Monday, September 15, 2008

Question...

Have we ever had a sitting president who had a child on active duty in the military?

I asked my dad that this evening - him being the history teacher and all - and he said there was a Roosevelt involved with the D-Day invasion.

I did a little checking, at that was Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., eldest son of President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, but as far as I can tell, he was not in the military while his father was still in office.

So, does anyone know of one? If not, if John McCain is elected President, he would be the first, what with his son Jim, 20, in the Marine Corps (as a Lance Corporal at this time), and his son Jack, 22, in his fourth year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

I guess the same question could he asked of sitting Vice Presidents, as well. Would Sarah Palin be the first, with her son, PFC Track Palin, having just deployed to Iraq. Of course, Joe Biden has a son in the JAG Corps in Iraq right now, too.

9/16/08: Welcome ASP readers!

6 comments:

Grim said...

U.S. Grant's son was an officer in Custer's Black Hills expedition during Grant's presidency. He later fought in the Bannock War and the war against the great Apache leader Victorio.

He served in the Spanish American War as well.

Anonymous said...

I also believe that Dwight D. Eisenhower had a son in the military during his term in office.

Anonymous said...

James Roosevelt was the Executive Officer of the Marine Corps 2d Raider Battalion during World War II and participated in the raid on Makin Island.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

I thought I saw a list somewhere, but don't know where, now.

This list is related, and might be of interest as well.

(Came here by way of ASP)

Anonymous said...

STOP YOUR CHEAPISH REPUBLICAN PROPAGANDA.
It doesn't matter if Obama doesn't have his own kids serving in armed forces, because Obama is going to bring back everybody's kids out of Iraq.

Miss Ladybug said...

WOW! My first Obama troll...

Now, did I anywhere say anything derogatory about Obama's children not being in the military? They are little girls for goodness sake! I just thought it was an interesting question. People have offered other examples of sitting presidents with children in the military, and NOT ONE has mentioned the party affiliation.

Get a grip...