The last thing that the Founding Fathers envisioned was a hereditary chief executive. Afterall, they had fought a war in part to rid themselves of a king. Yet, power inevitably passes from generation to generation, and several families have returned to the White House as though born to it. The stories of the four men profiled in this episode (John Quincy Adams, Benjamin Harrison, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy) reveal both the blessings and the curses of inherited power.

“The American President” is a series that aired on PBS in 2000 profiling 41 U.S. chief executives, using exclusive interviews with Presidents Clinton, Bush, Ford, and Carter. Well known figures lend their voice to presidents of the past who lived before sound recordings, including: Colin Powell, Bob Dole, Walter Cronkite, Ben Bradlee, John Glenn, James Carville, Andrew Young, and the Rev. Billy Graham. Narrated by Hugh Sidey.

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Chapter Markers:
John Quincy Adams His Father's Son 18251829 (0:58)
Benjamin Harrison Nobody's Grandson 18891893 (11:28)
Franklin D. Roosevelt Possession by Right 19331945 (19:57)
John F. Kennedy Vindicating the Irish 19611963 (36:03)

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