The Roosevelts: An American Saga

By Peter Collier

Book Overview

The Roosevelts is a brilliant and controversial account of twentieth-century American political culture as seen through the lens of its preeminent political dynasty. Peter Collier shows how Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, along with their descendants, scrambled to define the direction that American politics would take. The Oyster Bay clan, influenced by the flamboyant Teddy, was extroverted, eccentric, tradition-bound, and family-oriented. They represented an age of American innocence that would be replaced by Franklin's Hyde Park Roosevelts, who were aloof and cold yet individualistic and progressive. Drawing on extensive interviews and brimming with trenchant anecdotes, this historical portrait casts new light on the pivotal events and personalities that shaped the Roosevelt legacy -- from Eleanor's often brutal relationship with her children and Theodore Jr.'s undoing in the 1924 New York gubernatorial race, to the heroism of Teddy's sons during both World Wars and FDR's loveless marriage. The Roosevelts is history at its most penetrating, a crucial work that illuminates the foundations of contemporary, American politics.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671652257
• ISBN13: 9780671652258
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 542 Pages
• Weight: 1.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

THE CHARACTERS ARE LARGER THAN LIFE, AND SO IS THEIR SAGA

Generally thought of as a privileged and political family, one that produced two presidents, the Roosevelts were actually a house divided. The divisions marking this political dynasty are thoughtfully and engrossingly chronicled by the co-authors of "The Rockefellers, The Kennedys, and The Fords." The Oyster Bay Branch of the family was headed by Theodore, a loving, outgoing husband and father, who described his fourth child, Archibald, as "a cunning little polyp." As adults these children became involved in government and the workings of their communities. Theodore's younger cousin, Franklin, was viewed by members of the Oyster Bay branch as somewhat of a playboy, whose future was uncertain. He married Theodore's favorite niece, Eleanor, with whom he shared a strained relationship and became a rigid and distant father. Franklin's children's adult lives were marked by numerous marriages and scarred by personal tragedies. The story of the Roosevelts is a dramatic one, filled with intrigue, machinations, and intense rivalries. The characters are larger than life, but then so is their saga. - Gail Cooke

An Intimate Portriat of an Epic Family

This book is by far one of the best sources on the Roosevelt family. The authour makes much of the family divisions, but weaves together a masterful portriat of the two sided Roosevelt clan. The "Oyster Bay" clan (T.R.) and the "Hyde Park" clan (FDR) You'll read about T.R's early life struggles, his warm relationship with his children, and his bravery. You'll read about Franklin and Eleanor's difficult childhoods and marriage, Franklin's infidelties, Eleanor's possible lesbianism and anti-semitisim and Alice Roosevelt Longworth's famously sharp tounge. This book is hard to put down, a great read!!

Fascinating multi-generational story...

Peter Collier's The Roosevelt's: An American Saga, is a fascinating look at this famous family. Most people have a general knowledge of presidents Theodore Roosevelt (TR) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), but they may not be aware of the extended family history. The saga of the Roosevelt's in America begins with the arrival of Claes Martenszen van Rosenvelt in the 1600's. But this story really belongs to TR and FDR. The two presidents were 5th cousins, and came from different branches of this prolific family. TR was part of the Oyster Bay clan, while FDR came from the Hyde Park branch. Their families weren't particularly close, although they did move in the same New York social circles. They even pronounced their names differently ("Roos-e-velt" vs. "Rose-e-velt"). TR blazed a political path as he became governor of New York, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, vice president, and then president. TR wanted his son to continue his political trailblazing, but the young Teddy Jr. was unable to do so. Along came FDR and while he belonged to a different political party, he followed TR's example almost to the letter (governor of New York, Assistant Naval Secretary and then president). But instead of bringing the families closer together, it actually drove a wedge between them. FDR was always considered a lightweight by the Oyster Bay side. Now he was looked upon as a traitor and a usurper. Some of the Oyster Bay Roosevelt's even campaigned against FDR. Eleanor Roosevelt (an Oyster Bay Roosevelt who married her Hyde Park cousin) was a bridge between the two groups, but even that wasn't always enough. While everyone tried to remain civil, it wasn't always possible. For a time, Alice Longworth (TR's oldest daughter) was banned from the White House because of her vitriolic tongue, and constant snide remarks and mimicking of Eleanor. While the Roosevelt's had great personal successes, they also suffered their share of tragedies. Alcoholism ran in the Oyster Bay side, and Elliott Roosevelt (TR's brother and Eleanor's father) died at the age of 34 from the disease. Eleanor's brother, Hall, also met an early death from alcoholism. TR's youngest son, Quentin, was killed in World War II. Another son, Kermit, committed suicide in 1943, and his son Dirck, also killed himself ten years later. A son-in-law and daughter-in-law of FDR also took their own lives. It is often very difficult being the children of strong, dynamic and famous men, and Collier relates how hard it was for the Roosevelt children and grandchildren to live in the shadows of these great men. TR's children always strived to measure up to their Rough Rider father, but without great success. FDR's children were an undisciplined, spoiled and dysfunctional group, and had 19 marriages between the five of them. None of the children or grandchildren in the two groups was able to carry on the political legacy left by their fathers. I truly enjoyed The Roosevelt's as it

