A Little-known Tradition
I thought I’d make a different type of post today. So, I decided to discuss a little know tradition in American politics. That tradition involves politicians changing their names.
Not many people know that some of the most well-known politicians in recent American history have changed their names. Now, some name changes are minor, and others are pretty drastic. Once you read this list, you’ll understand why some of these politicians changed their names at some point.
So with that knowledge in mind, let’s look at 5 politicians who have changed their names.
The Fantastic Five
1. Bill De Blasio
Ah, Bill De Blasio. The former New York City Mayor and failed Democrat presidential candidate (2020) is an ultra-progressive, liberal politician in the state of New York. Heavily disliked by many people in New York City, De Blasio has one of the most drastic name changes on the list. When you read what Bill De Blasio’s original name, then you might be more sympathetic to ol’ Bill.
So, what … is … his … name???
His original name: Warren Wilhelm Jr.
2. Gerald Ford
For the history buffs out there, Gerald Ford was the 38th President of the United States. Originally serving as Nixon’s Vice-President, Ford became President after Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate blow-up (Nixon did nothing wrong, but, I digress).
You may wonder if President Gerald Ford is related the Henry Ford family–creator of the Ford automobile. The answer is no. The reason: Ford is not Gerald Ford’s original name. In fact, Gerald Ford had a completely different birth-name.
So, what … is … his … name???
His original name: Leslie Lynch King Jr
3. Bill Clinton
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” – Bill Clinton
For my younger readers, Bill Clinton was 42nd of the United States. The quintessentially slick politician, this two-term Democrat president is emblematic of the bipartisan, neo-liberal American political system in the post-Cold War era. Undoubtedly, Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton are prime examples of career politicians and the “political establishment” that Trump railed against in his 2016 Presidential run.
Moreover, the Clintons have profited as the American nation-state/society in the decades-long collapse of our nation religiously, economically, and culturally–from creating NAFTA to bombing small countries around the world.
What’s more, Bill Clinton’s last name is not his original last name.
So, what … is … his … name???
His original name: William Jefferson Blythe
4. Nikki Haley
All right, you probably know that Nikki Haley is no friend of the Tin Can Conservative blog. She is an unabashed “Conservative” grifter and an eternal flip-flopper. For context, Haley served as the Governor of South Carolina and as the US Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration.
Haley has spent her whole political career angling to become/run for the Presidency. Thankfully, we will never see a Haley presidency (she would probably start a dozen new foreign wars during her hypothetical presidency). You can take it to the bank, Nikki Haley will NOT ever be president, and thank goodness for that!
Moreover, Nikki Haley has a much longer birth-name than one might expect.
So, what … is … her … name???
Her original name: Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley
5*: Beto O’Rourke
Okay, this name change doesn’t really count, but I wanted to include it anyway.
Beto O’Rourke served on the El Paso City Council and the US House of Representatives before losing to Ted Cruz in 2018 for the US Senate. Then, “Beto” unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic presidential in 2020. After two straight unsuccessful campaigns, Beto is now running against incumbent Texas Governor Greg Abbott in November. Is the 3rd time the charm for Beto?
Regarding Mr. O’Rourke’s first name, a lot of people don’t know that “Beto” is not his actual name. Moreover, Beto is not Hispanic. Strike number two.
So, what … is … his … name???
His actual name: Robert Francis O’Rourke
Extra
-Ted Cruz’s Real Name: Rafael Edward Cruz
Anyways, thank you for reading this post! Stay classy and stay strong out there in these crazy times, king!