America's Political Dynasties: From Adams to Clinton
By Stephen Hess
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About this ebook
The Constitution states that "no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States," yet it seems political nobility is as American as apple pie.
America was founded in rebellion against nobility and inherited status. Yet from the start, dynastic families have been conspicuous in national politics. The Adamses. The Lodges. The Tafts. The Roosevelts. The Kennedys. And today the Bushes and the Clintons.
Longtime presidential historian Stephen Hess offers an encyclopedic tour of the families that have loomed large over America's political history.
Starting with John Adams, who served as the young nation's first vice president and earned the nickname "His Rotundity," Hess paints the portraits of the men and women who, by coincidence, connivance, or sheer sense of duty, have made up America's political elite. There are the well-known dynasties such as the Roosevelts and the Kennedys, and the names that live on only in history books, such as the Bayards (six generations of U.S. senators) and the Breckinridges (a vice president, two senators, and six representatives).
Hess fills the pages of America's Political Dynasties with anecdotes and personality-filled stories of the families who have given the United States more than a fair share of its presidents, senators, governors, ambassadors, and cabinet members.
This book also tells us the stories of the Bushes and what looks to be a political dynasty in waiting, the Clintons. Emblematic of America's growing diversity, Hess also examines how women, along with ethnic and racial minorities, have joined the ranks of dynastic political families.
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Reviews for America's Political Dynasties
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An excellent read! As a follower of politics and history, I thought that I was well versed in this subject. I can hardly believe how much Hess has added so much to my understanding. For example, I was not aware that there has been seventy five American families in which three members of the same name have held national office over more than one generation. Hess covers all of these "dynasties", some well known, some not. As far as current events go, I was very interested in the current Bush and Clinton dynasty talk. As Hess states, "What is fascinating about the Bushes and Clintons in terms of background, style, and personality is that they have nothing in common except a burning desire to get elected president of the United States. A nice irony is that while the Clintons are not a dynasty but would like to be one, the Bushes are a dynasty but deny that they are one". I am thoroughly impressed with this book, and cannot recommend it strongly enough. Bravo, Mr. Hess!