A Presidential Connection – Part 1
It’s the presidential season in the United States. Regardless of politics, are you a descendant or relative of the current or a former United States President? According to research done by 12-year-old BridgeAnne d’Avignon in 2010, if your ancestry traces back to the British Isles, it’s entirely possible. BridgeAnne worked long and hard on her research with the help of her grandfather who spent 60 years tracing his ancestry. According to her, she “discovered that all presidents except Martin Van Buren are related to King John of England who was depicted as the villain in the Robin Hood tales. King John also signed the Magna Carta in 1215 which helped form the British Parliament (Greene).”
Through my research, I have ascertained that I am related to Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States. Fifty years ago today on August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon gave a 15 minute speech explaining his intent to resign as President of the United States because of the fallout of the Watergate scandal. He officially resigned on August 9, 1974.
Richard Nixon and my grandfather, Donald Watkins, shared 4th great grandparents, Anthony Smith and Lydia Willets. This made them 5th cousins; therefore, Richard Nixon and I are 5th cousins twice removed. Nixon’s line connects with us through his mother, Hannah Milhous.
Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California into a Quaker family (his mother was a devout Quaker and his father who originally was a Methodist, converted). We come from a long line of Quakers. So far, I have traced our lineage to Henry Howland (1566-1635) and Anne Aires (1567-1629). They had five sons; the most famous of their sons was John (my 9th great grand-uncle) who is famous for having fallen off the Mayflower. Richard and I were both descended from Henry Howland and Mary Newland. Quakers believe in non-violence and traditionally abstain from war. I wrote about an ancestor of mine, Timothy Smith (brother of Judith Smith who was a direct ancestor of Richard’s) in my blog, titled What’s a Pacifist to Do? https://journeyingwithjacque.com/conflict-month-6-of-12-ancestors-in-12-months/ I talked about the conflict Timothy had during the Revolutionary War between being a pacifist and a patriot. I’m guessing that Richard Nixon struggled with some of these same issues since he joined the Navy in 1942 even though he was a Quaker and of course, he spent his life in service to his country.
Richard Nixon had humble beginnings. His dad owned a service station, was a grocer, and owned a small lemon grove even though he wasn’t very successful. Richard was the 2nd of five children. One brother was named after their father and the other brothers were named after kings. Richard was named for King Richard the Lionheart.
Richard Nixon loved music (he played several instruments), was an avid bowler, and was a huge football fan. He met his wife, Thelma Ryan, better known as “Pat” when they were both in a community theater play. (Klein)
Cousin Richard Nixon had many accomplishments as president such as ending the Vietnam War and the draft, making important reforms in welfare policy, civil rights, law enforcement, and the environment, supporting Apollo 11, and improving relations with China and the U.S.S.R. Despite all this, he is still best known for his resignation. (Richard Nixon)
So…are you part of the presidential descendant’s club?
Sources
Coble, Jacquelyn. “What’s a Pacifist to Do?” Journeying with Jacque, 3 June 2022, journeyingwithjacque.com/conflict-month-6-of-12-ancestors-in-12-months/.
Greene, Jessica. “All the Presidents’ Cousins.” NBC Bay Area, NBC Bay Area, 16 Feb. 2010, www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/all-the-presidents-cousins/1883245/.
Hulbert, Emma. “Quaker Pacifism in the Context of War.” Friends Committee on National Legislation, 8 Mar. 2022, www.fcnl.org/updates/2022-03/quaker-pacifism-context-war.
Klein, Christopher. “10 Things You May Not Know about Richard Nixon.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-richard-nixon. Accessed 30 July 2024.
“Richard Nixon.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 21 July 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Nixon.