The Babble List: Fathers-in-Chief
We rank the parenting of every single U.S. President, from worst to best.
by Madeline Holler
November 3, 2008
THE BEST
Jimmy Carter (39th - Democrat)
Jimmy is father to four kids — three sons and Amy. We love that he enrolled Amy in D.C. public schools back in the day, and that Carter let her be a kid in the White House. We think it's telling that she is also engaged in activism like her father but keeps a low profile. Fun Amy fact: she has a nine-year-old son. Think she's a Babble reader?
Harry Truman (33rd - Democrat)
Total helicopter dad. His only child, a daughter and trained singer, performed at Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Hall to mixed reviews, including a very negative one in the Washington Post stating she couldn't sing very well. What did Harry do? He gave the critic hell, of course, sending a letter with this threat: "I have just read your lousy review . . . I have never met you, but if I do, you'll need a new nose." Not very presidential. But oh, so fatherly.
Bill Clinton (42nd - Democrat)
Yes, yes, cigars and all that. So how in the world did Bill Clinton make it onto the best dads list? Chelsea. Good kid, great student, successful career-woman and maybe, just maybe, a future POTUS. During her mother's presidential bid, she proved, just like Dad, she's a natural campaigner.
Abraham Lincoln (16th - Republican)
Abe was way ahead of his time in terms of being an involved father and a Mr. Mom to his two youngest sons, Willie and Tad. The father and sons talked, sang, danced and recited poetry (so 1860s!). Lincoln even watched the kids when Mary Todd Lincoln was out doing her thing. Once a visitor caught the two boys pinning the lanky prez to the floor of the Oval Office. Sadly, Willie became ill after riding his pony in bad weather and eventually succumbed to typhoid fever. Even sadder, a few years later Tad was watching Aladdin and the Magic Lamp while Mom and Dad were having date night at the Ford Theater.
Theodore Roosevelt (26th - Republican)
You gotta love a father who is totally into his smarty pants daughter. In Teddy's case: Alice, the only child from his first marriage. He unschooled her, let her hang out with boys and she pretty much ran her own life. She gave her rough-rider dad presidential advice — and he listened to it! She had affairs and wanted to become an "honorary homosexual." Late in life, in an interview on 60 Minutes, she proudly proclaimed herself a hedonist. When you say "maverick," we say "Alice."
The dirt on the others:
James K. Polk (11th - Democrat) didn't have children.
James Buchanan (15th - Democrat) had no kids, and was probably one of at least two gay U.S. presidents. He lived with William Rufus De Vane King, who would become Franklin Pierce's vice president. Buchanan and King were known, derisively, as a committed couple. When King was appointed ambassador to France, he wrote to Buchanan: "I am selfish enough to hope you will not be able to procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation." Awww. We nominate King for our Top 10 Sweetest Vice Presidents list.
Andrew Johnson (17th - War Union) had no kids (good thing; he was pretty dumb).
Now read all about the creepiest, cleverest presidential kids here.
©2008 Babble
About the Author
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Madeline Holler is a writer and mother of two. She lives in Long Beach, California. |
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