They Could Be Related To You !

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:50 pm

Family ties Genealogy study finds Barack related to Brad, Hillary to Angelina

By Denise Lavoie

Associated Press

Article Last Updated: 03/25/2008 09:27:44 PM CDT

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, is shown at a presidential primary debate in Orangeburg, SC., in this April 26, 2007, file photo, and actor Brad Pitt, right, arrives at the premiere of "Ocean's Thirteen" in Los Angeles, Calif., in this Tuesday, June 5, 2007, file photo. Research conducted by the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston found that Obama and Pitt are distant relatives. (AP Photos) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)BOSTON — This could make for one odd family reunion: Barack Obama is a distant cousin of actor Brad Pitt, and Hillary Rodham Clinton is related to Pitt's mate, Angelina Jolie.

Researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society found some remarkable family connections for the three presidential candidates — Democratic rivals Obama and Clinton, and Republican John McCain.

Clinton, who is of French-Canadian descent on her mother's side, is also a distant cousin of singers Madonna, Celine Dion and Alanis Morissette. Obama, the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, can call six U.S. presidents, including George W. Bush, his cousins. McCain is a sixth cousin of first lady Laura Bush.

Genealogist Christopher Child said that while the candidates often focus on pointing out differences between themselves, their ancestry shows they are more alike than they think.

"It shows that lots of different people can be related, people you wouldn't necessarily expect," Child said.

Obama has a prolific presidential lineage that features Democrats and Republicans. His distant cousins include President George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Harry S Truman and James Madison.

Other Obama cousins include Vice President Dick Cheney, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee.

"His kinships are across the political spectrum," Child said.

Child has spent the last three years tracing the candidates' genealogy, along with senior research scholar Gary Boyd Roberts, author of the 1989 book "Ancestors of American Presidents."

Clinton's distant cousins include beatnik author Jack Kerouac and Camilla, duchess of Cornwall, wife of Prince Charles of England.

McCain's ancestry was more difficult to trace because records on his relatives were not as complete as records for the families of Obama and Clinton, Child said.

Obama and President Bush are 10th

cousins, once removed, linked by Samuel Hinkley of Cape Cod, Mass., who died in 1662.

Pitt and Obama are ninth cousins, linked by Edwin Hickman, who died in Virginia in 1769.

Clinton and Jolie are ninth cousins, twice removed, both related to Jean Cusson, who died in St. Sulpice, Quebec, in 1718.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society, founded in 1845, is the oldest and largest nonprofit genealogical organization in the country.

elixer · Post by **elixer** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:05 pm

Wow. Some people have too much time on their hands.

I've heard that we're all supposedly 50th cousins.

Have you heard the rumor that Obama's real objective is to further Cheney's political agenda? No? Well, fine. I just made it up. I wonder if the giant man-sized safe is a family heirloom. Do you think Obama has one?! Exciting stuff.

Anyway, spread my theory around. It will take the focus off his pastor for awhile, dontcha think? I like to help

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:08 pm

:-3 Wonder if he is my cousin.

moonpie · Post by **moonpie** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:31 pm

I don't think I would bet my last buck on that. Both of those studies just seem a little too wide of a possibilty for me to believe. I think that person needs to go back to the drawing board.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:24 am

My dad's really into genealogy and it is interesting to see what kinds of past relatives you are related too. We've found all kinds of people, no-one famous though, but I'm sure there are many people out there that are, but just don't realise it.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:28 am

I agree with Elixir, too much time spent on figuring out their relationship to each other.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:31 am

Everyone just needs to say hi to cousin Nomad and move on.:wah:

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:48 pm

YZGI;818172 wrote: Everyone just needs to say hi to cousin Nomad and move on.:wah:

Hi, cousin Nomad!:D