JD Hayworth
Father of Nicole, 33; Hannah, 19; and John Micah, 16

While a life in politics requires excellence in persuasion and compromise, there is one item JD Hayworth, former congressman and candidate for United State Senate, chooses not to negotiate—time with his family. “Given the kind of life we’ve lived for so long, often our time together is going to the movies or hanging out and barbecuing in the backyard,” says Hayworth, who, with his wife Mary, have raised three children, Nicole, Hannah and John Micah. “I am so blessed that Mary is the backyard chef and all I have to do is lug a bag of charcoal around.”

The political lifestyle has been a part of the Hayworths’ world for years. Their youngest, John Micah, was 13 months old when his father was sworn into congress. After his term ended in 2006, Hayworth believes “especially for the two younger kids, just knowing dad was home [in Arizona] helped them both.”

Politics aside, Hayworth says fatherhood opened his eyes to how intelligent kids can be, even from a very young age. “They are instinctively clever almost from the crib onward, especially in terms of getting their way,” Hayworth says. “They are not spoiled, but the rational that they use at times is amazing. Arguably, politics involves the art of persuasion. If we are using that standard, they are excellent persuaders and that has, in retrospect, really amazed me.” —N.B.