From a copy of the 1975 edition of Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, which indexes all candidates for President, Senate, House of Representatives, and Governor in general elections (and, in Southern states, primaries as well) to 1974, here are all the entries for "Whitney": U.S. HOUSE "Whitney" (no first name given) NJ 1850 Thomas R. NY 1854 Wilbur F. MA 1878 C. H. TN 1896 J. J. OR 1908 Herbert P. OH 1914 H. Avery CA 1916 Frank E. KS 1918 Stephen CT 1922 Abner D. NY 1926 Cornelius V. NY 1932 Frederick M., Jr. MA 1968 U.S. SENATE Wheelock MN 1964 GOVERNOR Henry M. MA 1907 Arthur NJ 1925 (Wheelock MN 1982; same fellow as above, but after publication of this edition) With one exception, all these candidates lost. Only one or two had the excuse of running on a third party ticket. The sole winner was Thomas R. in 1854, who garnered 30.9% in a four-way race. (Our Carolyn may have found the answer-- add an Irish surname. That always helps in politics!) The most successful politician named Whitney would have to be Sir James Pliny Whitney, Premier of Ontario from 1905 to 1914: http://www.biographi.ca/EN/ShowBio.asp?BioId=41891 He is a descendant of Henry Whitney, not John and Elinor. Henry also claims the presidents Bush. Is anyone aware of John & Elinor having shown up in any presidential genealogies? Cheers, Ron Kyser