Stephen Hess, author of "America's Political Dynasties" (Brookings, 2015), is often asked "which dynasty is the greatest?"

To try to answer this question objectively, he invented “The Greatness Scale.” It measures the depth and breadth of American political families, not necessarily their importance. The Harrisons and the Roosevelts, for instance, each produced two presidents, yet history does not weigh them equally.

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family in power

The scale uses a simple mathematical formula to gauge three key elements: succession (number of generations in office), family (number of members in office), and power (offices held). According to the scale: 

• A president or chief justice is awarded 10 points.
• A vice president, Supreme Court justice, or speaker of the House gets 4 points.
• A senator or governor gets 3 points.
• A representative gets 2 points.
• And a cabinet member gets 1 point.

An additional point is given for each dynasty member who serves in one of these jobs. A point is also given for each generation represented. For example: The six Kennedys and one Fitzgerald (maternal relatives count) elected to national office, spread over four generations, gives the family 11 bonus points.

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