Mitt Romney

===Heritage and youth===
{{See also|Romney family}}

Willard Mitt Romney<ref name="mitt-bc">{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-29/news/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificatebre84s1gf-20120529_1_george-romney-republican-mitt-romney-citizen|title=Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy|first=Mark|last=Hosenball|agency=[[Reuters]]|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=May 29, 2012|access-date=April 19, 2015|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020083249/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-29/news/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-romney-birth-certificatebre84s1gf-20120529_1_george-romney-republican-mitt-romney-citizen|url-status=live}} Also see [http://static.reuters.com/resources/media/editorial/20120529/RomneyBirthCertificate.pdf "State of Michigan Certificate of Live Birth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315085751/http://static.reuters.com/resources/media/editorial/20120529/RomneyBirthCertificate.pdf |date=March 15, 2023 }}.</ref> was born on March 12, 1947, at [[Harper University Hospital]] in [[Detroit]], Michigan,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-17/michigan-primary-santorum-romney/53159656/1|title=Home sweet home? Michigan primary a challenge for Romney|first=Susan|last=Page|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 20, 2012|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083727/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012-02-17/michigan-primary-santorum-romney/53159656/1|url-status=live}}</ref> one of four children born to automobile executive <!-- at the time of Mitt's birth! what he did later is described later --> [[George W. Romney]] and former actress and homemaker <!-- at the time of Mitt's birth! what she did later is described later --> [[Lenore Romney]] (née LaFount).<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 59–62, 104, 113.</ref> His mother was a native of [[Logan, Utah]], and his father was born to American parents in a [[Mormon colonies in Mexico|Mormon colony]] in [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|title=In besieged Mormon colony, Mitt Romney's Mexican roots|last=Miroff|first=Nick|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 21, 2011|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-besieged-mormon-colony-mitt-romneys-mexican-roots/2011/07/21/gIQAFGOXVI_story.html|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518123356/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-besieged-mormon-colony-mitt-romneys-mexican-roots/2011/07/21/gIQAFGOXVI_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mexican Cousins Keep Romney's Family Tree Rooted |author=Burnett, John |url=http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/npr1327244449-Mexican-Cousins-Keep-Romneys-Family-Tree-Rooted.html |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605053609/http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/npr1327244449-Mexican-Cousins-Keep-Romneys-Family-Tree-Rooted.html |archive-date=June 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Of primarily English descent, he also has Scottish and German ancestry.<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 52, 70.</ref><ref name="rsgsg">{{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=Gary Boyd|author-link=Gary Boyd Roberts|title=Notable Kin: An Anthology of Columns First Published in the NEHGS NEXUS 1986–1995, Volume 2 |publisher=Carl Boyer, 3rd|year=1998|location=Boston|page=212|isbn=978-0-936124-20-9}}</ref><ref name="rsgsgs">{{Cite news|last=Potter|first=Mitch|title=Mitt Romney has Canadian roots|newspaper=[[Toronto Star]]|date=January 23, 2012|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/01/23/mitt_romney_has_canadian_roots.html|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304054655/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/01/23/mitt_romney_has_canadian_roots.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A fifth-generation member of the LDS Church, he is a great-grandson of [[Miles Park Romney]] and a great-great-grandson of [[Miles Romney]], who converted to Mormonism in its first decade. Another great-great-grandfather, [[Parley P. Pratt]], helped [[Quorum of the Twelve|lead the early church]].<ref name="bgseries2">{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/25/centered_in_faith_a_family_emerges/|title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 2: Centered in faith, a family emerges|author=Kranish, Michael|author2=Paulson, Michael|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=June 25, 2007|author-link=Michael Kranish|author-link2=Michael Paulson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083534/http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/25/centered_in_faith_a_family_emerges/|archive-date=January 13, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2020|url-status=dead}} Also available as [https://www.deseret.com/2007/7/2/20027702/mitt-s-lds-roots-run-deep "Mitt's LDS roots run deep"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206173241/https://www.deseret.com/2007/7/2/20027702/mitt-s-lds-roots-run-deep |date=February 6, 2020 }}, ''Deseret Morning News'', July 2, 2007.</ref><ref name="FaithRise">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-mormon-faith_n_1834466|title=Mitt Romney Holds Mormon Faith Close Through Political Rise|first=Jaweed|last=Kaleem|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=August 29, 2012|access-date=February 6, 2020|archive-date=April 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410060815/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mitt-romney-mormon-faith_n_1834466|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mitt Romney in 1965 Brook.jpg|thumb|upright=.75|alt=Black and white headshot of a young Romney.|Romney in [[Cranbrook Schools|Cranbrook School]]'s 1965 yearbook]]
Romney has three older siblings: Margo, Jane, and Scott. Mitt was the youngest by nearly six years.<ref>Mahoney, ''The Story of George Romney'', pp. 104, 113.</ref> His parents named him after a family friend, businessman [[J. Willard Marriott]], and his father's cousin, [[Milton Romney|Milton "Mitt" Romney]], a former quarterback for the [[Chicago Bears]].<ref name="real-14">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 14–15.</ref> Romney was called "Billy" until kindergarten, when he expressed a preference for "Mitt".<ref name="crim102194">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1994/10/21/romney-gains-momentum-as-he-keeps/|title=Romney Gains Momentum As He Keeps On Running|author=Gell, Jeffrey N.|newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|date=October 21, 1994|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083251/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1994/10/21/romney-gains-momentum-as-he-keeps/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1953, the family moved from Detroit to the affluent suburb of [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]] and his father became the chairman and CEO of [[American Motors]] the following year and helped the company avoid bankruptcy and return to profitability.<ref name="real-15">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 15–16.</ref> By 1959, his father had become a nationally known figure in print and on television,<ref>{{cite book |title=Current Biography Yearbook 1958|editor-last=Candee|editor-first=Marjorie Dent |publisher=[[H. W. Wilson Company]] |location=New York |year=1958|page=[https://archive.org/details/currentbiogr195800cand/page/368 368]|isbn=978-0-8242-0124-1|title-link=Current Biography Yearbook}}</ref> and Mitt idolized him.<ref name="bgseries1" />

