In honor of Father’s Day, we thought we’d take a look at some notable-- and perhaps some new-to-you—fathers and sons of the Republican Party and their contributions to our great nation:
The Bush Family
One of the most well-known modern-day Republican father-and-son duos – or in this case – groups, is the Bush family. George H.W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States, George W. Bush was President #43 and Governor of Texas, and Jeb Bush was Governor of Florida and Republican-candidate hopeful in the bid for 45th POTUS. What you may not know is how deep the Bush roots run in the Republican party and American politics: George H.W. Bush’s father, Prescott Bush, was a Connecticut Senator, and his grandfather, Samuel Bush, served on the War Industries Board during WWI and worked on the President’s Committee for Unemployment Relief during the Great Depression. Going back yet two more generations, Samuel Bush’s grandfather, Obadiah Bush, was Vice-President of the American Anti-Slavery Society and supported the Underground Railroad.
The Adams Family
John Adams was our nation’s first Vice President, serving under George Washington, and became the 2nd President of the United States. His son, John Quincy Adams, was the 6th president of the U.S., serving from 1825-1829. This was the first father-son duo to each achieve status as President of the United States.
The Harrisons
While William Henry Harrison was 9th President of the United States and affiliated with the Whig Party, his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was the 23rd President and a Republican. Benjamin Harrison V was a signer of The Declaration of Independence, and their family lineage has numerous governors and senators.
John McCain Sr., Jr. and III
John S. McCain, III served in the Vietnam war, was tortured as a POW from 1968-1973, and upon his return, devoted his life to American politics. He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Arizona Senior State Senator and the 2008 Republican nominee for President of the United States. What you may not know is that both his father and grandfather, John S. McCain, Jr. and Sr., were four-star admirals in the U.S. Navy. John himself was born on base at the Coco Solo Naval Station in Panama. He was destined for American public service from the beginning!
The Rockefellers
John D. Rockefeller, Sr. is well-known as the patriarch of the Rockefeller dynasty, founder of Standard Oil and America’s wealthiest man for much of the 19th century. But did you know that in addition to business and philanthropic successes, the Rockefeller family has its fair share of politicians, too? Nelson Rockefeller was the grandson of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., and got his start in politics serving minor roles on New York State’s Board of Health and receiving national political appointments from FDR, Eisenhower and Nixon. He was Republican governor of New York for four terms, and while he ran for President and lost in 1960, 1964 and 1968, he did serve as Vice President under President Gerald Ford. Winthrop Rockefeller, another grandson of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., was the first Republican Governor of Arkansas, and his son became Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. Great-grandson John “Jay” D. Rockefeller IV, though the first Democratic politician in the Republican dynasty, also held decades in political office, serving as Governor of West Virginia and as a West Virginia State Senator for 30 years from 1985-2015.
Today we raise a cup of hot, fresh Republican Coffee to these fathers and sons, and many more, who have devoted their efforts to serving our great country!
Click here to get Republican Coffee Now!
Sources: http://socawlege.com/the-10-most-powerful-political-family-dynasties-in-american-history/, http://www.biography.com/people/nelson-rockefeller-9461384, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Rockefeller, http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-harrison-9329317,
