If Hillary Clinton is inaugurated as our next President of the United States on January 20, 2009, she will establish the Clinton name along with the Bush name as a new political dynasty in American politics. The last four names on presidential lists will read Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. Is that a problem?
According to an article in The Seattle Times, political dynasties are a part of America's history - going back to the founding era. George Washington did not have any heirs, but his successor, John Adams, did. And the Adams dynasty became an early fixture in American politics - a dynasty that reached into the American Civil War, with Charles Francis Adams playing a key role in keeping Britain neutral during the War Between the States.
But the Adams family (and that's the Adams - one 'd' - family, not those other Addamses) isn't the only dynasty from early U.S. history.
Follow this link to read the article.
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2 comments:
I think that the most influential dynasty in American history was the "Virginia Dynasty." Though not connected through family ties, the Virginia Dynasty has been a era that historians love to follow.
This dynasty refers to the four Virginia presidents at the beginning of out nation's history. They constitute four of the first five presidencies that this country experienced. They of course are:
Washington
Adams---who is the only break in this chain
Jefferson
Madison
Monroe
And Adams was a 1-term break in the chain. The others each served two terms. :-)
Being a Virginian most of my life (the last year and a half - I've been an Ohioan), I would have to say that I LOVE the "Virginia Dynasty." :-)
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