An idealized print showing a young George Washington with his father. Such earlier illustrations of presidential parents were largely individual portraits with little relevance to their sons. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

“Thee” Theodore Roosevelt Sr. (Courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard University)

“Mittie” Martha Bulloch Roosevelt. (Courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard University)

“Teedie” Young Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (Courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard University)

The Reverend Dr. Joseph Ruggles Wilson. (Courtesy of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library)

Wilson family; Woodrow on left. (Courtesy of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library)

Young Herbert Hoover. (Courtesy of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library)

James Roosevelt holding baby Franklin. (Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library)

Young Franklin with his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt. (Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt with his mother. (Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library)

Wedding photo of John and Martha Truman. (Courtesy of the Harry S Truman Library)

Harry S Truman with his mother. (Courtesy of the Harry S Truman Library)

Wedding photo of Ida and David Eisenhower. (Courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum)

Eisenhower family, with “little Ike” on left. (Courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum)

General Dwight D. Eisenhower with his mother. (Courtesy of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum)

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. (Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

Young John F. Kennedy. (Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

The Kennedy family at Hyannis Port. (Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., flanked by his two oldest sons. (Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

Campaigning together––JFK and his mother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. (Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

Young Lyndon Baines Johnson. (Courtesy of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library)

“Lady Bountiful”––Rebekah Baines Johnson. (Courtesy of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library)

Sam Johnson, flanked by his sons. (Courtesy of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library)

The Frank Nixon family, Richard on right. (Courtesy of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library)

Richard M. Nixon with his mother, Hannah. (Courtesy of the Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library)

Young Jimmy Carter. (Courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum)

President Carter with his mother, “Miss Lillian.” (Courtesy of the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum)

The John Reagan family with “little Dutch” on right. (Courtesy of the Reagan Presidential Library)

Ronald Reagan with his parents, John and Nelle Reagan. (Courtesy of the Reagan Presidential Library)

Wedding dress of Mrs. Leslie Lynch King. (Courtesy of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum)

Young Gerald Ford with his mother, Dorothy. (Courtesy of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum)

Enterprising Gerald R. Ford Sr. (Courtesy of the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum)

Confident young Bill Clinton. (Courtesy of the Clinton Presidential Library)

Bill Clinton with his mother, Virginia, and brother, Roger. (Courtesy of the Clinton Presidential Library)

Young Dorothy Walker Bush. (Courtesy of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

Prescott Bush with son George H. W. Bush. (Courtesy of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

Barbara Bush with little George W. (Courtesy of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

George H. W. Bush and family in a familiar setting. (Courtesy of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

Two American presidents in stride. (Courtesy of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum)

Young Barack Obama with his mother, Stanley Ann. (Courtesy of Polaris Images)

Barack Obama with his father, Barack Obama Sr. (Courtesy of Polaris Images)

Obama with his stepfather, mother, and sister in Indonesia. (Courtesy of Polaris Images)