A Dynasty ain't What it Used to Be

For the past couple of years, I’ve been teaching grade school history to a couple of my grandchildren.  Last year we studied Ancient Egypt, the Persians, and the Babylonians.  This year so far it has been Ancient Greece and Rome for one and the colonization of America for the other.  What I’ve learned is those guys in the olden days knew how to create a dynasty.  While I’m on the subject the Chinese were no pikers at dynasty building either.

The Egyptian Pharaohs had a pretty good run with each generation succeeding the prior.  I think they averaged something like a hundred years each with some being a few hundred while others only one generation.  The Roman Empire went for almost 500 years from Caesar Augustus to Romulus Augustus before shifting to the east.  The average dynasty was about 75 years. 

We in America, on the other hand, have not done a very good job at creating political dynasties, no matter how hard some have tried.  In the nineteenth century, we had Jackson who changed the shape of the Democratic party, but for power politics, I think the Society of St. Tammany probably came as close to a dynastic rule as anyone.  In the twentieth century, this is the model for the Democratic rulers of Chicago.  

On a national level, we are hard-pressed to see the long-term rule of a single entity which could be called a dynasty.  As close as we come in Franklin Delano Roosevelt's refusal to step down after his second term as tradition had dictated.  Of course, this pissed off some in Congress and as a result, we have the 22^ndAmendment. When John F. Kennedy claimed the office of President he was supposed to be the first in a long line of Kennedy’s who would rule.  Unfortunately, assassinations and drunk driving put an end to those plans. 

All this brings us to the present where we are watching perhaps the end of the Cuomo dynasty in New York.  The family ruled New York for 12 years (’82-’94) and again since 2011.  All indications are that Andrew, the current governor is great at intimidation and has effectively used that skill to remain in power.  He is also beloved by the press who have tripped over themselves praising him for his handling of the COVID pandemic.  At least until the facts about his and his closest staff’s decisions began trickling out. So, I have to wonder, was he so brilliant, or just the anti-Trump?