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Famous Irish American Political Figures

Irish Americans have enjoyed a rich history in the American political system since shortly after the founding of the United States.  After the first wave of Irish immigration in the 18th and early 19th centuries, the relatively well-to-do Protestant Irish enjoyed great economic successes in America, which led to rapid involvement at high levels of the American political system.

The Famine Irish immigrants, on the other hand, were mostly impoverished Catholics who had very little economic opportunity in America for several decades and were largely shunned from the American political system.  Over time, however, poor Irish Americans took advantage of their escalating numbers, their unbreakable unity, and their irrevocable right to vote to penetrate the American political establishment.  By the third wave of major Irish immigration to America in the early 20th century, Irish Americans had risen to political office as mayors, representatives, senators, governors, and even presidents.  The following is a list of famous Irish American political figures.

Also See:
Famous Irish American Actors
Famous Irish American Singers
Famous Irish American Writers
Famous Irish American Gangsters
Famous Irish American Athletes
Famous Irish American Clergy

Andrew Jackson
Aedanus Burke | United States Representative from South Carolina

Al Smith | Governor of New York

Andrew Jackson | 7th United States President (1829–37).  His parents were born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.

Andrew Johnson | 17th United States President (1865–69).  His grandfather emigrated from County Antrim.

Anthony Kennedy | United States Supreme Court Justice

Barack Obama | 44th United States President 2009–).  Some of his maternal ancestors immigrated to America from County Offaly.

Benjamin Harrison | 23rd United States President (1889–93).  He had Ulster-Scots roots through his maternal great-great-grandfathers.

Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton | 42nd United States President.  Two of his great-great grandparents were born in Ireland.

Charles Carroll | United States Senator from Maryland

Chester A. Arthur | 21st United States President (1881–85).  His family originated from County Antrim, where the Arthur Ancestral Home still stands.

Daniel Pat Moynihan | United States Senator from New York

David C. Broderick | United States Senator from California

David I. Walsh | United States Senator from Massachusetts

DeWitt Clinton | Governor of New York

Edward D. White | United States Supreme Court Justice

Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne | Governor of Illinois

Eugene McCarthy
Eugene McCarthy | United States Senator from Minnesota

Frank Murphy | United States Supreme Court Justice

George Mitchell | United States Senator

George Murphy | United States Senator from California

Grover Cleveland | 22nd and 24th United States President (1885–89 and 1893–97).  His maternal grandfather emigrated from County Antrim.

Hugh O'Brien | Mayor of Boston

James Buchanan | 15th United States President (1857–61).  His father was born in County Donegal and his family had roots in County Tyrone, where the ancestral home still stands.

James D. Phelan | United States Senator from California

James Duane | Mayor of New York

James F. Byrnes | United States Secretary of State

James Francis Byrnes | United States Supreme Court Justice

James Knox Polk | 11th United States President (1845–49).  His great-grandfather came from County Donegal.

James Michael Curley | Governor of Massachusetts

James Sullivan | Governor of New York

Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis | President of the Confederate States of America

Jimmy Carter | 39th United States President (1977–1981).  His Irish ancestors originated from County Antrim and County Londonderry.

Joe Biden | 47th Vice President of the United States

John Conness | United States Senator from California

John F. Fitzgerald | Mayor of Boston

John F. Kennedy | 35th United States President (1961–63).  He enjoyed both maternal and paternal Irish heritage from ancestors in County Wexford, County Limerick, and County Cavan.

John G. Downey | Governor of California

John Purroy Mitchel | Mayor of New York

John William McCormack | United States Speaker of the House

Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy | United States Senator from Wisconsin

Joseph McKenna | United States Supreme Court Justice

Joseph P. Kennedy | United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Pat McCarran | United States Senator from Nevada

Patrick Collins | Mayor of Boston

Pierce Butler | Governor of New York

Pierce Butler | United States Supreme Court Justice

Richard J. Daley | Democratic Boss of Chicago

Richard Nixon | 37th United States President (1969–74).  His 18th century and 19th century Irish ancestors originated from County Antrim and County Kildare.

Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy | United States Senator from New York

Robert McNamara | United States Secretary of Defense

Ronald Reagan | 40th United States President (1981–89).  His great-grandfather emigrated from County Tipperary to Canada and then the United States.

Sam Houston | President of Texas

Sandra Day O'Connor | United States Supreme Court Justice

Ted Kennedy | United States Senator from Massachusetts

Theodore Roosevelt | 26th United States President (1901–09).  His mother had Ulster Scots ancestors who emigrated from County Antrim in 1729.

Tip O'Neill | United States Speaker of the House

Tom Foley | United States Speaker of the House

Ulysses S. Grant | 18th United States President (1869–77).  His maternal great-grandfather originated in County Tyrone, the site of an exhibition honoring Grant.

William Bourke Cockran | United States Representative from New York

William J. Brennan | United States Supreme Court Justice

William McKinley
William McKinley | 25th United States President (1897–1901).  His great-great-great grandfather was born in Ireland in 1705 and immigrated to America.

William Paterson | United States Supreme Court Justice

William Russell Grace | Mayor of New York

Woodrow Wilson | 28th United States President (1913–21).  His grandfather was born in County Down in 1787 and he has roots in County Tyrone.