[_m8fo]

Is Barbara the only person in history to have blood ties to more than one president and live through both of their tenures as president? I looked at Abigail Adams and co but it seems that she didn't live through both her husband's and son's presidencies like Barbara.

Perhaps the most influential woman (literally) in American history edit: politically.

[henryfjordan]

Jeb Bush lived through both his dad and his brother's presidency too (though his career might not have).

[_m8fo]

Not going to lie, I totally forgot about him. Nice catch!

[roryisok]

And George W Bush's children?

[sparky_z]

And his three other siblings.

[bausshf]

So basically all of the Bush family

[smelendez]

Eleanor Roosevelt was distantly related to both presidents Roosevelt (closer to Theodore). She would be an obvious rival for most influential first lady, as well.

[protomyth]

Depends a lot on who you believe about FDR and her. I think Barbara Bush probably raised a bit more money and had a bigger impact on more people even if some don’t realize it. The loss of her daughter at a very young age had a profound impact on her charity work.

[geowwy]

I don't think your spouse is considered a blood tie.

[harshgupta]

> Perhaps the most influential woman (literally) in American history

That's a little far fetched.

[brlewis]

I'm not sure why this is downvoted. Even limited to politics, it would be tough to compete with Harriet Beecher Stowe or Rosa Parks.

[freedomben]

I didn't downvote, but it does seem to violate this HN guideline:

> Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something.

And potentially this one since she is clearly a political figure:

> Please don't use Hacker News primarily for political or ideological battle...

Again I don't agree with that, just speculating at reasons why.

[PostOnce]

Rosa Parks, I would argue, was limited to a particular sphere of influence (civil rights), whereas the president's wife may have his ear directly, every day of his entire career, in every field, from diplomacy to economic development to national infrastructure to military strategy to civil rights, theoretically.

And then your son is also the president? Talk about power.

[loggedinmyphone]

How about Rachel Carson or Louisa May Alcott? Sorry if this is off topic, but I find it fascinating how American history is increasingly viewed through the lens of race relations.

[harshgupta]

Just to be clear, this was a response to the comment.

I do not have any opinion on Barbara Bush in particular other than knowing that she has a lifetime of experience in top American political circles and has been widely respected for that.