Why are the families of early Presidents NOT more celebrated or distinguished in American culture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We should have special political positions for these relatives. It stands to reason that they must have some innate genetic capability for leadership.

Wtf.

You mean eugenics.

[Anonymous]

Grew up with a great (however many great) granddaughter of one. She was nice but definitely not a leadership material type person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure there has to be a way to maintain ancestry records in the same way people do for DAR.

Why are the families not considered American Royalty. It seems the Kennedy family may be the longest revered but what about the direct descendants or for presidents that did not have children, their cousins, or other kin? Someone has to still be alive with some sort of connection no matter how distant that could be recognized.

This isn’t just today but why over the course of American history, we’re descendants not celebrated or more well known? Did they opt not to be?

President
Number of Children
Notable Facts


George Washington
0 (2 stepchildren)
Adopted Martha’s children from her previous marriage

John Adams
6
One son, John Quincy Adams, also became president

Thomas Jefferson
6 (legitimately acknowledged)
2 daughters survived to adulthood

James Madison
0 (1 stepson)
Raised Dolley Madison’s son from her first marriage

James Monroe
3
His daughter Maria married in the White House

John Quincy Adams
4
His son Charles Francis Adams was a notable diplomat

Andrew Jackson
0 (adopted 3)
Adopted Native American and other children

Martin Van Buren
4
All sons, one served as his secretary

William Henry Harrison
10
One son, John Scott Harrison, was father to President Benjamin Harrison

John Tyler
15
Most children of any president

James K. Polk
0
Had no biological or adopted children

Zachary Taylor
6
His daughter was married to Jefferson Davis briefly

Millard Fillmore
2
One son became a soldier and politician

Franklin Pierce
3
All died young

James Buchanan
0
Only bachelor president

Abraham Lincoln
4
Only one son (Robert) survived to adulthood

Andrew Johnson
5
All children survived to adulthood

Ulysses S. Grant
4
His sons served in business and the military

Rutherford B. Hayes
8
Very devoted father

James A. Garfield
7
One son became Interior Secretary

Chester A. Arthur
3
One son died as a child

Grover Cleveland
5
First president to marry in the White House

Benjamin Harrison
3
Grandson of William Henry Harrison

William McKinley
2
Both daughters died young

Theodore Roosevelt
6
His son, Theodore Jr., was a decorated WWII hero

William Howard Taft
3
One son, Robert, became a U.S. Senator

Woodrow Wilson
3
One daughter married in the White House

Warren G. Harding
0 (1 illegitimate)
A daughter from an extramarital relationship confirmed later

Calvin Coolidge
2
One son died during presidency

Herbert Hoover
2
Both sons had professional careers

Franklin D. Roosevelt
6
Five survived to adulthood

Harry S. Truman
1
His daughter Margaret was a writer and singer

Dwight D. Eisenhower
2
One son died in infancy; the other was a historian

John F. Kennedy
4
Two died in infancy; Caroline and John Jr. survived

Lyndon B. Johnson
2 (adopted)
Adopted daughters

Richard Nixon
2
Both daughters became public figures

Gerald Ford
4 (3 sons, 1 daughter)
Close-knit family

Jimmy Carter
4
Son Jack Carter ran for U.S. Senate

Ronald Reagan
4
Two children with Nancy Davis, two with Jane Wyman

George H. W. Bush
6
One son, George W. Bush, became president

Bill Clinton
1
Daughter Chelsea

George W. Bush
2
Twin daughters

Barack Obama
2
Malia and Sasha

Donald Trump
5
Children from three marriages

Joe Biden
4


I’m not sure why ChatGPT’s love is for Rutherford Hayes but.. here’s the list

America and Americans don't like royalty, kings, feudalism, Socialism, Fascism, or most any ism really.

Independent people don't view other humans as "royalty" or above them.

[Anonymous]

The Adams family continued to be distinguished for a long time.

Social connections have always continued past the presidency. But they die out over time (ie 50-100 years+ have passed for these people)

[Anonymous]

Americans aren't into political dynasties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of them were slave owners. Not exactly life models.

[Anonymous]

My favorite factoid about presidential relatives: John Tyler (who was born in 1790) has a grandson who is still alive today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Americans aren't into political dynasties.

That's not exactly true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite factoid about presidential relatives: John Tyler (who was born in 1790) has a grandson who is still alive today.

Not anymore… still very cool though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We should have special political positions for these relatives. It stands to reason that they must have some innate genetic capability for leadership.

Wtf.

You mean eugenics.

Nobility. We need titles for these folks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure there has to be a way to maintain ancestry records in the same way people do for DAR.

Why are the families not considered American Royalty. It seems the Kennedy family may be the longest revered but what about the direct descendants or for presidents that did not have children, their cousins, or other kin? Someone has to still be alive with some sort of connection no matter how distant that could be recognized.

Don't think the Kennedys are revered today, not in the way they might have been 20 years ago. The names in public now are definitely the last ones who'll be in public as "Kennedys." That gives them a roughly 65 year run starting from 1960 to present, which means they're generational more than anything else. JFK was probably the first president to have what we'd call "celebrity" status, prior to his time no politician held such a status and the famous presidents were held in quite different kinds of esteem and regard. FDR was hugely famous and revered but he was not a celebrity.

Seems like many of the presidents didn't leave descendants. Lincoln's descendants died out. Many of the earlier presidents were UMC men who passed through the presidency and then moved on to a quiet UMC life. That's most of the 19th and early 20th century. Clinton was probably the first president who made a fortune off the presidency and that's a very recent trend, not historic. Clinton and Obama were the fortune hunters post-presidency.

[Anonymous]

My spouse is descended from a couple presidents but it has had zero impact. Grew up lower middle class.

[Anonymous]

The info on LBJ is incorrect, his two daughters are not adopted.

+1

and Ronald Reagan's children with Jane Wyman were adopted.

Madison's stepson nearly bankupted Madison. He was addicted to gambling. In those days, "debts of honor" had to be paid. So Madison paid..and paid...and paid. Left his widow Dolly impoverished when he died, but Congress voted a small salary for her.

[Anonymous]

Always admired the Adams family; especially Uncle Fester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite factoid about presidential relatives: John Tyler (who was born in 1790) has a grandson who is still alive today.

Reading this just a few days later, PP - he just died today.