A Trump family political dynasty?

The Clinton political machine
After Bill Clinton left the Presidency, the Clintons had personal goals of (i) becoming rich and (ii) nurturing Hillary Clinton's quest for the Presidency.

In 2001, there was a formidable Clinton political machine, built up by the Clintons over 20 years.

Elements of the machine included (i) a large entourage of loyalists whom the Clintons had benefited with political and governmental jobs and advancements, (ii) an extensive network of campaign donors who found advantage by giving to the Clintons, and (iii) many, many elected officeholders and office seekers the Clintons had helped over the years by Clinton endorsements and fund raising.

From 2000 on, the Clintons needed to nurture their political machine as best they could, pending when Hillary Clinton would make her own run for the Presidency.

The Clinton Foundation was brilliant for doing this.

The Clinton Foundation allowed Clinton loyalists to be put on the Foundation payroll, as would keep them dedicated to the Clinton cause and have them ready for service to a Hillary Clinton campaign when needed. The Foundation allowed for the Clinton  network of campaign donors to be continued by providing opportunities for them (and new supporters) to participate in and profit from the Foundation's many worldwide projects. This participation was typically in return for donations to the Clinton Foundation and for speaking fees to Bill Clinton. These funds could go to paying the Clinton entourage who were on the Foundation payroll, and also be reinvested in more projects for more Clinton supporters to participate in, leading to more donations to the Foundation. In the flexible minds of donors and the Clintons, donations to the Foundation were early expressions of support for Hillary Clinton's quest for the Presidency, to be recognized by the Clintons on a par with contributions later on to a Hillary Clinton Presidential campaign.

Yes, the Clinton Foundation was brilliant for maintaining the power of the Clinton political machine, serving as a virtual early campaign committee for a Hillary Clinton run for President, and a bedrock for a Clinton family political dynasty to be carried forward by Hillary Clinton winning the Presidency and Chelsea Clinton succeeding to the dynasty.

Clinton corruption and lying
After Hillary Clinton become Secretary of State in 2009, there was an overlap between her global governmental responsibilities and the Clinton Foundation's worldwide activities.

In his Presidential campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly hit hard against Hillary Clinton on "conflicts of interest" and that she was "corrupt," "crooked." and a "liar."

The main basis for Trump's charges was that there were conflicts of interest in Hillary Clinton's public role and obligations as Secretary of State and the Clinton's personal business, charitable and political interests.

Trump said there was "pay to play" for access and governmental favors, and that Secretary Clinton lied about the use of the private email server to keep the public from learning about questionable and possibly criminal activity related to the Clinton Foundation. This contention was particularly supported by the "bleaching" of 33,000 emails when the private email server became publicly known.

Family political dynasties
Hillary Clinton lost the election, and the Clinton political machine has been weakened. Only time will tell how well the Clinton entourage of loyalists will hold together, and how well will the Clinton network of campaign donors continue to be called on, either to support another try by Hillary Clinton or to be transferred over to Chelsea Clinton.

America has experience with family political dynasties, including the Kennedys, the Bushes, and the Clintons.

Whether these family political dynasties are good for America, or should be avoided, is an ongoing question, for it would seem almost certain that 70 year old Donald Trump's mind has started contemplating a Trump family political dynasty.

What to watch out for
Family members of a political dynasty will naturally think about what will keep the dynasty going.

The elements of the Clinton political machine mentioned above are instructive. The Clintons built  (i) a large entourage of loyalists whom the Clintons had benefited with political and governmental jobs and advancements, (ii) an extensive network of campaign donors who found advantage by giving to the Clintons, and (iii) many, many elected officeholders and office seekers the Clintons had helped over the years by Clinton endorsements and fund raising.

What things could Donald Trump do  to aggrandize power and be in a position to pass the Presidency on to Ivanka or Jared Kushner?

First, he would give Ivanka and Jared the maximum political exposure possible. This is already in the works. It is hard to imagine any greater political exposure right off the bat than Ivanka and Jared being installed in the West Wing of the White House.

Second, keeping the Trump business empire going can be an avenue to augment Trump political power. Untold numbers of persons and businesses will want to be close, or try to be close, to Trump and the Trump family. Doing business with the Trump organizations is an initial entree, and people will endeavor to express their affinity and support for Donald Trump, and these contacts can be turned to political usefulness for Ivanka or Jared.

Trump's direct contacting of, and negotiating deals with, corporations will afford opportunities for augmenting Trump's political power and for introducing Ivanka and Jared to new contacts who may aid their political aspirations.

It may be expected that Trump will apply his deal making propensities to lawmakers in Congress, and his dealmaking could similarly involve bringing in Ivanka and Jared, who could find that politically useful for them. Ivanka and Jared could start picking up political chits by doing fundraising for the lawmakers they are introduced to and for other office seekers.

Trump lovers who believe in Trump as the Second Coming and savior of the country may want to keep a close eye on whether Trump has an unspoken objective of creating a Trump family political dynasty, and that he may be less than exclusively serving the American people in all things Trump does.