U.S. President Obama hosted a contingent of troops at the White House to commemorate the nation’s 237th Independence Day in 2013, which also happened to be his daughter Malia’s 15th birthday. The commander-in-chief acknowledged the special day in his address to the soldiers: “It’s Malia’s birthday, so she is appreciative that you’re all going to be wishing her a happy birthday.”
But Malia is not the only member of a First Family born on the 4th of July. Here are three others:
John Adams
John Adams, son of the 6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams, was named after his grandfather, the second president. John also had the unique distinction of being born on Independence Day in 1803.
On his 18th birthday and the nation’s 145th in 1821, John’s father John Quincy Adams, then the secretary of state, gave one of his most memorable addresses to Congress in which he stated the ideals of the nation: “Her glory is not dominion, but liberty. Her march is the march of mind. She has a spear and a shield; but the motto upon her shield is Freedom, Independence, Peace. This has been her declaration: this has been, as far as her necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her practice.”
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge was president of the United States from 1923 to 1929, and the only president born on the fourth of July. Noted for his annual independence day speeches, he delivered one in 1926 in the middle of his presidency at the 150th anniversary celebration:
“We meet to celebrate the birthday of America. That coming of a new life always excites our interest. Although we know in the case of the individual that it has been an infinite repetition reaching back beyond our vision, that only makes it more wonderful.”
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of President John Kennedy’s brother Robert, was born on July 4, and was lieutenant governor of Maryland from 1995 to 2003.
Prior to her running for governor in November 2002, she turned her annual birthday celebration into a family-oriented low-cost political fundraiser at the Baltimore Zoo. On July 8th, 2001 more than 7000 turned up for the third event, positioning her as a leading contender in the race for governor.
Even though she lost the election to republican Robert Erlich, she did not forget to show her gratitude to her staffers in a message on gifts given out to them: “Thank you for joining me on this great mission. We worked hard, fought the good fight, and made a difference. And yes, the struggle continues. It is still up to us to shape and change the future.”
