This week’s debate in Michigan took Mitt Romney, who was born in Michigan, back to his roots. His father, George Romney (1907-1995), served as Michigan’s governor from 1963 to 1969, and ran for president in 1968.
So, could Romney’s own son Tagg, 37, someday follow in the same footsteps? Asked last summer whether a run for political office might be in his future, Tagg Romney said, Maybe.
Q. Your grandfather, George Romney, ran for president in 1968. Your father is running for president in 2008. You’ve been mentioned as an up and coming political star. Do you see a future in politics for yourself?
A. That’s to be determined. I’m going to leave the door open. But my main focus is getting my father elected.
Q. You weren’t yet born when George Romney ran for president.
A. I was minus 2.
Q. But your grandfather was involved in your Dad’s campaign for U.S. Senate. Did you have conversations with him about politics?
A. Very much so. In the 1994 election, he was there pretty much full-time. I was his driver. I was 24 at the time. I had already spent quite a bit of time with him of course because he was my grandfather. I did get his views on things. It was very insightful. He was ahead of his time in 1968. Two things that really stuck out. I asked him if I should run someday. He said, “Don’t do it for the sake of running. Do it if there’s something you feel strongly about and want to do something about. If you run, run on principles and don’t be beholden to any special interest group.” I look at my own Dad as having followed both of those things.
