Talk Elections

Note: my definition of political Dynasty is when 3 or more members of the same family are well known in the political world OR 2 or more people in the family have been nominated for president of the United States.

I say Roosevelt followed by Kennedy.  If Robert wasn't killed, it might be Kennedy first

Adams, fine statesmen all.

Roosevelts. 

Adams of course.

i dont understand how Bush is beating Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Adams. OK, where are the pot smokers that made this possible? :)

HOW COULD YOU FORGET TAFT

HOW?

theres always the write-in option

THE PIERCES WILL RISE AGAIN.

I second that.


That too.

I like the Bush's. :)

Samuel P. Bush (advisor to Hoover), Prescott Bush (U.S. Senator), Prescott Bush, Jr. (Chair of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce), George H.W. Bush (Congressman, head of RNC, CIA director, Ambassador to the UN, Vice Pres., President) George W. Bush (Governor, President), Jeb Bush (Governor), George P. Bush (big name in politics, potential candidate in the future).

They might not be as numerous as the Kennedys but they are up there when it comes to total number of influential people in politics and gain the honor of Best Political Dynasty (so far) because they are respectable. I can't say the same about Joe Kennedy's clan.

I'd have to go with the Bush dynasty.

The reasons have been explained very well by Keystone Phil.

Any political future for the Bush twins???  Possibly!!!

I don't see that happening.  ;)

They'll need new speechwriters then.

Here's why.

Alphonso Taft (1810-1891) - Co-founded the Skull & Bones Society, and never won an election he ran in.

William H Taft (1857-1930) - While President, he expanded the bureaucratic civil service, and oversaw the creation of the income tax.  He also joins Alfred Landon in being the least successful Republican candidates in a presidential election, with the major exception that Taft was running for re-election, and was actually pushed into third place.  He also weighed 350 lbs, and once got himself stuck in a bathtub.

Robert A Taft I (1889-1953) - An isolationist paleoconservative who lost the GOP presidential nomination three times.

Robert Taft Jr. (1917-1993) - A one-term senator who didn't really achieve anything.

Robert A Taft II (1942- ) - A total failure as governor of Ohio, he currently enjoys an approval rating of 19%; the lowest by far for any governor in the country.

I've left out all of the other notable Tafts, because "notable" is really a generous term for most of them.

Taft

Roosevelts aren't really a political Dynasty, per se...FDR used his fifth cousin's name to get ahead in politics, yes (getting the 1920 VP nomination while he was at it)...but two fifth cousins does not a dynasty make.

I say Adams...1770-1933.  Not bad...although obviously they got more and more obscure for each generation...President...Worse President...and so on 'til Charles Francis Adams, Hoover's Secretary of the Navy.


In modern times, however, Kennedy takes the cake.  Although they're all but dead now (when Arnold Schwarzenegger is the foremost Kennedy, you know you have a problem).

The Bushs probably do come closest to a real dynasty but since they've doing nothing good at all for the country, I don't see how anyone could vote for them.

There is another prominent political dynasty no one has mentioned, the Rockefellers.

Nelson Rockefeller, Republican
Asst. Sec. of State during WWII
International Development Board, post WWII
Chmn. Presidents Advisory Council on Government
Organization, then Under Sec. of Dept. of Health,
Education and Welfare under Eisenhower
Governor of New York 1959-73
Candidate for GOP Presidential nomination 1960/64/68
Vice President 1974-77

Winthrop Rockefeller (Nelson's brother), Republican
Governor Arkanasas 1966-70

John D Rockefeller IV "Jay", Democrat
West Virginia House of Delegates 1966-68 
West Virgnia Sec. of State 1 term
Governor West Virginia 1977-85
U.S. Senator from West Virginia 1985-present

Winthrop Rockefeller II "Win", Republican
Current Lt. Governor Arkansas   

Well, I can't really say they're primarily a political dynasty, however...

I've never been 100% sure, but is Jay Rockefeller the nephew of Nelson, or some other relation?

A valid point, of course.  The Rockefellers are certainly a financial and economic dynasty as well, which is more well known.

One other Rockefeller relative of historical significance that should be pointed out in the political field is Nelson W. Aldrich, Nelson Rockefeller's grandfather on his mother's side. 

Nelson W. Aldrich was a Republican from Rhode Island and served in the following offices
President of Providence City Council
Speaker of the RI House of Representatives
U.S. House of Representatives 1879-81
U.S. Senator from RI 1881-1911

As noted in his biorgraphy, he dominated all tariff and monetary policies in the first decade of the 20th century, and was the author of the Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1910. 

Yes, Jay Rockefeller is a nephew of Nelson Rockefeller.

John D. Rockefeller had 4 daughters and 1 son, John D. Rockefeller II "Jr."

John D. II had 1 daughter, Abby, and 5 sons, John D. III, Nelson, Laurance, Winthrop, and David.

"Jay", (John D. Rockefeller IV), is of course the son of John D. III, and therefore a nephew of Nelson Rockefeller. 

The best real "best" political dynasties all acted prior to the 20th century. Good thing we got rid of some of those institutions.

I voted for Bush, not because I like them, but because they have an impressive numerous amount of people in high offices.