Is the Bush family the most powerful and influential family throughout American History, why or why not?

2015-07-18T13:20:32-04:00

Is the Bush family the most influential and powerful family in American history? If not, would Jeb Bush wining the upcoming presidential election propel this family to the top of the list?

Does the Bush family outrank the Adamses, Roosevelts, Kennedys, or even the Rockefellers? Keep an open mind politics is not the only measure of power and influence, if not the Bush family who and why?

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jul 18 at 2015 1:24 PM

2015-07-18T13:24:41-04:00

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 18 at 2015 1:29 PM

2015-07-18T13:29:43-04:00

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member I believe they might be currently at this time and if Jeb Bush won the Presidential election and remained in office for two consecutive terms they could be one of the top (5) most influential families in American History. That is a lot of "ifs" for Jeb Bush. He has a long road ahead of him. At this very moment I would place them in the top (10) of influential families of all times (historically). The families you mentioned were very powerful and made some lasting marks on history that will be taught for ages. I just don't see the Bush Family making the history books like the others have. Maybe I'm wrong.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 18 at 2015 1:46 PM

2015-07-18T13:46:39-04:00

As I've begun researching John E Bush (Jeb), I've begun to realize that his politics are not necessarily the same as his brother and at this point I am not opposed anymore to a Bush presidency (though he is not my candidate).

With that said, having 3 men (father and two sons) from the same family all holding the highest political office in the USA and possibly the world would definitely put the Bush family into serious contention for that title.
I don't know if they would ever completely take over the #1 spot though, just my personal opinion.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 1:57 PM

2015-07-18T13:57:32-04:00

No, I don't think they are the most powerful family in history. We have had the Kennedy's, Vanderbilts', Rockerfellers', and Roosevelt families.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Jul 18 at 2015 2:06 PM

2015-07-18T14:06:03-04:00

I miss Bush

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 2:12 PM

2015-07-18T14:12:07-04:00

I would say yes. The Bush family has produced one senator, two governors, two presidents and several members belong to the Skull & Bones. In addition to this they are connected to the Ralph Lauren family. Lauren Bush married David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren.

Response by Sgt Tom Vaughn made Jul 18 at 2015 2:15 PM

2015-07-18T14:15:25-04:00

Yes they are , the bush family has been fighting for this country a very very long time , research the family's history
Only 1kennedy made president and Ted was a senator for s long time , he should have never been allowed to be after killing a young lady while he was drunk driving
Bobby was a great AG
I'm not a GW Bush fan , but I do like JEB

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 18 at 2015 2:43 PM

2015-07-18T14:43:24-04:00

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member If we are talking strictly politics then they are in the Top Ten. Especially if you take it to GOP side. Do they make the top of all time, hmmm...No.
Political families equally influential are Adams, Tafts, Clintons, Kennedys, Roosevelts, Harrisons, Udalls
A counter argument can be made that Bush's are really the Reagan philosophy extended to two generations and not the Creators of a new set of ideas.
Economically important families are: Walton (Walmart), Gates (Microsoft), Koch, Murdock (Fox), DuPonts, Rockefeller, Mellon, Rothschild, Pew, Cargill
If we go for creative, philanthropic or influential many more families and I would not put the Bush family in the top ten.
I don't agree with the conclusion of this article but it has a four different listings toward the end...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2306408/Americas-powerful-dynasties-revealed-Rahm-Emanuel-brothers-join-Bush-Kennedy-clans-list-50-prominent-families.html

America's most powerful dynasties revealed: Rahm Emanuel and his brothers join Bush and Kennedy...

The 50 most prominent American dynasties have been named in the newest issue of Town and County Magazine, and a few surprises - including Rahm Emanuel and his brothers - have made the list.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 2:53 PM

2015-07-18T14:53:35-04:00

Personal feelings aside, they are certainly ranked high, particularly over the last 25-30 years.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jul 18 at 2015 3:42 PM

2015-07-18T15:42:03-04:00

Nah, they're not rich enough. Money's influence on everything's hard to overestimate. The better funded candidate wins 95% of the time. And that's just politics.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2015 6:04 PM

2015-07-18T18:04:36-04:00

I don't think that they are the most powerful in history but they maybe the most powerful at the moment. You can't deny the legacy of two Presidents and many other political positions and accomplishments that have been made for the last 25 years but the Bush legacy goes back further than that. There are over 4 generations of Yale graduates dating back to the mid 1800's. President H.W Bush's father Prescott Bush served in the military during WWI and then was also a senator.

Response by SSG Ernie Westby made Jul 18 at 2015 6:07 PM

2015-07-18T18:07:22-04:00

The Bush family, as a whole, is the most influential family in the post Vietnam era, but I do not believe they are the most influential in American history.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Mar 31 at 2016 8:19 AM

2016-03-31T08:19:38-04:00

Isn't it amazing how much nepotism there is in a position occupied by only 44 different people?!

Trump may be an arrogant prick, loose cannon that thinks "we never beat the Japanese at anything" (Hey Donald, Google "Hiroshima")... and if elected he'll basically be a lame duck since day 1 (Hey Donald, you can't sign a law if congress never puts it on your desk), but at least he isn't "Return of the Clinton's".

My "conspiracy theory paranoia" is ringing like a church bell.
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By the time Barack Obama leaves office, the national debt will be $20 TRILLION. That is not just obscene, it is unsustainable — and arguably the single greatest threat to our national security.Responsibility for the years of deficit spending that have created our debt crisis rests squarely with BOTH the Republicans and the Democrats. The debt doubled under President George W. Bush — and doubled again under President Obama. During that time,...