JD and Usha Vance Welcome Baby Boy in Historic White House First

Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance welcomed their fourth child Sunday, marking the first time in more than 150 years that a sitting American vice president has had a baby born while serving in office.

The couple announced the arrival of their new son, Alec Neel Vance, in a statement shared on social media.

“Mom and baby are both healthy and doing great,” the Vances announced, while thanking the doctors and nurses at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and members of the White House Medical Unit who assisted the family.

Baby Alec joins the couple’s three older children: Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4. The proud parents said Alec’s siblings were excited to finally meet their new baby brother.

The birth represents an extraordinarily rare moment in American political history.

The last known child born to the family of a sitting vice president arrived in 1870, when Ellen Colfax, wife of Vice President Schuyler Colfax, gave birth to their son, Schuyler Colfax III.

That was during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant—more than 150 years ago.

JD and Usha Vance announced the pregnancy in January, saying at the time that they were looking forward to welcoming another son in late July.

The couple met while attending Yale Law School and married in 2014. Usha Vance later worked as an attorney and served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts before her husband entered national politics.

Vice President Vance, 41, has frequently spoken about the importance of marriage, children and making it easier for American families to raise larger families. He has also warned about the country’s declining birth rate and the economic and cultural consequences of fewer Americans having children.

The Vances have generally attempted to protect their children’s privacy despite the intense attention surrounding the vice presidency.

Sunday’s announcement was brief and focused primarily on the health of Usha and Alec—and the excitement of the three older Vance children.

For one day, at least, Washington produced something nearly everyone can celebrate: a healthy mother, a healthy baby and one very excited family.

Welcome to the world, Alec Neel Vance.

Source: Associated Press