These Presidential Families Turned Politics Into a Dynasty

Presidential families turning into dynasties is a relatively rare occurrence. In the United States, it isn't uncommon for families to become part of the very fabric of the political machine that runs things. However, something different happens when looking at the highest office of the land. Today, we're looking at presidents who spawned their political dynasties after taking office.

One of the first presidential families to form a dynasty is also one of the earliest. The Adamses are probably the default example of a political family in the United States. Besides the presidency, multiple Adams men held notable positions in American government roles for generations.

John Adams was the second president of the United States, a signatory on the Declaration of Independence, and a founding father among other notable achievements. Adams also had the distinction of being the first ever vice president, taking the position after George Washington won the first election held for the office.

Son of John Adams, John Quincy Adams had a long career in politics before being elected president. Notably, he served as Secretary of State, in Congress, and was an ambassador before seeking the highest office in the United States.

The Harrison family is a bit of an odd inclusion that I'll discuss in just a moment. Nonetheless, it serves as another early example of a dynasty in American politics. Benjamin Harrison V, the great-grandfather of future president William Henry Harrison, got the family its start in American politics. He served as the governor of Virginia and was one of the signatories on the Declaration of Independence.

There isn't a lot to say about the legacy of the ninth president of the United States because he simply wasn't in office long enough to make a splash. William Henry Harrison's political career began in 1798, but he gained renown for negotiating with native tribes across North America for peace. He would take the office of president in 1841, lasting a short month before dying.

Benjamin Harrison has a bit more we can cover when it comes to overall political impact. The 23rd president of the United States, Harrison, was a Union army veteran of the American Civil War before taking office in 1888.

I hesitated to add the Roosevelts due to the somewhat nebulous familial relationship between the two men who served in the office of the president. That said, the Roosevelt family was quite involved in public service outside of the presidency, so it certainly bears mention.

The 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, has enjoyed quite a bit of mythos surrounding both his person and his time in office. Roosevelt took office after the assassination of William McKinley and enjoyed a successful political career.

A fifth cousin to Teddy Roosevelt, FDR is probably one of the first world leaders who comes to mind when talking about the Second World War. While he was certainly instrumental in guiding the United States through the biggest conflict in history, he was an established statesman well before taking office. As the 32nd president of the United States, he served a record-breaking 3 terms before dying in office.

The most recent family to become a political dynasty of sorts is the Bushes. Family patriarch Prescott Bush served in some notable roles before his son and grandsons took the helm, so to speak. While their time in the spotlight has largely come to a close, the Bushes have made a lasting impression on the American psyche.

George H.W. Bush was no stranger to public service when you get right down to it. Beyond serving as the 41st president of the United States, he was the vice president under Ronald Reagan.

In an odd turn, George W. Bush became the president not long after his father. Serving as the 43rd president, the younger Bush has left a lasting impression thanks to being in office during 9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror.

Not every political dynasty ends up filling the White House. Some families ultimately don't have the force of will to end up with multiple presidents in office. That doesn't stop them from making a lasting mark in public service.

The Kennedys are perhaps the most notable example of a political dynasty we can think of in popular culture. JFK was president, his brother Robert F. Kennedy was the Attorney General and a senator, and his brother Ted Kennedy was a long-serving senator as well. This has extended to the modern era as well, with RFK Jr. serving as the head of HHS under Donald Trump.

The last of our political dynasties is one of the most recent to boot. The Biden family has left less of a mark than the likes of the Bushes or the Adamses. That said, they are still devoted to public service with Joe Biden serving as the 46th president, his son Beau acting as the Attorney General of Delaware, and his great-grandfather Edward Francis Blewitt working in the Pennsylvania State Senate.