Cheney & Obama are distant cousins
Wednesday, 17 October 2007 22:57They may be political opposites, but US vice president Dick Cheney and presidential candidate Barack Obama are distant cousins, according to Mr Cheney's wife.
Thanks to some genealogical detective work by Lynne Cheney, her pro-war neo-conservative husband was discovered to be eighth cousins with the anti-war senator from Illinois.
The common ancestor was Mareen Devall, who is thought to be a 17th century immigrant from France.
Mrs Cheney says it was 'an amazing American story that one ancestor ... could be responsible down the family line for lives that have taken such different and varied paths.'
Barack Obama also has Irish roots. His great great great grandfather Falmouth Kearney was born in Moneygall, Co Offaly, before sailing to New York in 1850.
