First family of the United States

The First Family of the United States consists of the President of the United States, the President's wife (usually the First Lady), and their children. The family is afforded Secret Service protection while the President remains in office and share in the perquisites of the Presidency, including the use of Air Force One, the White House, and Camp David.

Bush Family, 2001-present

Main article: Bush family

The current First Family of the United States consists of President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and First Daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush. If George W. Bush completes his term, his family will remain the First Family until January 20, 2009. Barbara and Jenna were also the nation's First Granddaughters, from January 20, 1989-January 20, 1993. Barbara was eight years old at the time of her grandfather's inaugration and twelve years old when he left office. Barbara was a First Daughter of Texas from 1995, when she was fourteen, to 2001, when she was nineteen.

Clinton Family, 1993-2001

The First Family of the United States from January 20, 1993-January 20, 2001, consisted of President Bill Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and First Daughter Chelsea Clinton. Bill Clinton and his family moved into the White House on January 20, 1993. President Clinton enjoyed quiet weekends with his wife and daughter in the White House Family Quarters, where he read voraciously and played with his beloved cat and dog, Socks and Buddy. President Clinton regularly hosted family at the White House and made frequent use of Camp David, particularly around Thanksgiving. Hillary was forty-six years old when her husband was inaugurated and she became the First Lady of the United States. She drew heated criticism for expanding the traditional role of First Lady, in such ways as having offices in the West Wing (she remains the only First Lady to have done this) and for playing a large part in pushing the 1994 medical reform initiative. Chelsea was born a First Daughter of Arkansas. Until she left the White House in 2001, the two-year period between her father's first and second terms as governor would be the only time when she did not have an official title. She was thirteen years old on January 20, 1993, when she became the sole First Daughter of the United States. She had a bedroom in the back of the White House and was known to routinely have sleepovers on the third floor of the Mansion.

Bush Family, 1989-1993

The First Family of the United States from January 20, 1989-January 20, 1993, consisted of President George H. W. Bush; First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush; First Sons George W., Jeb, Neil, and Marvin Bush; First Daughter Dorothy Bush (later Dorothy Bush Koch); and, arguably, First Grandsons George, Jeb Jr., Pierce, and Walker Bush; and First Granddaughters Barbara, Jenna, Noelle, Lauren, Ashley, and Dorothy Bush. George Bush liked entertaining his grandchildren in the White House Family Quarters, and made frequent use of the White House Movie Theatre. The President would put some slippers on with his business suit and sneak off to watch a flick with the First Lady and one of the children. More than many other First Ladies, Barbara Bush is said to have loved life in the White House.

George W. Bush was aged forty-three to forty-seven at the time that his father was President, and he never actually lived in the White House. He did, however, make frequent visits to the Executive Mansion with his wife and daughters. Mr. Bush worked with his father in the 1988 presidential campaign. In April of 1989, just three months after his father took office, the First Son acquired a large share in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise and became managing general partner of the team. Mr. Bush also helped in his father's reelection campaign in 1992, but George H. W. Bush was defeated by Democrat Bill Clinton, and Bush ceased to be First Son on January 20, 1993.

Jeb Bush was aged thirty-five to thirty-nine when his father lived in the White House. Jeb Bush was a frequent visitor to the Executive Mansion, though not so much as his brother George. During much of his father's presidency, Jeb was involved in the IntrAmerica Investment Corporation in Miami, Florida, netting extensive real-estate profits for Cuban immigrant and self-made millionaire Armando Codina. The First Son soon became a partner in the firm, and received over 40% of its profits.

Neil Bush celebrated his thirty-fourth birthday just two days after his father became the 41st President of the United States. During his father's four-year presidency, Neil Bush was on the Board of Directors of Silverado Savings and Loan. As the savings and loan crisis of the 1980's escalated during the first Bush presidency, Neil found himself implicated in Silverado's financial failure, which cost the economy $1 billion. In the end, Neil was not indicted, but was fined $60,000.00 and forbidden to take part in any banking activity in the future. The scandal made Bush one of the most controversial of the recent First Children.

Marvin Bush was aged thirty-two to thirty-six during his father's presidency, and he never actually lived in the White House. Mr. Bush was involved in non-controversial business dealings during his father's presidency. He tended to enjoy visiting the Bush Compound more than he did the White House itself.

Dorothy Bush was aged thirty to thirty-four during her father's presidency. She became the sole First Daughter of the United States on January 20, 1989, and, like her successor, was kept largely out of the spotlight and did not generate much scandal. She and her two children were insistent on maintaining a private life. They spent a good deal of time at the Bush Compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.

