Presidential Siblings (WWII, Eisenhower, presidents, military)

[arr430]

Which presidents had siblings who would been just as good? Kennedys and Bushes had contenders. I've heard Milton Eisenhower was better qualified than Dwight. Then there is Billy Carter. Half the FDR fanily was born in Canada, so ineligible. But before then, I'm just drawing blanks.

Before FDR, what kinds of siblings did presidents have? Any remarkable sisters?

[2x3x29x41]

Originally Posted by arr430

Which presidents had siblings who would been just as good? Kennedys and Bushes had contenders. I've heard Milton Eisenhower was better qualified than Dwight. Then there is Billy Carter. Half the FDR fanily was born in Canada, so ineligible. But before then, I'm just drawing blanks.

Before FDR, what kinds of siblings did presidents have? Any remarkable sisters?

Billy, Roger, Neil, others - there seems to be an array of ne'er-do-wells among Presidential siblings. But maybe it's just the usual variety of human tendency. Being the close relative of a President (or a future President, as they tend to lead driven and high-achieving pre-Presidential lives) must be a strange existence (to say nothing of being a President's child).

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's only sibling, James Roosevelt Roosevelt (yes, that was really his full name) was older than Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother. James was, of course, a half brother of Franklin, and he was five months old when his future-brother's future-mother was born.

Richard Nixon's younger brother Arthur died when the future President was 12 years old - eight years later, his older brother Harold died. These deaths haunted Nixon for the rest of his life.

John Kennedy was obviously one sibling among a bunch of very high achievers.

Sam Houston Johnson was a piece of work. And Orvil Grant was an opportunistic grifter.

[msgsing]

And of course Billy Carter has the distinction of being the only presidential sibling that created and marketed his own brand of beer. Seems to have enjoyed the limelight too.

[Dd714]

Teddy Roosevelt's family has a distinguished although tragic history in military service -
His youngest son was killed in action in WWI.
His oldest son earned a Medal of Honor in WWII after distinguished service on D day (he died of a heart attack a month later).

(edit - I see you say "siblings"...ah well, I give you offsprings)

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by msgsing

And of course Billy Carter has the distinction of being the only presidential sibling that created and marketed his own brand of beer. Seems to have enjoyed the limelight too.

I saw a 1976 interview with Billy Carter where he was asked what it was like being the black sheep of the family. He replied:
"Black sheep? My brother's runnin' fer president, my 68 year old mother joined the Peace Corps, and my sister's a holy roller. I'm the only normal one in the family."

[Cida]

Originally Posted by arr430

Which presidents had siblings who would been just as good? Kennedys and Bushes had contenders. I've heard Milton Eisenhower was better qualified than Dwight. Then there is Billy Carter. Half the FDR fanily was born in Canada, so ineligible. But before then, I'm just drawing blanks.

Before FDR, what kinds of siblings did presidents have? Any remarkable sisters?

I've sometimes wondered what wonderful careers the Kennedy daughters might have had if they were brought up to have the same ambitions as the sons.

[arr430]

Starting one by one, the first with any promise seems to be Thomas Boylston Adams, the brother of John Quincy Adams. He earned a law degree at Harvard, but seemed an indifferent lawyer, reputed to have an alcohol problem. He was elected to the Massachusetts legislature.

Carter Basset Harrison, brother of William Henry, was elected three times to Congress, but his career seems to be undistinguished.

[jbgusa]

Andrew Jackson's brother if I recall correctly from American Lion.