Romney attended public [[elementary school]]s until seventh grade, when he enrolled as one of only a few [[Mormons|Mormon]] students at [[Cranbrook Schools|Cranbrook School]], a private upscale boys' [[University-preparatory school|preparatory school]] a few miles from his home.<ref name="crim102194" /><ref name="wapo-cran" /> Many students there came from backgrounds even more privileged than his.<ref name="prankster" /> Not particularly athletic, he also did not distinguish himself academically.<ref name="bgseries1" /> He participated in his father's successful [[George W. Romney#Governor of Michigan|1962 Michigan gubernatorial campaign]],<ref name="time-prof-2007" /> and later worked as an intern in the governor's office.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="lat-father">{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-25-na-romneydadson25-story.html|title=Romney's running mate|author=Martelle, Scott|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 25, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113083618/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-25-na-romneydadson25-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Romney took up residence at Cranbrook when his newly elected father began spending most of his time at [[Michigan State Capitol|the state capitol]].<ref name="wapo-cran">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_singlePage.html|title=Mitt Romney's prep school classmates recall pranks, but also troubling incidents|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 10, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821045215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-prep-school-classmates-recall-pranks-but-also-troubling-incidents/2012/05/10/gIQA3WOKFU_singlePage.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

At Cranbrook, Romney helped manage the ice hockey team, and joined the [[pep squad]].<ref name="wapo-cran" /> During his senior year, he joined the [[cross country running]] team.<ref name="crim102194" /> He belonged to 11 school organizations and [[school club]]s, including the Blue Key Club, a [[booster club|booster group]] he had started.<ref name="wapo-cran" /> During his final year there, his academic record improved but fell short of excellence.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="prankster" /> Romney was involved in several pranks while attending Cranbrook. He has since apologized for them, stating that some of them may have gone too far.{{#tag:ref|Pranks conducted by Romney during his Cranbrook years included [[ice blocking|sliding down golf courses on large ice cubes]], dressing as a police officer and tapping on the car windows of friends who were making out, and staging an elaborate [[formal dinner]] on the [[median (road)|median]] of a busy street.<ref name="bgseries1" /><ref name="prankster" /> The golf course escapade led to Romney and Ann Davies being detained by local police.<ref name="ap-2007-prof">{{Cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695236445/Fortunate-Son-Mitt-Romneys-life-is-his-fathers-legacy.html |title=Fortunate Son: Mitt Romney's life is his father's legacy |author=LeBlanc, Steve |agency=[[Associated Press]] |newspaper=[[Deseret Morning News]] |location=Salt Lake City |date=December 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626075029/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C695236445%2C00.html |archive-date=June 26, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fortune-2007">{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/09/100121803/index.htm |title=The Republicans' Mr. Fix-it |author=Vickers, Marcia |magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=June 27, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922150346/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/09/100121803/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2012, five former classmates described a 1965 episode where Romney, then a senior, took the lead in holding down a younger student while cutting his long, bleached-blond hair with scissors.<ref name="wapo-cran" /> Romney said that he does not recall the incident, though he acknowledged that he might have participated in some high school "hijinks and pranks" that went too far, and he apologized for any harm that resulted from them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/politics/years-later-a-prep-school-bullying-case-snares-romney.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511032125/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/us/politics/years-later-a-prep-school-bullying-case-snares-romney.html |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Bullying Story Spurs Apology From Romney |first1=Ashley |last1=Parker|first2=Jodi |last2=Kantor|author-link2=Jodi Kantor|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-apologizes-for-high-school-pranks-that-might-have-gone-too-far/2012/05/10/gIQAC3JhFU_story.html|title=Mitt Romney apologizes for high school pranks that 'might have gone too far'|first=Philip|last=Rucker|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 10, 2012|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=October 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021232706/http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romney-apologizes-for-high-school-pranks-that-might-have-gone-too-far/2012/05/10/gIQAC3JhFU_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|group="nb"}} In March of his senior year, he began dating [[Ann Romney|Ann Davies]]; she attended the private [[Cranbrook Schools|Kingswood School]], Cranbrook's sister school.<ref name="prankster">{{Cite news|title=From prankster to politician, Romney deemed a class act |url=https://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/12/from_prankster_to_politician_romney_deemed_a_class_act/ |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 12, 2005|author=Greenberger, Scott S.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008050634/http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/06/12/from_prankster_to_politician_romney_deemed_a_class_act/|archive-date=October 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name="real-28">Kranish; Helman, ''The Real Romney'', pp. 27–29.</ref> The two became informally engaged around the time he graduated from high school in June 1965.<ref name="bgseries1">{{Cite news|author=Swidey, Neil |author2=Paulson, Michael |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/24/privilege_tragedy_and_a_young_leader/ |title=The Making of Mitt Romney: Part 1: Privilege, tragedy, and a young leader |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 24, 2007 |author-link2=Michael Paulson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918153844/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_main/ |archive-date=September 18, 2007 |url-status=live}} Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502134029/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8712338.html available from HighBeam]. Also available as {{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918090328/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C680195540%2C00.html |title=Mitt Romney: the beginning |work=[[Deseret Morning News]] |date=July 1, 2007 |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,680195540,00.html |archive-date=September 18, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="ap-2007-prof" />