A Tale of Two Families

"The Roosevelts" is the fascinating, 75 year long tale of two branches of an American dynasty during its of era prominence.The main characters are Theodore Roosevelt, patriarch of the Oyster Bay Branch, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, patriarch of the Hyde Park branch, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who bridged the two branches.Theodore was the founder of the dynasty who set the pattern for the others to follow. Assistant Secretary of the Navy, hero of San Juan Hill, Governor of New York, Vice President and President, TR blazed the trail which others attempted to follow.This book follows TR through his career, focusing on the themes which made him the Lion that he was. TR's love of family, love of country, martial ardor and thirst for the limelight are all well explained. The post-presidential years of frustration with Taft and Wilson are shown as hard times for TR. TR's call for entry into World War I made him the leading opposition figure to Wilson's peace policy. U.S. entry merely brought more frustration as TR was refused an Army Commission while his four sons all saw combat. TR was proud of his sons, bled with them when they were wounded and grieved when Quentin was killed.The story is more than just the stories of the main characters. It is, in essence, the story of a family, the relationships of parents and children, brothers and sisters, cousins and in-laws. The role that family life played in the lives of each individual is skillfully woven throughout the book. With his passing, TR left an idol to emulate and a trail to follow. All of his sons, in war and peace, tried to carry on TR's ideals through public service.The two family members who most clearly tried to follow the trail blazed by TR were Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., and his distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Like TR, both would serve in the New York legislature, serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy and run for Governor of New York. Both attempted to run for vice-president and both as aspired to the presidency. It was the rivalry of these two which split the branches of the family into a bitter feud.Theodore, Jr., Ted, was the first to try to journey down the trail. Nominated for Governor of New York in 1924, he was beaten by Al Smith, due, at least in part, to his unjustified guilt by association in the Teapot Dome scandal. The prevailing wisdom of the day was that there was room for only one Roosevelt in New York politics at a time. A tantalizing "what if" of history is that had Ted not been tarred with Teapot Dome, he could have been elected governor. This probably would have made him the front-runner for the 1928 presidential nomination, leaving FDR frozen out of politics. As fate had it, Ted's gubernatorial service would occur in Puerto Rico and the Philippines whereas FDR would be elected Governor of New York in 1928. Despite vice-presidential speculation in 1924 and 1928, Ted's career as a public official ended with FDR's election as president in 1932.Although T

Draws sharp contrasts between the mighty Roosevelt branches.

What Collier and Horowitz do in this book is weave a tale not of two seperate Roosevelt clans vying for political power, but of the succession of one branch into prominence following the decay of the other. The intriguing side-plots involving the two families reads like a royal family of America. FDR and Teddy are not the only Roosevelt's analyzed here, their children and their remarkable (and sometimes scandalous) lives are exposed as well. A well researched book that illuminates a historical American political dynasty