Obama a distant cousin of Bush

BBC ^ | 3/26/08 | Correspondent

[Cardhu]

Obama a distant cousin of Bush

Close political rivals - now there's a connection in their family histories

It has emerged that Barack Obama is a tenth cousin, once removed, of the man whose job he wants - George W Bush.

They are linked by Samuel Hinkley of Cape Cod, who died in 1662.

Mr Obama is also a distant cousin of the actor Brad Pitt while Hillary Clinton is related to Mr Pitt's girlfriend, Angelina Jolie.

The ties of the US Democratic rivals were established by a respected US genealogical organisation after three years' investigation.

Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama can also boast a long list of other famous relations.

Christopher Child, from the New England Historic Genealogical Society, says that the politicians' ancestries show they have more in common than they think.

The Society, founded in 1845, is the oldest and biggest non-profit genealogical organisation in the United States.

The research, conducted by Mr Child and Gary Boyd Roberts, came up with some extraordinary family connections.

Clinton and Madonna

Mr Obama is the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya.

Hollywood glamour comes to the Democratic candidates' campaigns

He was previously identified as a distant cousin of US Vice-President Dick Cheney.

His political lineage includes not just President Bush but also Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Harry S Truman, Dick Cheney and Winston Churchill.

The connection made with Hollywood star Brad Pitt adds a welcome splash of glamour to his family tree.

But Mrs Clinton's kin has much more of an exotic feel.

Her distant cousins include the singers Madonna, Celine Dion and Alanis Morisette, as well as the beatnik author Jack Kerouac and Prince Charles's wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

She and Angelina Jolie are ninth cousins, twice removed. They are both related to one Jean Cusson, who died in St Sulpice, Quebec, in 1718.

If the Hollywood couple, collectively known as "Brangelina", decide on a very extended family gathering, it could provide the perfect opportunity for the two Democratic presidential rivals to get together.

[Salamander]

Big deal.

Somewhere, in the dim and very distant past, I am related to the proto/pan-Celtic god Lugh.

Tell me what I’ve won, Wink!

;]

[Salamander]

Since no pictures [are allowed to] exist of Mo Daddy, we’ll never know....;^D

[griswold3]

Nepotism!

[meandog]

McCain related to Rob Roy, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and the Stuart monarchy on the Scottish side. Also related to St. Patrick, Charles Stewart Parnell on the Irish side. Distant American relatives include Sgt. Alvin York, Audie Murphy, Nathan Hale, Joshua L. Chamberlain, Phillip Sheridan, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, JEB Stuart, and Douglas MacArthur. Closer American relatives include Rhaphel Semmes, David D. Porter, Oliver H. Perry, Steven Decatur and David G. Farragut.

[Salamander]

Wow!

Now *that* impresses me!

[Salamander]

The Clan McCain is of Ulster, as am I.

Clan McCain - (Mac Uí Catháin, McCain)

The Clan McCain has it’s origins as the branch of the Clann Uí Catháin (O’Cahan) who lived and operated east of the Bann River in North Antrim as early as 1270, with descendants still living in the vicinity and worldwide.

Their sphere of influence encompassed the area known as “The Route” (Rúta), particularly surrounding the Bush River (Buaise), its valley and north to Dunseverick on the coast.

They held the castle of Dunseverick as their seat from circa 1610 to 1651.

They descend from Manus Catha Duinn Uí Catháin (Manus of the battle of Down, killed in 1260), and along with their association with the Bush River were known as Clann Manus na Buaise (Clan Manus of Bush River).

They were tightly allied and related to the Eoghnacht clans, particularly the Uí Naill (O’Neil), and later with the Irish Mac Dónaill (Eoin Mhóir) and the Earls of Antrim.

[processing please hold]

Is there anybody on this planet obama isn't linked to?

Wasn't he also linked to Cheney?

[VOA]

Her distant cousins include the singers Madonna, Celine Dion and
Alanis Morisette, as well as the beatnik author Jack Kerouac and
Prince Charles's wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Just one reason to NOT engage a geneological search company.
You never know what objectionable things you'll find in your family tree.

[Salamander]

I’d love to know but because of the ‘hillbilly thing’ it dead ends around the late 1700s.

The “tombstones” of many my ancestors in overgrown mountain cemeteries are just flat rocks with the scratched-on names long gone.

As a kid, we took my gramma back to the Catholic Church cemetery and she put flowers on rocks and I had no idea who she was “remembering”.

[probably my kin who had not “gone Protestant’ and dropped the “Mc” from the surname]

In the WV coal mine cemetery visits, it was even worse.
No stones at all.
She just knew which patch of ground in the middle of a field she was to lay flowers on.

They were the Welsh side.

[VOA]

I should have put a (/SARC) label with my original post.

I find geneology interesting.
But if I found out I had a demonstrable linkage to Ms. Parker-Bowles...
I probably should keep suicide-capable instruments out of reach until
I can to terms with the news!!!
(Yes, I’m laughing...sort of in this specific case!)

[griffin]

in a different article I learned Kerry was related to Sponge Bob and Patrick! :^0

[Ancesthntr]

Hillary Clinton is related to Mr Pitt's girlfriend, Angelina Jolie.

Well, clearly, Angelina got the hottie genes in that family (and none of the brains). I guess that Hildabeast got the opposite.

[Salamander]

I fear that any connection to Camilla would probably cause me to immediately slam my Yukon into a tree.

[or have all my DNA rearranged]....;]

[Salamander]

That explains his clothes, at least.