Candidates' Family Trees Have Far-Flung Limbs

The Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt household might have trouble choosing a Democratic candidate: It turns out Barack Obama is a distant cousin of Pitt’s and Hillary Clinton is a relative of Jolie’s. The author of a new genealogical survey cautions voters not to be too swayed—but it seems fitting that John McCain’s sixth cousin is one Laura Bush.

By virtue of his Kansas lineage, Obama is kin to presidents Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford and both Bushes, among others, the Boston Globe reports. Clinton is related to several strong women, including singers Madonna, Alanis Morissette and Celine Dion. There are fewer fun morsels on the Republican side, as McCain’s southern heritage muddies the family tree. (More genealogy stories.)