President John Tyler’s Grandson, Harrison Tyler, on Still Being Alive

President John Tyler’s Grandson, Harrison Tyler, on Still Being Alive Image Harrison Tyler in 2006.

It’s a really interesting story that you’re still, you know, around. Could you just explain how this happened? How someone born in 1790 still has living grandchildren?Well, he was a good man! [laughs] Both my grandfather — the president — and my father, were married twice. And they had children by their first wives. And their first wives died, and they married again and had more children. And my father was 75 when I was born, his father was 63 when he was born. John Tyler had fifteen children — eight by his first wife, seven by his second wife — so it does get very confusing. I really do not know — it’s amazing how families drift apart. When I was a child, I did know most of the descendents, but as you get more generations down the line, it’s hard to keep track of everybody.

I know you have a brother in Tennessee, too.Yes, he's not doing good.

I'm sorry to hear that. I hear that you’re still playing tennis twice a week though.Oh, yes. But I wish I could play better. I still hit the ball well, but my legs don’t work as good.

That's still pretty good though. How old are you now?84. Well, 83, I’m in my 84th year.

So, when you tell people that you’re the grandson of President Tyler, what kind of response do you get? Do they always believe you? Or do people sometimes think you’re making it up? I don’t know, I don’t bring it up.

Never comes up?See, I don’t bring it up, so, that question doesn’t come up.

When people come and take tours of the house, you don’t ever come out and say, “Hey! I’m John Tyler’s grandkid!”?[Laughs] Not that way, no.

Oh.We do give tours … We have a friend who manages the place; he gives tours as required. But I tell him, if there’s groups of ten or more people, particularly if there are lovely ladies involved, then I’ll give the tour. [Laughs]

So they believe that you’re the grandson. Nobody questions that.Nobody’s ever questioned that. I am sometimes called the great-grandson – we have to correct that.

Do you follow politics today? Do you have a favorite candidate in the presidential election?Oh, my family’s conservative, I served as the chairman of the Republican Party here, but I’m sorry, I’ve sort of lost interest. They’re killing each other, on both sides. The campaigns are just horrible. It has nothing to do with what we really need.

Was it like that in John Tyler’s time?Oh, yes. Politics has always been like that. Nothing new.

This interview has been edited and condensed.