Lincoln, Washington, and Jackson all lost parents at a young age. Clinton and Obama were raised by single mothers. Have there been other Presidents who suffered an early parental loss? I believe that adversity can make people stronger. Do U.S. Presidents have a higher-than-average rate of childhood tragedy?
ninabeth 13-Very good questions! Those questions make me want to exersize by brain and do some"speculative"research.
FDR's father died when Franklin was 18.
"Mister, we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again..." Just me having fun! I'm pretty sure Herbert Hoover lost both his parents when young-don't remember the details.
Author Thomas Fleming informs that George Washington's father died when young George was only eleven years old.
The father of James Garfield died when the future president was two years-old.
Then there is the complete opposite. John Quincy Adams was lucky to have both his parents living on his 50th birthday. George W. Bush was over 70 when he lost both of his.