. The younger Gore served eight years each as a U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator and VP before losing his 2000 White House campaign to George W. Bush.
Taft Influence Stretched Over Three Centuries
The Taft Family of Ohio stretched its influence over a longer period than the other powerful families. Its members have included:
- Attorney General and Secretary of War Alphonso Taft (1872-77)
- William Howard Taft (Alphonso’s son) served as President (1909-13) and Chief Justice (1921-30), the only man to hold both positions.
- Robert A. Taft (son of William Howard Taft) served as U.S. Senator (1939 to 1953). He sought the GOP presidential nomination, unsuccessfully, in 1940, 1948 and 1952.
- Robert Taft Jr., served as U.S. Senator (1970-76)
- Robert (Bob) Taft II served as Ohio governor (1999-2007), stretching the family’s political influence into its third century.
Sources:
Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1971, published by the U.S. Gov. Printing Office, 1971
Chronicle of America, published by Chronicle Communications, 1993
John Quincy Adams
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