Sara Haines discovered something extraordinary about her family tree—and she couldn’t hold back tears.
The View cohost learned she’s directly related to not one, but two U.S. presidents during a recent appearance by Henry Louis Gates Jr. on the daytime talk show.
Gates Jr., host of PBS’s Finding Your Roots, visited the Hot Topics table Thursday morning to share genealogical discoveries about Haines’ ancestry.
What unfolded was an emotional moment that left the 48-year-old television personality overwhelmed with surprise and pride.
A Founding Father Connection Revealed
Gates Jr. showed Haines footage from her full Finding Your Roots episode, presenting her with a portrait of America’s second president.
He looks like a lot of people in my history book.
Once Haines recognized John Adams, Gates Jr. delivered the stunning news.
He is your third cousin, nine times removed!
Haines threw her head back laughing before eventually resting her face in her hands. When she looked up, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
Oh my God. I’m related to a president! And he was a good one!
Double Presidential Lineage
Gates Jr. wasn’t finished with revelations. Back at the Hot Topics table, he announced that Haines’ connection to John Adams meant something even more remarkable.
She’s also related to John Quincy Adams, the sixth president who took office in 1825—John Adams’ son.
We only had one other guest in the history of the series who was related to a president, unhappily so, and that was Michael Moore, who was related to Herbert Hoover. You are our first guest happily related to two United States presidents!
This makes Haines an exceptionally rare case in Finding Your Roots history.
Tracing The Ancestral Line
Gates Jr. meticulously traced Haines’ presidential connection through her maternal grandfather, born in Kansas.
Her grandfather’s mother descended from Henry Adams, Haines’ 11th great-grandfather who was born in England before settling in Massachusetts.
This English immigrant became the crucial link connecting Haines to American presidential history.
The View Cohosts’ Genealogical Journeys
Nearly all View cohosts have participated in Finding Your Roots, with Alyssa Farah Griffin being the notable exception.
Gates Jr. formally extended an invitation to Griffin during his Thursday appearance, potentially adding another cohost to the show’s roster.
Sunny Hostin’s Difficult Discovery
Not all genealogical revelations bring joy. Panelist Sunny Hostin faced troubling historical truths about her ancestry in 2024.
Hostin learned she had Spanish lineage alongside her Puerto Rican roots. More disturbingly, her fourth great-grandfather was a merchant in 1800s Spain likely involved in the slave trade.
Gates Jr. revealed that this ancestor owned at least one enslaved person.
Hostin’s experience demonstrates how genealogical research can uncover uncomfortable historical realities that descendants must process and reconcile.
A Lighter Family Secret
Before revealing Haines’ presidential connections, Gates Jr. shared another piece of family history—this one considerably less distinguished.
He discussed a German ancestor from the 1700s who abandoned a woman he impregnated, providing context to the fuller picture of Haines’ genealogical tapestry.
Every family tree contains both remarkable achievements and regrettable chapters.
Why Genealogy Matters
Haines’ emotional reaction highlights something profound about discovering ancestral connections.
Understanding where we come from provides context for who we are. Learning about presidential ancestors—particularly Founding Fathers who shaped American democracy—creates a tangible link to history that transcends textbooks.
- Personal identity: Genealogy helps individuals understand their place in broader historical narratives
- Historical connection: Direct familial ties make abstract historical figures feel real and relevant
- Emotional impact: Discovering prestigious ancestors can generate intense pride and connection
- Complicated truths: Family history research sometimes reveals difficult realities requiring honest reckoning
Finding Your Roots continues bringing these powerful moments to television, helping celebrities and everyday people understand their ancestral stories.
For Haines, discovering her connection to John Adams and John Quincy Adams represents something special—a link to America’s founding generation that she never imagined existed.
The View airs weekdays on ABC, while Finding Your Roots airs Tuesdays on PBS.