You may have heard of Barbara Boxer, the former U.S. Senator from California who served from 1993 to 2017. You may also have heard of Hillary Clinton, the former U.S. Secretary of State and the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. But did you know that these two powerful women are actually related? That’s right, Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton are cousins!
According to Wikipedia, Barbara Boxer’s maiden name is Levy, and she was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents. Her father, Ira Levy, was a lawyer and her mother, Sophie Levy, was a homemaker. She has a younger brother, Leon Levy, who is a lawyer and an investor.
Hillary Clinton’s maiden name is Rodham, and she was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Methodist parents. Her father, Hugh Rodham, was a businessman and her mother, Dorothy Rodham, was a homemaker. She has two younger brothers, Hugh Rodham Jr. and Tony Rodham.
So how are they cousins? Well, it turns out that Barbara Boxer’s maternal grandmother, Rose Volin, was the sister of Hillary Clinton’s maternal grandfather, Edwin Howell Jr. That means that Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton are second cousins once removed.
What does that mean?
Second cousins once removed means that they share a common great-grandparent, but they are from different generations. In this case, their common great-grandparents were Isaac Volin and Anna Lifschutz, who were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Isaac and Anna had six children: Rose (Barbara Boxer’s grandmother), Edwin (Hillary Clinton’s grandfather), Harry, Samuel, Morris, and Esther.
Rose Volin married Joseph Levy and had two children: Sophie (Barbara Boxer’s mother) and David. Edwin Howell Jr. married Della Murray and had three children: Dorothy (Hillary Clinton’s mother), Isabelle, and Adeline.
Sophie Levy married Ira Levy and had two children: Barbara (Barbara Boxer) and Leon. Dorothy Howell married Hugh Rodham and had three children: Hillary (Hillary Clinton), Hugh Jr., and Tony.
Barbara Levy married Stewart Boxer and had two children: Nicole and Douglas. Hillary Rodham married Bill Clinton and had one child: Chelsea.
What is their relationship like?
Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton have been supportive of each other throughout their political careers. They both served in the U.S. Senate at the same time from 2001 to 2009, when Hillary Clinton became the U.S. Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. They both endorsed each other for their respective presidential bids in 2008 and 2016.
Barbara Boxer has described Hillary Clinton as a “friend” and a “role model” for women in politics. She has praised her for her leadership, intelligence, courage, and compassion. She has also defended her from attacks by her opponents and critics.
Hillary Clinton has expressed her admiration for Barbara Boxer’s passion, conviction, and advocacy for various causes. She has credited her for being a pioneer for women’s rights, environmental protection, health care reform, and national security. She has also thanked her for her friendship and mentorship.
Conclusion
Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton are not only two of the most influential women in American politics, but they are also family. They are second cousins once removed who share a common ancestry and a common vision for the country. They have been allies, partners, and friends for decades. They are proof that blood is thicker than water – or politics.
