The Romneys: "Papa" and "Mamie"

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, left, stands on stage with his son, Craig Romney, with microphone, who wished him a happy Father's Day, with the rest of the family during a campaign event June 17, 2012, in Brunswick, Ohio.

/ Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

(CBS News) Running for president, Mitt Romney has been called a lot of names. For about a dozen-and-a-half young children, he just goes by "Papa."

If Romney wins the White House, he will have more grandchildren than any sitting president in history (President John Tyler, who was elected in 1841, had 15 children from two different marriages - eight with his first wife, who died in the White House in 1842. And while Tyler's genealogy is not completely documented, it is clear he didn't have 18 grandchildren by the time he was in the White House.)

The 65-year-old candidate and his wife, Ann, have 18 grandchildren in their brood, the product of their five sons and 43-year marriage. The kids range in age from 16 years old to just 3 months, and are a major priority for their doting, but very busy, grandparents. Just last week, the entire family - 30 in all - gathered in Wolfeboro, N.H., for a week of ice cream, water sports and unbridled adulation from Mitt and Ann.

One of the most common gripes waged against Romney is that he has a problem connecting. He has a plank-like posture and uses terminology seemingly ripped from a 1950s sitcom script. His wealth and pedigree have been both boons and challenges: Many argue that he is simply unrelatable to the average voter. But a glimpse into his family life - and his littlest enthusiasts - paints quite a different picture.

"Papa" and "Mamie"

Mitt and Ann are known as "Papa" and "Mamie" to their grandchildren, but Mitt's moniker was not always as such. If Ann's nickname seems to harken back to a former first lady, it's intentional - when their first grandchild, Allie, 16, was born, her grandparents were free to hand-choose their aliases. Mitt chose "Ike" and "Mamie" -- after the Eisenhowers. "He just thought it was a cool name and he liked it," says Allie's father, Tagg, the Romneys' eldest son. (In his book, "No Apology," Romney refers to Eisenhower as a the type of leader who has "changed the course in their nation's history.") Mitt was "Ike" for about seven years, until grandchildren Nos. 2 and 3 - twins Nick and Chloe - rebranded him as "Papa."

Unique titles are a common theme in the family; none of the Romney sons called anyone "Grandma" or "Grandpa" growing up. Ann's parents, Edward and Lois Davies, were known as "Pops" and "Meme" to their grandchildren. Mitt's parents, George and Lenore Romney, were called "Barda" and "Mahz," respectively. ("Barda" was an apparent reference to the nickname of one his grandchild's blankets.)

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[occupy_cbs]

Romney refers to Eisenhower as a the type of leader who has "changed the course in their nation's history."



Too bad the mittster didn't listen to Eisenhower's warning to America in his farewell speech of the military-industrial complex, and is just like all the other republicans wanting to expand it even more than the current $1.3+ Trillion per year!

[occupy_cbs]

"How convenient that you knit pick or cherry pick.."



Call it what you want in order to support YOUR AGENDA, but the fact is, Eisenhower warned America about the military-industrial complex:

Dwight D. Eisenhower exit speech on Jan.17,1961.
Warning us of the military industrial complex

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY

[occupy_cbs]

ad_iudicium: "you gys are really patheic. is Obama..."




NO, what is truly pathetic, is the rabid right's need to disrupt and divert EVERY THREAD here at CBS into an anti-Obama rant!

This thread is clearly about the romney's, so stay ON-TOPIC for once!

[occupy_cbs]

MojitoMamma: "Mormons frown on birth control, and they put heavy pressure on their women to marry early, stay home, and breed."



This is the only way a cult can expand as quickly as the mormons from the 1830s, with huge population growth and control of the young.

[hoping4better]

So much ignorance. Your logic would suggest that the Mormons would then also cast out all those that don't have children. Do you really believe the stuff you type??

[Molly-Pchr]

Gee, from some of the comments here, I wonder what you people know about real issues. This is laughable. They don't need to check ID at the polls, but IQ.

[occupy_cbs]

"They don't need to check ID at the polls, but IQ."



Is this the new "poll tax" by republicans designed to disenfranchise voters?

[MojitoMamma]

Mormons frown on birth control, and they put heavy pressure on their women to marry early, stay home, and breed. The LDS Church is very much like the Catholic Church RE: treating women like so much property and attempting to define their roles as nothing more than brood mares. So here we have a filthy rich Mormon family with its eyes on the White House . . . . . intelligent, working women, beware of this narrow-minded but oh so squeaky clean "Papa" and "Mamie." (GAG!!! Where's my freaking air-sick bag; I think I'm going to hurl.)

[Molly-Pchr]

"Many have quarreled about religion, that never practiced it." -Ben Franklin.

[Kestrel88]

Which one gets to ride on the car roof?