I just finished watching another Ken Burns’ documentary miniseries, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History.
What a family; what a story! And, what accomplishments!
Prior to this documentary, I had only a smattering of knowledge about Teddy Roosevelt. I knew that he was one of our greatest Presidents, and was aware of some of his resume. But, there was so much more to this guy than I had thought: he was like an exposed nerve, a most vital presence in life, no matter where or in whose company he found himself. He was a man of action, of vision, and of determination. He may have been the most intelligent President of all, and he was the youngest ever to assume those duties.
I believe that Teddy Roosevelt’s “progressive” policies made the United States a stronger nation, and his “imperialist” policies made America a world power. He was the right man for the right time, like Washington and Lincoln before him. And, he remained a force in national politics long after he left the White House…at the tender age of 50! No wonder his image adorns Mount Rushmore along with the other greats.
(Donald Trump reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt…without the brains, principles, or sagacity.)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was an only child, and a “Mama’s boy”, whose father, whom he idolized, died when he was a teenager. He was a lonely character in prep school and in college…his peers teased and mocked him, and, despite his good looks, was awkward with the girls. He was narcissistic to a degree, probably due to the smothering affection that he received from his Mother.
He eventually married (his 5th cousin, Eleanor), and later had some extra-marital affairs, but the dominant figure in his life was his ever-present Mother.
“F.D.R.” is generally regarded as the greatest world leader of the twentieth century. Not only did he manage America’s recovery from the Great
And, he was able to tirelessly attend to his Nation’s business while simultaneously being handicapped by crippling polio. What a courageous man he was!
(Compare that with our current President, who, while campaigning, publicly mocked the
F.D.R.’s boyhood hero was his uncle “Teddy” Roosevelt. Interestingly, they both were very vigorous men, having to be constantly “doing something” to better their Nation. That could be a reason that both men died young: Teddy at 60, and F.D.R. at 63. They basically wore their hearts out in lives of public service.
“Courageous” is a word that can easily be associated with both Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt. There wasn’t an ounce of quit or cowardice in either one of them. Teddy led his Roughriders up San Juan Hill in Cuba to defeat the Spanish…
…and a dying F.D.R. provided the leadership
(Contrast that with the courage that draft dodger/President Trump showed this week when he spent most of the week denigrating the recently deceased Senator John McCain, a revered patriot and Vietnam War hero.)
Eleanor Roosevelt, F.D.R.’s wife, had a very sad childhood. Her father was a drunk who wasn’t around much, and her mother died when Eleanor was only a young child. She was farmed out to a cold and stern relative, and spent her early years lonely and awkward, with zero self-confidence. She may have (naturally) been a lesbian, but had limited opportunity to explore her sexuality. Some of her best friends, and favorite teacher, in boarding school (in France) were homosexuals.
Her marriage to F.D.R. was a coupling of two upper crust families (separate factions of the New York Roosevelt clan!) and two awkward and lonely individuals. Probably the only things that they had in common was that they were highly intelligent and committed to doing good for others. “Love” between them was probably not really a sexual thing (Eleanor later admitted that she “endured it”), but more of an intellectual and family partnership.
They became more of a team when F.D.R. developed polio and his political career seemed to be on the ropes. Eleanore was there for him, not only as a caregiver, but also as a surrogate political campaigner. She kept his profile alive while he learned how to cope with the loss of his legs and regain his strength. She did probably more than anyone else to save his political career, while simultaneously developing a separate social and political identity of her own. More than a wife, she became an important political asset to the future President.
Like Teddy and F.D.R., this Roosevelt was committed to public service and the betterment of the common man. She was an early and energetic supporter of the League of Women Voters, campaigned for civil rights (when that was not popular…or supported by her husband!), and, after her husband’s death, helped create the United Nations. In 1999, thirty-seven years after her death, a Gallup poll found her to be the ninth most admired person of the 20th century.
Not bad for an awkward, homely, and shy lady who started out so badly in life, and had such a hard time in her personal life finding the love that eluded her in her youth.
Love of humanity and untiring public service was the answer, for Eleanor Roosevelt.
(This is a concept that is obviously foreign to our current President, who loves, in priority order: (1) Himself; (2) Adulation of himself; and, (3) Money, no matter how derived.)
What a classy lot, those Roosevelts! THEY are examples of what made America great.