Bush family - Definition and Overview

Barbara Bush, Jeb Bush, George H.W. Bush, Laura Bush, and George W. Bush watch tee ball on the White House lawn.

Originating in Columbus, Ohio, the Bush family in the 20th century became an accomplished political family in the United States. In January 2005, The Economist described the Bush family as the most successful political dynasty in U.S. history.

Political figures

George H. W. and Barbara Bush and their young children

• Samuel P. Bush (1863-1948), a close advisor to President Hoover, was president of the National Association of Manufacturers and a major Columbus industrialist.
  • Prescott Bush (1895-1972), Samuel P. Bush's son, served as a US Senator from Connecticut.
    • George H.W. Bush (b. 1924), Prescott Bush's second son, was the 41st President of the United States, the 43rd Vice President of the United States, a Congressman from Houston, Ambassador to the United Nations, and CIA director.
      • George W. Bush (b. 1946), George H.W. Bush's eldest son, is the 43rd President of the United States and was the 46th Governor of Texas.
      • Jeb Bush (b. 1953), George H.W. Bush's second son, is the 43rd Governor of Florida.
    • Prescott Bush, Jr., Prescott Bush's eldest son, served as chairman of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce.

Others

• Marvin Bush (b. 1956), a venture capitalist, son of George H. W. Bush, and brother of President George W. Bush.
• Dorothy Bush (b. 1959), daughter of George H. W. Bush and sister of President George W. Bush.
• Neil Bush (b. 1955), son of George H. W. Bush and brother of President George W. Bush.

• Jonathan Bush, Prescott Bush's third son.
  • Billy Bush, son of Jonathan Bush, Access Hollywood host and first cousin of President George W. Bush.
• Nancy Bush Ellis (b. 1926), Prescott Bush's only daughter.
  • John Prescott Ellis, son of Nancy Bush Ellis, first cousin of George W. Bush and media consultant, who was a consultant for Fox News during the 2000 Presidential Election.

Ancestors

Obadiah Newcomb Bush

Obadiah Newcomb Bush (January 28 1797–1851) was the father of James Smith Bush and is great great great grandfather of President George W. Bush.

According to the book The Faith of George W. Bush:

"... left his home during the War of 1812, became a schoolmaster, then caught gold fever and left for California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Two years later, he tried to return home to reclaim his family and take them west. He died in the attempt, though, and was buried at sea. leaving his wife and seven children alone in Rochester, New York."

Timothy Bush

Timothy Bush (April 1, 1761–1850) was the father of Obadiah Newcomb Bush. Timothy married Lydia Newcomb, daughter of Daniel Newcomb and Elizabeth May, on 26 July 1791 in Penfield, New York. (Lydia Newcomb was born on 28 April 1763 and died on 14 September 1835 in Penfield, New York.)

Timothy Bush

Timothy Bush (1735–1815 in Springport, New York) was the father of Timothy Bush. Timothy married Deborah House, daughter of John House and Deborah Guild, on 12 April 1759 in Hebron, Connecticut. (Deborah House was born on 6 April 1742 in Lebanon, Connecticut and died about 1819 in Springport, New York.)

Richard Bush

Richard Bush (1696/1697–September 27, 1732) was the father of Timothy Bush. He is believed to be the oldest known member of the Bush family in North America. He died in 1732 at Bristol, Rhode Island. Richard married Mary Fairbanks, daughter of Jeremiah Fairbanks and Mary Penfield. Mary Fairbanks was born on 22 August, 1699 and died on 7 May, 1743 in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Connections to other prominent families

Spencer family connections

As a side note, the current Bush family is believed to be descended from the Spencer family that produced Diana, Princess of Wales, which would make George W. Bush a 17th cousin to Prince William of Wales.

Kerry family connections

Obadiah Newcomb Bush's wife, Harriet Smith, and their descendants, are also distant cousins of John Kerry.

Bin Laden family business connections

The head of the bin Laden family, Salem bin Laden, was, through his business-partner James Bath, a minor investor in Arbusto Energy, a small oil production company run by George W. Bush.

This is alleged by Craig Unger, who wrote a book about the supposed relations between the Bush family and its Saudi connections called House of Bush, House of Saud; the same allegations are also featured in Michael Moore's political satire Fahrenheit 9/11.

See also

• List of U.S. political families
• Political families of the world
• Bush family conspiracy theory

External links

• George W. Bush Family Tree (http://genealogy.about.com/od/presidents/p/george_bush.htm)
• New York Times: A Bush Dynasty Begins To Look Real (http://www.webprowire.com/summaries/302653.html)
• Royal ancestry of the Bush Family (http://www.blue-blood.co.uk)
• CNN: Victory restores Bush dynasty to Washington (http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/13/president.bush/)
• Guardian The Bush dynasty and the Cuban criminals (http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,851913,00.html)
• Village Voice: The Kennedy Dynasty vs. the Bush Dynasty (http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0247/sutton.php)
• Cincinnati Enquirer: Cheney's health beside the point in Bush dynasty (http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2000/07/30/loc_cheneys_health.html)
• St. Petersburg Times(FL): The Bush dynasty parties on (http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/10/Floridian/The_Bush_dynasty_part.shtml)