10 U.S. Presidents Who Were Related to Each Other
Being president runs in some families! While most presidents are not related, a surprising number share bloodlines—some very close, others distant cousins. Here are 10 presidents who were related to at least one other president, with the exact connection explained in simple terms and a fun kid-friendly fact for each pair or group.
- John Adams (2nd President) & John Quincy Adams (6th President)
Father and son – the first father-son pair to both become president.
Fun fact: John Quincy started going to Europe with his dad at age 10—he met kings and queens as a kid! - William Henry Harrison (9th President) & Benjamin Harrison (23rd President)
Grandfather and grandson – the only grandfather-grandson duo.
Fun fact: William Henry died after just 31 days in office—Benjamin got to finish a full term 48 years later! - Theodore Roosevelt (26th President) & Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President)
Fifth cousins (once removed) – they were distant relatives but close enough to be family friends.
Fun fact: Eleanor Roosevelt (FDR’s wife) was Theodore’s niece—so FDR married his own fifth cousin once removed! - James Madison (4th President) & Zachary Taylor (12th President)
Second cousins – Madison was Taylor’s second cousin.
Fun fact: Both were born in Virginia and loved farming—family reunion at the farm! - James Madison (4th) & Zachary Taylor (12th) & James K. Polk (11th)
All three were second cousins to each other through Virginia family lines.
Fun fact: Three presidents in a row (Polk, Taylor, then Fillmore) were all connected to Madison’s family tree! - William Henry Harrison (9th) & Benjamin Harrison (23rd) & John Tyler (10th)
Tyler was Harrison’s distant cousin through Virginia planter families.
Fun fact: Tyler became president when William Henry died—family ties in the line of succession! - George H.W. Bush (41st) & George W. Bush (43rd)
Father and son – the second father-son pair (Bush 41 & Bush 43). - John Adams (2nd) & John Quincy Adams (6th) & Calvin Coolidge (30th)
Coolidge was a very distant cousin (through early Massachusetts settlers).
Fun fact: Coolidge was super quiet—imagine Thanksgiving dinner with two talkative Adamses and Silent Cal! - Franklin Pierce (14th) & Benjamin Harrison (23rd)
Distant cousins through New England families.
Fun fact: Pierce and Harrison both loved books—Pierce read Latin and Greek, Harrison collected history books. - Barack Obama (44th) & Dick Cheney (Vice President under George W. Bush)
Obama and Dick Cheney are 8th cousins (very distant) through colonial ancestors.
Fun fact: Obama joked about it: “Dick Cheney is my cousin—small world!”
- Only two father-son pairs: Adams & Adams, Bush & Bush.
- Only one grandfather-grandson pair: the Harrisons.
- The Roosevelts (Theodore & Franklin) are the most famous cousin presidents.
- Many early presidents (especially Virginians) are distant cousins because so many came from the same colonial families.