George P. Bush was aged twelve to sixteen when his grandfather was President. During this time, Bush attended the same Miami high school as Enique Iglesias. As a half-Mexican, Bush was one of the few members of any First Family to be Hispanic. Jeb Bush, Jr. was only five years old when he became First Grandson on January 20, 1989. He was nine years old when his grandfather left office on January 20, 1993. During this time, Jeb, Jr. attended a private elementary school in Miami, Florida. He was one of the few Hispanic First Family members. Noelle was aged eleven to fifteen when her grandfather was President. She remained mostly out of the public eye during this time, when she was attending private middle and high schools. She was also one of the few Hispanic First Family members. Lauren was aged four to eight years old during her grandfather's presidency. During this time, Lauren attended the elite Houston-area Kinkaid school. She ceased to be First Daughter on January 20, 1993.

Reagan Family, 1981-1989

President Ronald Reagan had children Maureen Reagan and Michael Reagan from his first wife Jane Wyman, and Patti Davis and Ron Reagan from second wife Nancy Reagan. All the children were adults during the presidency, with the youngest, Ron Reagan in his twenties when his father became president.

Carter Family, 1977-1981

The First Family of the United States from 1977-1981 consisted of President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, First Daughter Amy Carter, and three First Sons (all of them grown). Miss Carter, born on October 19, 1967, was the First Daughter of Georgia from 1971-1975, when she was aged three to seven years old. In 1977, at the age of nine, Miss Carter became the sole First Daughter of the United States. She was the only true child to occupy the White House since First Daughter Caroline Kennedy and First Son John F. Kennedy, Jr. roamed the Mansion's halls between 1961 and 1963. Miss Carter enjoyed having sleepovers in a tree house on the South Lawn--always supervised by the Secret Servicem of course. Her cat, Misty Malarky Ying Yang, received notable fame during this time. The First Lady spent much of her tenure as an advocate for the rights of the mentally ill. She was heartbroken by her husband's 1980 defeat. First Daughter Amy, however, is said to have pined for her native Georgia and been unconfortable with the media attention focused on her. She was happy to leave the White House on January 20, 1981. She was thirteen years old at the time.

Nixon Family, 1969-1974

President Richard Nixon, his wife Pat Nixon, their two daughters Tricia and Julie Nixon Eisenhower (who was married to David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Kennedy Family, 1961-1963

Main article: Kennedy family

President John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Kennedy, their children Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy (who was born prematurely and died shortly after birth). The president's brother Robert F. Kennedy was the Attorney General.

The Kennedys are widely considered to have been the most glamorous and iconic of all the American First Families. President Kennedy's youthful vigor and realistic idealism, embodied in his establishment of the Peace Corps, drew hima tremendous youth following that is unknown to politicians today.

Mrs. Kennedy, the First Lady, was something of a fashion goddess during her tenure in the White House. From her elegant evening gowns, to her stylish hair-dos, to her signature pillbox hats, Mrs. Kennedy defined the tastes of an entire era. She is considered to have been the most graceful First Lady in American history, and many have since tried to imitate her incredible poise and composure. Jacqueline Kennedy was, in every sense, a lady. She was a beautiful woman who spread beauty with her everywhere she went.

In 1961, the year her husband entered the White House, Mrs. Kennedy renovated the Mansion from basement to ceiling. That year, she gave a televised tour to show the nation what she had done to refurbish the President's House. The First Lady took a building whose appearance had been declining and whose history had been neglected, and transformed it into the majestic combination museum, workspace, and private home that we know today.

Jacqueline Kennedy was almost solely responsible for returning some of President James Madison's French Empire furniture to the Blue Room, where it can still be viewed today.

The Kennedys' greatest hallmark, particularly in the case of the First Lady, was their unwavering grace, which was demonstrated all too clearly following the assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The image of Mrs. Kennedy, standing tall like an iron empress in her black mourning, reaching a strong hand down to comfort her children even as silent tears poured down her own face, has been the most powerful part of her legacy.

In the book "Remembering Jackie," it is said that, "At 34, she embodied our national grief--and enhanced our national dignity."

Lincoln Family

Abraham Lincoln had four children from his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, of whom only Robert Todd Lincoln survived into adulthood. The others were Edward (Eddie) Baker Lincoln (1846-1850), William (Willie) Wallace Lincoln (1850-1862) and Thomas (Tad) Lincoln (1853-1871).

Washington Family

George Washington was married to Martha Washington. He did not have any children of his own, but adopted Martha's children John (Jack) Parke Custis (1754-1781) and Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis (1756-1773), and raised her two youngest grandchildren, Eleanor Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis (April 30, 1781 - October 10, 1857).