The growing influence of Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, is a significant factor in Donald Trump’s approach to the Presidency.
His reliance on and loyalty to his daughter and son in law demonstrates the power of family.
Other Presidents have also utilized family members as follows:
John Adams relied on John Quincy Adams as Ambassador to Prussia.
Woodrow Wilson had his second wife, Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, conduct cabinet meetings after he had a stroke in October 1919.
Franklin D. Roosevelt relied on his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, for advice on so many domestic and foreign policy issues, and in his last two years, his daughter, Anna, also was available to assist him.
Dwight D. Eisenhower used his son John Eisenhower as a staff aide in the White House.
John F. Kennedy had the most prominent relative in his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, serving as Attorney General of the United States for the entire time of the Kennedy Presidency.
Lyndon B. Johnson leaned on his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, for much advice.
Ronald Reagan followed the advice of his wife, Nancy Reagan, on a host of issues, including developing a relationship with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Bill Clinton utilized his wife, Hillary Clinton, on a proposed national health care program, as well as a host of other issues.
Barack Obama capitalized on the advice of wife Michelle Obama, as they were a very close couple.
But notice how mostly it was First Ladies who were engaged in helping their husband, with only John Quincy Adams, Anna Roosevelt, John Eisenhower (children) and RFK (brother) as important aides to the President, and Ivanka and Jared are in many ways unique in their growing role, with only RFK being of an equal or greater significance.